WSJ: Wal-Mart Flourishes as Economy Turns Sour

[One Sweet World]

It's no surprise that Walmart's stock is soaring as the economy crumbles. They sell cheap products and consumers' budgets are crunched.

But what is the cost of those low prices?

According to a story out today, the Bentonville behemoth is using its position to muscle suppliers and competitors. [br />

"As strapped consumers look for cheaper goods, and weaker retailers go out of business, Wal-Mart is using its unmatched economies of scale to drive down prices, undercut competitors and squeeze costs out of suppliers ever more dependent on the Bentonville, Ark., behemoth."

In other words, Walmart is kicking everyone while they're down.

It's trickle-down economics in its purest form: Walmart screws the suppliers, who have to squeeze the manufacturers, who have to stagnate payroll. The workers then have decreased income and the whole economy festers – except for Walmart.

Now don't me wrong, I have nothing with healthy capitalism. But if the last eight years have taught us anything, it's that corporate excess cannot go unchecked.

We have a new administration and we need to return America's priorities to protecting the financial security of Main Street and NOT that the financial security the Walton family, who sits perched on the Forbes' top ten richest people list.

If you're looking for a way to make a difference this holiday season now that the election is over, I urge you to join me at WakeUpWalmart.com to help get our nation's economic priorities back on track!

[OHdem10]

1. Business report yesterday on 3 cable channels. WalMart will

have to cut profit projections for the year. They did well this
quarter but not for the year.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. "Walmart is kicking everyone while they're down"

Wal-Mart is doing no such thing.

The Bush economy is doing the kicking. Discount retailers -- of which WM is the biggest -- are doing well because people have less money.

If Wal-Mart were to go out of business, there would be other retailers which would pick up the slack. We need to fundamentally overhaul our economy.

--p!