Which is better?

[lvx35]

I was just chatting with somebody in another thread and the discussion raised an interesting question, I'm really curious. If you live in a rural area where Wal-Mart is the only store around for miles and spend about $300 a month on shopping, is it better to:

[iamjoy]

1. Interesting Way Of Looking At It

maybe boycotts aren't always the answer.

[lvx35]

2. Yeah, that's what just crossed my mind.

And its a wierd thought, the idea for some people shopping at Walmart could be instrumental in bringing it down.

[Warpy]

3. How about shop for food at unionized supermarkets

and shop the sales, spend only about $25 more that way, and THEN give to the party? Everything else you can get at yard sales and thrift shops or make it yourself or just plain do without until these bastards are out of office.

I shop unionized supermarkets and the local food co op, where I've been a member since 1990.

I go to Wally World for my prescriptions.

I had to replace my old truck this year (it was old enough to vote), but I got an econobox instead. I'm not spending money I don't have to until this bunch is gone, even though I now have money to spend.

Not buying food at an antiunion place like Wally World is part of that.

[lvx35]

7. Yeah, and that's a big part of the equation....Good point.

Not just that YOU the democrat spend $225 over $150, but that you gave $225 to other Democrats to keep them employed, who also give to the Dems....Its a complex question.

[NMDemDist2]

4. i am in that quandry now. so far I have managed with online purchases

and monthly trips to Kmart with a 70 mile round trip

I haven't set foot in the WalMart yet and don't plan to anytime soon (if ever)

[Selatius]

5. In your case, I recommend the poor shop at Wal-Mart, BUT...

on the national level, I would add that tax reform is needed, social spending be made a priority to combat poverty, enforcement of labor laws is a must, and the institution of a publicly financed election system.

Without any of that though, telling a person to shop at Wal-Mart is akin to keeping a person in wage slavery. Until the problem can be corrected by pursuing those four things I just said, the poor will be left with nothing but bad choices.

[lvx35]

8. But is it the Democratic party, or the individual who can make the said...

...changes? If its the party, its better to give. If its the individual, its better to boycott Wal-Mart. I guess that's my quandary here.

[Selatius]

12. If we're talking about putting food on the table, then it's an issue of...

immediate survival of both yourself and your family. I don't expect anybody to put politics ahead of putting food on the table, but on the same token, one should not be forced into living in such a situation for the long-term if there is a better way, and there are better ways in the long-run than having just one Wal-Mart to shop at, but unfortunately, the short-term may not offer that opportunity.

In your case, I voted for the first option even though I find Wal-Mart's policies very harsh on workers, but it does afford one to give money to Democrats, and at the end of the day, if I was faced with those options, something would be better than nothing at all...but not at the expense of putting food on the table for the family.

[lvx35]

15. I basically agree...

btw, this is not my personal situation, I live in a very liberal city (Olympia WA) with a lot of shopping options, but the broad question is one I run into all the time. For instance I have friends up at Microsoft who could get me a job that would pay double or triple what I make now as a piss poor social worker, and in those jobs I could offer a lot more to DU or the democratic party...But I would be working for and supporting the corporate machine that makes things as they are...So I am trying to broadly figure out if its better to make change through indivual choices at the grassroots level, or to try to help create powerful well funded political parties to affect the same changes. I don't know.

[stillcool]

6. if I'm already spending $300 /month....

it sounds like I'm in deep doo-doo because my shopping budget has been cut in half. Am I missing something?

[lvx35]

11. hehe. I guess its the single poor guy's choice...

...who grows some of his own food. But double the income and my question stands. Is it better to fight Wal-Mart as an individual or through contributions to the Democratic party?

[stillcool]

16. well...I am a very frugal shopper....

and Wallymart doesn't cut it for me. There is very little that Wallymart offers that I can not find at the same price or cheaper elsewhere. Except for the convenience of one stop shopping I don't understand the attraction. My donating philosophy is.... it's fine to give the shirt off your back as long as you have one in the closet.

[lvx35]

17. yeah, there may be more to the choice than meets the eye.

it may be that there are cheaper things that people just don't know about, more options than are readily available. If so, they need more visiblity. Somebody should start a website: thriftyWithoutWalmart.com that gives the tricks ;)

kudos on the charitable giving btw.

[LWolf]

9. Other.

Consume less, spend less time shopping, and organize shopping trips to use less fuel, without ever passing the Walmart parking lot. Donate whatever disposable income you have left to whatever cause calls to your conscience.

The choices on this poll only make sense if Walmart is the only affordable place to shop. I'd look into all alternatives, first local and then online, before deciding that Walmart is the only affordable choice. It certainly isn't for me.

I also highly doubt that Walmart is 50% less expensive across the board than other choices.

[lvx35]

13. Unfortunatly, Wal-Mart's prices are a big factor for rural folks.

it really is, according to my parents. Not 50% (my poll has very low income to highlight the question) but its real an economic factor.

I myself live in a liberal urban setting. My town has banned Wal-Mart, so its not an issue for me. But I don't think my parents are alone in this, Wal-Mart kills local businesses in small towns so people really have to drive a long way not to shop there.

[LWolf]

19. I am rural folk.

At least until the rapid town growth crowds out our rural areas. It's true that Walmart can kill local business, which is why a local community (not mine) has rejected their attempt to put in another superstore; there are already 2 stores in the area. They don't seem to care how many times they are turned away, they keep coming back for another attempt. We have a few other options; when you have to "drive to town" to do any shopping, you know where all the discount places are. I do some internet shopping, when I can get free or nominal shipping. Saves my gas and time. For groceries, there are a couple of good local non-Walmart options, and for other goods there are a couple of discount-type stores.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Buy what you need wherever necessary. Give the rest to charity.

Which is pretty much what we do. We'd much rather give money to people who actually do something than politicians.

[lvx35]

14. Good for you on the charity!

That rocks....and I take it you believe in the idea that power is with the people not the party?

[MercutioATC]

18. "Every time you shop at Wal-Mart, a baby in China dies."

That's what I told my mother.

My mother is a 62-year-old new-age "hippie". She's also Italian...and very emotional. She used to occasionally shop at Wal-Mart...

...she doesn't any more. :evilgrin:




It really depends on the "elsewhere", but I don't shop at Wal-Mart.

[Ferret Annica]

20. I am not a Democrat, I am a Green

I voted other because I will vote against those who put the sock puppet Bush in office, but the Democrats in recent decades look too much like Republicans to make me feel comfortable.

For one thing, I did not vote for Bill Clinton, I voted third party, and I absolutely will not vote for a hawk like Hillary who had ties with th mortal enemy Wal-Mart for any reason.

I want Kerry to get the nod again. I will vote for Gore but because of his Clinton ties I don't necessarily trust him either.