Wal-Mart: Love 'em or Hate 'em
I'm trying to put Wal-Mart out of business.
So are some others, but there's a difference.
By not shopping at Wal-Mart, I'm voting with my wallet. That is my choice.
Others want to take away my choice. They want to make Wal-Mart play by different rules. They claim that Wal-Mart is bad because they pay low wages, don't offer health insurance to employees, buy merchandise that is made overseas, and drive smaller stores out of business.
None of that bothers me. Nobody is forced to work for Wal-Mart. Nobody is forced to buy from Wal-Mart. Nobody is prevented from competing with Wal-Mart. Yet some want to use force against Wal-Mart.
Me, I don't like driving a long way to Wal-Mart; I don't like searching for items without help; I don't like lesser quality no matter what the price. So I shop at smaller stores closer to home. But hey, I'm "rich", I can afford it.
Funny thing -- I'd bet most of the elitists attacking Wal-Mart are "rich" too, at least compared to the millions of honest folks who work and shop there. Trouble is, wealthy elitists don't see things the way the poor do.
Paul Krugman, professor of economics at Princeton (does that sound elitist?) believes that Wal-Mart should pay higher wages and offer more benefits.
Of course, this would be the opposite strategy of what made Wal-Mart so successful. (That and the use of technology and innovative managment to maximize efficiency.) So, it's reasonable to assume we would see fewer Wal-Marts opening (the real goal of the elitists). That means:
a. More unemployment. No new stores, no new jobs. But of course Krugman and his ilk, who pose as champions of the poor, aren't applying for those kind of jobs, so do they really care?
b. Higher prices for merchandise. Naturally, since the elitists don't shop at Wal-Mart (they've got money to burn), what do they care? Nevermind the poor who can't afford to pay more; they'll just have to do without.
c. The older, established retailer might stay in business. That means the owner can still pony up dues to his country club, or buy tickets to the black-tie charity event. Darn me for thinking elitists don't care about the poor!
d. Workers overseas can keep their feet planted in steaming rice paddies for $10/month, rather than working in a factory for $100/month. I'm sure they'll appreciate that.
Oops, I forgot poor people overseas don't really matter. They can't vote!
Is it envy or ignorance about the enormous profit Wal-Mart makes that so riles the elite? Krugman should have his mortar board knocked off for attacking Wal-Mart as detrimental to the economy. Profits serve as a signal to guide our society's scarce resources to where they're needed most.
That's how capitalism works. As opposed to government. Which doesn't work. I point to the colossal failure of FEMA during Hurricane Katrina.
While the bumbling FEMA wasted $100 million driving ice-cubes around the country for a week, Wal-Mart, a model of logistical efficiency and nimble disaster planning, delivered staples such as water, fuel and toilet paper to thousands of evacuees.
Did the elite give any thought to what allowed Wal-Mart to respond with an unrivaled $20 million in cash donations, 1,500 truckloads of free merchandise, food for 100,000 meals and the promise of a job for every one of its displaced workers?
No doubt these are the actions of a villainous corporate citizen, driven only by greed. Perhaps so, because obviously Wal-Mart cares greatly about the long-term relationships with their customers and employees. Sounds like they want to hold on to them.
How far ahead do you think Mayor Ray Nagin or any other government bureaucrat looks? Can anybody spell: N-e-x-t e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n?
So please - don't let me hear anyone use the phrase "obscene profits" to justify special regulations, taxes, or penalties on successful companies like Wal-Mart or Exxon that skillfully deliver the goods in our hour of need.
These companies and the profits they earn should be celebrated, not condemned.
George Conrad Dick
Chairman Libertarian Party of Kentucky
So are some others, but there's a difference.
By not shopping at Wal-Mart, I'm voting with my wallet. That is my choice.
Others want to take away my choice. They want to make Wal-Mart play by different rules. They claim that Wal-Mart is bad because they pay low wages, don't offer health insurance to employees, buy merchandise that is made overseas, and drive smaller stores out of business.
None of that bothers me. Nobody is forced to work for Wal-Mart. Nobody is forced to buy from Wal-Mart. Nobody is prevented from competing with Wal-Mart. Yet some want to use force against Wal-Mart.
Me, I don't like driving a long way to Wal-Mart; I don't like searching for items without help; I don't like lesser quality no matter what the price. So I shop at smaller stores closer to home. But hey, I'm "rich", I can afford it.
Funny thing -- I'd bet most of the elitists attacking Wal-Mart are "rich" too, at least compared to the millions of honest folks who work and shop there. Trouble is, wealthy elitists don't see things the way the poor do.
Paul Krugman, professor of economics at Princeton (does that sound elitist?) believes that Wal-Mart should pay higher wages and offer more benefits.
Of course, this would be the opposite strategy of what made Wal-Mart so successful. (That and the use of technology and innovative managment to maximize efficiency.) So, it's reasonable to assume we would see fewer Wal-Marts opening (the real goal of the elitists). That means:
a. More unemployment. No new stores, no new jobs. But of course Krugman and his ilk, who pose as champions of the poor, aren't applying for those kind of jobs, so do they really care?
b. Higher prices for merchandise. Naturally, since the elitists don't shop at Wal-Mart (they've got money to burn), what do they care? Nevermind the poor who can't afford to pay more; they'll just have to do without.
c. The older, established retailer might stay in business. That means the owner can still pony up dues to his country club, or buy tickets to the black-tie charity event. Darn me for thinking elitists don't care about the poor!
d. Workers overseas can keep their feet planted in steaming rice paddies for $10/month, rather than working in a factory for $100/month. I'm sure they'll appreciate that.
Oops, I forgot poor people overseas don't really matter. They can't vote!
Is it envy or ignorance about the enormous profit Wal-Mart makes that so riles the elite? Krugman should have his mortar board knocked off for attacking Wal-Mart as detrimental to the economy. Profits serve as a signal to guide our society's scarce resources to where they're needed most.
That's how capitalism works. As opposed to government. Which doesn't work. I point to the colossal failure of FEMA during Hurricane Katrina.
While the bumbling FEMA wasted $100 million driving ice-cubes around the country for a week, Wal-Mart, a model of logistical efficiency and nimble disaster planning, delivered staples such as water, fuel and toilet paper to thousands of evacuees.
Did the elite give any thought to what allowed Wal-Mart to respond with an unrivaled $20 million in cash donations, 1,500 truckloads of free merchandise, food for 100,000 meals and the promise of a job for every one of its displaced workers?
No doubt these are the actions of a villainous corporate citizen, driven only by greed. Perhaps so, because obviously Wal-Mart cares greatly about the long-term relationships with their customers and employees. Sounds like they want to hold on to them.
How far ahead do you think Mayor Ray Nagin or any other government bureaucrat looks? Can anybody spell: N-e-x-t e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n?
So please - don't let me hear anyone use the phrase "obscene profits" to justify special regulations, taxes, or penalties on successful companies like Wal-Mart or Exxon that skillfully deliver the goods in our hour of need.
These companies and the profits they earn should be celebrated, not condemned.
George Conrad Dick
Chairman Libertarian Party of Kentucky
posted by George Conrad Dick at 8:32 PM
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