Wal-Mart foes detail costs to community (raises welfare rolls)

[Widgetsfriend]

http://www.node707.com/archives/000454.html

The closely watched campaign in Contra Costa County to block Wal-Mart superstores brought out its heavy political guns Monday when Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, flanked by local lawmakers, released a blistering report on "labor abuses and hidden costs" of the corporate Goliath
.
"We see a downward spiral within the community that is led by Wal-Mart," Miller said at a news conference at his Concord office.

Two weeks remain before voters decide the fate of hotly contested Measure L, which would in effect bar Wal-Mart Supercenters in unincorporated areas of the county.

Substandard pay and health care benefits for Wal-Mart workers allow the firm to charge very low prices that force nearby stores to slash their workers' pay and benefits in order to compete, said Miller, ranking Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee.


For those of us who hate Wal Mart. Please read all the way through. Turns out Wal Mart hands out instructions on how to apply for welfare with other info for new workers!!


Edited to add link to www.cursor.org where I found the link.

[BlueJazz]

1. I tell folks all the time....

"Look, don't you realize that any minor gain that you incur by Walmarts low prices are offset 3 times by the rising costs to the community by supporting those very same Walmart workers through food stamps, welfare, more crime etc..."

I usually just get blank stares..AAgggg!

[mac2]

2. WalMart, etc. franchises don't give back to the community.

Thom Hartmann talks about just this issue. The profits go back to the person,state, or country who is the owner of the huge corporation. They don't purchase services and products from that area. It is not invested back into the community.

People working for these company don't make enough. The community ends up picking up the services they can't afford. They also destroy other small businesses in the area.

WalMart wanted to expand here (into a grocery section) but the village said, no. They had not been good neighbors (huge lights shine in people's windows all night, trucks running all night, liter, etc.). When the Village Trustees called Mr. Walton..he wouldn't return their calls. We also have more than enough grocery stores in the area. They would suffer.

Many times, the community and it's leaders have no contact with the owners. We have out of town store owners that never attend our Chamber of Commerce meetings or even care about the look of their property in the area. They don't pick up their liter or keep their store fronts modern. They just suck the profit out of the area.

This is why many communities have prohibited WalMart, etc. These absentee owners have forgotten, they have a social responsibility to the community just like any other citizen.

Local business owners are the best for any community.

[terryg11]

3. Bill Moyers on PBS did this show a month or so ago

I'm sure the link is still available. this is a great issue when debating how good for the community wal mart really is.

DONT SHOP THERE!!!!!!

[Deaner1971]

4. Walmart? I don't think so.

I wouldn't darken the door of a Walmart no matter what. I don't mind chains but, Walmart exists on an "run the little guy out of business" pricing strategy that is made possible by its disregard for its workers. Love the way the company had record profits and added nothiung to employee welfare. I don't buy products made by sweat-shops overseas or sold by sweat-chains here at home.

Bush claims to support small business but it is the Walmarts of the world to whom he owes his allegiance. If you look really carefully and the light is just right you can see the puppet strings when he is on stage.