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[Hugin]

Last edited Fri Nov 9, 2012, 11:02 AM - Edit history (1)

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[Dog Gone at Penigma]

4. Yes I would, conditional on a review of what it would involve on my part to do a good job.

Could you please review for me what that would require, both in time and in my contribution?
Thanks for asking me.

[tf.gray]

2. Research needed

It was recently revealed that the Walton (Walmart) family has as much assets as the bottom 42% of Americans combined. Can anyone crunch numbers to find out how much of that came from the US taxpayer, ie medicaid steping up in place of a corporate health plan? the money they make by using the interstate highway system? any other dodges they might utilize?

[Dog Gone at Penigma]

3. That would be complicated number crunching

First of all, it would need to reflect federal, state, AND local taxpayer contribution.
Secondly, presumably there are issues of individual privacy, which have puzzled me in the context of the existing figures being used - how does one determine the extent to which Walmart, and by extension, the Waltons, are profiting from the subsizing of their emplyees instead of them receiving adequate compensation and benefits?
And there would be a great deal of variation, store by store, for whatever special deals favorable to each WalMart operation might be cut, in terms of taxation, roads being created, etc.
I think it would take a long time, extensive resources, and a team of dedicated people to research.

[JLII]

5. Somewhere around a billion a year...

... in direct subsidies due to employees qualifying for public assistance.

Depending on who one believes, add $300kk to another $bn in direct and indirect subsidies from state and locasl property tax exemptions and other corporate welfare.

This is what happens when corporations control both parties. Clinton/Rubin finished what Reagan started in terms of degrading the skilled blue collar workforce. Young Bush took their work opening borders to drive down wages to the next level.

There are dozens of links on these subjects; here is a decent one on the Walton operation as Welfare Queens...

http://makingchangeatwalmart.org/taxes-and-subsidies/

[oldandhappy]

6. 100% from American consumer!

[bhikkhu]

9. "as much assets as the bottom 42%"...not difficult

but also not especially meaningful. 65% of families in the US own homes, most of those are mortgaged, and a large percentage went upside-down on their mortgages in 2008 - owing more than the home's market value. Combine that with low savings rates, and the home being most people's the primary investment, and you have the bottom 42% (on a theoretical balance sheet, or at "liquidation value", if you will) worth next to nothing.

It is getting better this year, fairly fast, so that statement may not be true for very long.

[golfguru]

7. and yet I keep shopping at Wal-Mart

I am fully aware they do not pay the help adequate wages/benefits.

But my own budget would suffer if I had to go somewhere else and pay
a whole bunch more.

[bhikkhu]

8. I suppose it varies for different people, and different areas

but their grocery section in my town is way overpriced. I get better stuff cheaper at a regional chain store here, and they definitely have a better paid and happier staff, and a cleaner store.

Other stuff like clothes I tend towards goodwill, being a fairly dull dresser. Last year's styles are fine, and they really did used to make clothes better than they do now. Four washings and a w-mart t-shirt is see through.

Other stuff I might spend an extra dollar or two at a local hardware store, or someplace I know and like and don't mind patronizing. Or I might save more money and buy online, which I think is w-mart's real long-term problem. At least for me, its very easy not to shop there, and overall I save money.

[antues]

10. I am fully aware they do not pay the help adequate wages/benefits.

I am fully aware they do not pay the help adequate wages/benefits.

[uppityperson]

11. wtf? "+1, I agree" or tasty food? Hmmm.

[Hugin]

12. I can only guess this is a case of MPS.

MPS = Misplaced Post Syndrome.