Walmart driving Albertson's out of business in GJ

[conservative boater]

BSoE, did I touch a nerve? Don't be so sensitive because I'm you're father. That's right, just call me King, biotch. And I thought you had had enough of reading this thread!!!!? Peace out, to yo mama.

[newby0616]

Man, Wal-Mart's insurance deductable is only $350 - $1000? Where do I sign up?? Not kidding around here: I work for a division of one of this nation's largest HOSPITAL corporations, but healthcare is one of the most notorious fields out there for shafting their employees when it comes to benefits and insurance???

As a single person, I have a $1200 annual deductable, with $45 office visits, and $35 co-pays on scripts. NO LIE. I also have a "$1000 minimum payment" for any ER visit. I draw a reasonable salary, what some might even consider a good salary depending on your perspective. Howver, when it comes to healthcare, I feel like the epitomy of "working poor"-- I literally can't afford to be sick. The market in our geographic area is tilted towards the Frists' HCA-affiliated facilities, meaning that our company's facilities have no foothold in the area.

Flaco,
Did you happen to see the PBS documentary on Wal-Mart several months back? Investigative reporters went to India(??) (maybe Indonesia or Malayasia instead-- I don't remember?) to inspect working conditions and factories, then after being cited for labor violations, those companies went back to Wal-Mart and tried to work something out to raise workers' salaries by literally pennies. There was an exchange that took place regarding adding $.02 -$.03 to employee wages-- to which Wal-Mart responded, "You know, we're glad you brought this to our attention. Actually, we need you to do it for $.03-$.04 LESS per person than you are right now, or else we'll take our business to China where they haven't had all these pesky labor reforms." Nice. The documentary included segments filmed in factory worker camps, replete with small bamboo homes housing 6 or 7 families each, filthy children bathing and drinking polluted water, people coming and going at all hours, women working 30 hour shifts, etc etc etc. The crowning glory was when the film crew brought a woman who'd worked in the factories to a Wal-Mart in the US, where she went inside and found a shelf of sweatpants she'd sewn selling PER PAIR for more than she made in about 6 months time.... makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, no??

[CGM]

Now this is what I call entertainment for the work day! Keep the posts coming. I'm running out of ways to kill time, and am in danger of actually doning something today.

[BastrdSonOfElvis]

If I can't be vice pres then could I be undersecretary of conservative boater's mom? (cuz she likes to be on top )

(that's my "Oh" face, a la Office Space)

[badkins]

Newby0616, I think that was probably frontline.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/

"If people were only consumers, buying things at lower prices would be just good. But people also are workers who need to earn a decent standard of living," says economist Larry Mishel of the Economic Policy Institute. "The dynamics that create lower prices at Wal-Mart and other places are also undercutting the ability of many, many workers to earn decent wages and benefits and have a stable life."

Economist Brink Lindsey of the Cato Institute sees it another way. "I think Wal-Mart is good for America," he says. "Wal-Mart is doing what the American economy is all about, which is producing things consumers want to buy … offering consumers a wide range of goods at rock-bottom prices. It is meeting the market test."

[WhiteLightning]

I think this post has been beaten to death. I challenge you guys to come up with something more interesting, preferably not politics. Then maybe we can move this below the top 5 for good!

Also, "liberals are dumb", and "your mom is dumb", and "that's not what she said last night" and changing screen names and shit is boring me too.

One off topic mention, that I guess in on topic for the site in general... I did manage to buy several monster "Ozark Trail" (walmart brand) PVC dry bags that so far have worked just as well as my NRS ones for super cheap. They come in different sizes and are in the camping section.

Let's see if there are any non-lame threads we can start now.

[sj]

Well Mr. Lightning at least your Moms not boring! sorry couldn't resist sj

[Rushis Right]

I really don't understand why this an actual discussion Walmart is good and if you don't want to shop there don't. Money talks and bullshit walks. You won't change my mind because I'm the greeter at the Sheirdan Super Walmart, so say hello when you come in because you guys are full of shit and I know you shop there I've seen you. So shop where the Oxycontin is cheap and the women are cheaper. Later

[newby0616]

Dude, if we wanted to shop where the drugs are "cheap" and the "women are cheaper," we'd just save ourselves a trip to WallyWorld and drive to the corner where your sister works instead ......

[BastrdSonOfElvis]

Oh, yeah I forgot...I nailed his sister, too. What can I say, I get around.