Is Wal-Mart good for America?
Many people will say no. I watched a documentary this week on this very subject on Frontline (on PBS. org).
The naysayers to this argument complain it takes away from work here in the USA; it puts the local community out of a job. Small businesses are closing
because they can't afford to keep up with the "Low Everyday Prices" from the retail giant.
According to the site, in 2006 Wal-Marts sales topped 350 Billion dollars. How many people could that help in this country?
To be fair, Wal-Mart gives a lot of money back to the communities, although it cannot give back the lives to many of these people.
Some of the locals that live by a Wal-Mart were making more than $10/hour. Now that the local Wal-Mart has gone up, They can get a job, but that would mean taking a pay cut in some, if not most cases.
As much as I agree, in my opinion I think Walmart IS good for America. Sure the pay is not great, the employees are not always
friendly and some do not provide good customer service; but for the most part, as much as people complain, they will still go to Wal-Mart. WHY?
Because the prices ARE cheap. In many single parent homes, or people that are considered low income or even middle income, know they can do all their shopping, and STILL
have money left over from their paychecks at the end of the week, to save, or pay bills, or put gas in their cars to get to work.
The products made in China that are sold at Walmart...people complain. If those products were made at a factory in the USA, do you REALLY think
the prices would be the same? Of course not! Costs of living are much different in China. I can not say with a straight face that ANYONE
in this country would be willing to work 50-60 hours a week and only make $100 a month. A MONTH! You cannot even get two tanks of gasoline for $100.
This is the reason why their prices are so low. If they were having all these products made in the USA, you could see the prices
go up by as much as 10%.
People complain about their practices, by not buying products local, and wages in which they pay, but at the end of the day, they are
a business. As much as people dislike the way they do things, they will continue to shop at Wal-Mart, because when all is said and done,
you get the most for your dollar there; and unless you are a millionaire, you need to watch your spending, as an American citizen.
Since the 1950's We have gone from the Best Country on Earth to the depths of what we have now. What Changed??? Massive amounts of Imports coming into our country and a similar massive reduction in Exports. We now appear as a whole to choose quantity over quality, as opposed to "How it Used To Be" I DO NOT Support Walmart and personally refuse to shop there. I will pay more for the goods I need to ensure the profits made form them benefit Americans and NOT the Chinese.
ReplyDeleteEven the Japanese Car industry In our Own Country is a Problem. Yes Americans make wages Assembling Hondas and Toyotas, But and its a BIG BUT!!! All The Profits Benefit the Foriegn Country of Origin. Americans are believing that these cars are "Made In America" They are NOT and the Sunami in fukishima should have proven that point. As there was a shortage of both cars because the Imports Could not be brought in to complete the assemblys. Wake Up America!!!! ITS YOUR FUTURE and That of YOUR CHILDREN that are at Stake!!!
Kevin Rogers
karfitter@aol.com
November 17, 2012 6:19 AM