Wal-mart

[Andy A]

Just out of curiousity, does anyone besides me like Wal Mart? Sam Walton was the epitome of American capitalism. He gave a lot of people what they had never had before. A place to shop, where under one roof, they could find everything from tires to breath freshener. What an entrepreneur! Wake Up Wal Mart is a bunch of jealous, whining miscreants who haven't any idea what they are talking about. People do not have to work at Wal Mart if they don't want to do so. It is a great place for those starting in the workplace to get experience. And yes, I own Wal Mart stock and so far, it has taken me to Australia and New Zealand, bought me a new car and paid for some of my clothes. Yea, Wal Mart!

 

[Smiling JOe]

So you like it for the money? There are plenty of people who invest in companies with only the bottom line in mind, but there are also people who take other issues into consideration when deciding where to invest their money. Financially speaking, WalMart has a great business model -- destroy the competition and make them beg to come work for you after they go out of business. That is capitalism, but at some point down the line, it comes with a cost to the community -- monopoly.

 

[Bdarg]

So you like it for the money? There are plenty of people who invest in companies with only the bottom line in mind, but there are also people who take other issues into consideration when deciding where to invest their money. Financially speaking, WalMart has a great business model -- destroy the competition and make them beg to come work for you after they go out of business. That is capitalism, but at some point down the line, it comes with a cost to the community -- monopoly.

You forgot to mention that Walmart employees are the single largest user of publicly funded health care. In essence Walmart is using tax payer dollars to fund the health care services, rather than offer or fund their own insurance program, i.e. what you save today in groceries, you will pay tomorrow in taxes.

 

[Beach House 25]

Just out of curiousity, does anyone besides me like Wal Mart? Sam Walton was the epitome of American capitalism. He gave a lot of people what they had never had before. A place to shop, where under one roof, they could find everything from tires to breath freshener. What an entrepreneur! Wake Up Wal Mart is a bunch of jealous, whining miscreants who haven't any idea what they are talking about. People do not have to work at Wal Mart if they don't want to do so. It is a great place for those starting in the workplace to get experience. And yes, I own Wal Mart stock and so far, it has taken me to Australia and New Zealand, bought me a new car and paid for some of my clothes. Yea, Wal Mart!

Glad to hear of your personal success with Wal-Mart stocks. Please keep in mind that yes Sam Walton done a heck of a job with the concept and model, However since his death the Cooperative body snatchers have made what is my opinion nothing more the legalized American "Sweat Shops" Enjoy the travels and the car and the clothes and when you walk into a Wal-Mart say hi to the little ole lady or man standing there pushing carts out to you and know that they were once a local merchant that made America open to the "New Wal-Mart" business Model. Sam Walton would never approve of what they are doing now. "Made in America" was Sam Waltons motto.. Merry Christmas, and Hope you have a wonderful New Year !

 

[Beachbummette]

You forgot to mention that Walmart employees are the single largest user of publicly funded health care. In essence Walmart is using tax payer dollars to fund the health care services, rather than offer or fund their own insurance program, i.e. what you save today in groceries, you will pay tomorrow in taxes.

The estimated total amount of federal assistance for which Wal-Mart employees were eligible in 2004 was $2.5 billion. [The Hidden Price We All Pay For Wal-Mart, A Report By The Democratic Staff Of The Committee On Education And The Workforce, 2/16/04]
One 200-employee Wal-Mart store may cost federal taxpayers $420,750 per year. This cost comes from the following, on average:
$36,000 a year for free and reduced lunches for just 50 qualifying Wal-Mart families.
$42,000 a year for low-income housing assistance.
$125,000 a year for federal tax credits and deductions for low-income families.
$100,000 a year for the additional expenses for programs for students.
$108,000 a year for the additional federal health care costs of moving into state children's health insurance programs (S-CHIP)
$9,750 a year for the additional costs for low income energy assistance.
[The Hidden Price We All Pay For Wal-Mart, A Report By The Democratic Staff Of The Committee On Education And The Workforce, 2/16/04]


Your tax dollars subsidize Wal-Mart's growth

The first ever national report on Wal-Mart subsidies documented at least $1 billion in subsidies from state and local governments.
A Wal-Mart official stated that "it is common" for the company to request subsidies "in about one-third of all [retail] projects." This would suggest that over a thousand Wal-Mart stores have been subsidized. ["Shopping For Subsidies: How Wal-Mart Uses Taxpayer Money to Finance Its Never-Ending Growth," Good Job First, May 2004]

 

[Beach House 25]

The estimated total amount of federal assistance for which Wal-Mart employees were eligible in 2004 was $2.5 billion. [The Hidden Price We All Pay For Wal-Mart, A Report By The Democratic Staff Of The Committee On Education And The Workforce, 2/16/04]
One 200-employee Wal-Mart store may cost federal taxpayers $420,750 per year. This cost comes from the following, on average:
$36,000 a year for free and reduced lunches for just 50 qualifying Wal-Mart families.
$42,000 a year for low-income housing assistance.
$125,000 a year for federal tax credits and deductions for low-income families.
$100,000 a year for the additional expenses for programs for students.
$108,000 a year for the additional federal health care costs of moving into state children's health insurance programs (S-CHIP)
$9,750 a year for the additional costs for low income energy assistance.
[The Hidden Price We All Pay For Wal-Mart, A Report By The Democratic Staff Of The Committee On Education And The Workforce, 2/16/04]

WOW ! Makes me want to call my Broker on Sunday and say BUY BUY BUY! That is just sickening, Pun intended!

BB your post is FACT! I have had family members work for them for several years and they still met everyone of those Fed handouts!

Sam Walton was a TRUE American, Greed and power will be the demise of WM now...Looks like its not to far down the road IMO.. Better watch those stocks close, Looks like WM is having a very slow 3rd and 4th Qtr this year. Hummm, Don't get me going on the SEC and the stock markets and MM's! another thread...

Merry Christmas to all!

 

[Beachbummette]

Andy A.

I think Sam Walton was an honest hard working man. I met him once and was amazed at how nice and down to earth he was. I don't think the Wal-Mart we know now has anything to do with him.

As I stated when I started this thread this all started for me 5 years ago when I had an older lady that was an employee of Wal-Mart and I found out how bad their coverage was. She paid almost $100.00 per month (she could not afford that) for short term disability insurance they offered, that when she needed it did not pay....not one dime. Through research I found out they never pay out on those type policies. She would have been better off without it and saved her $100.00 per month. This was not their health insurance plan, which she had as well, this was just a short term disability plan.

Just two weeks ago I had a guy who came in to our clinic and he could not afford the $1,000.00 deductible he had on his policy. It started over again at the first of January which means it would cost another $1,000.00 in just a few short weeks.

Here are some of their stats for you:


All of Wal-Mart's Health Plans Are Too Costly for Its Workers to Use

Since the average full-time Wal-Mart employee earned $17,114 in 2005, he or she would have to spend between 7 and 25 percent of his or her income just to cover the premiums and medical deductibles, if electing for single coverage. [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Guide and UFCW analysis]

The average full-time employee electing for family coverage would have to spend between 22 and 40 percent of his or her income just to cover the premiums and medical deductibles. These costs do not include other health-related expenses such as medical co-pays, prescription coverage, emergency room deductibles, and ambulance deductibles. [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Guide and UFCW Analysis].
Wal-Mart trumps the affordability of its new health care plan. According to Wal-Mart, "In January [2006], ...Coverage will be available for as little as $22 per month for individuals" [www.walmartfacts.com]

What Wal-Mart's website leaves out: Coverage is affordable, but using it will bankrupt many employees. Wal-Mart's most affordable plan for 2006 includes a $1,000 deductible for single coverage and a $3,000 deductible for family coverage ($1,000 deductible per person covered up to $3,000). [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Guide]

 

[elgordoboy]

The estimated total amount of federal assistance for which Wal-Mart employees were eligible in 2004 was $2.5 billion. [The Hidden Price We All Pay For Wal-Mart, A Report By The Democratic Staff Of The Committee On Education And The Workforce, 2/16/04]
One 200-employee Wal-Mart store may cost federal taxpayers $420,750 per year. This cost comes from the following, on average:
$36,000 a year for free and reduced lunches for just 50 qualifying Wal-Mart families.
$42,000 a year for low-income housing assistance.
$125,000 a year for federal tax credits and deductions for low-income families.
$100,000 a year for the additional expenses for programs for students.
$108,000 a year for the additional federal health care costs of moving into state children's health insurance programs (S-CHIP)
$9,750 a year for the additional costs for low income energy assistance.
[The Hidden Price We All Pay For Wal-Mart, A Report By The Democratic Staff Of The Committee On Education And The Workforce, 2/16/04]


Your tax dollars subsidize Wal-Mart's growth

The first ever national report on Wal-Mart subsidies documented at least $1 billion in subsidies from state and local governments.
A Wal-Mart official stated that "it is common" for the company to request subsidies "in about one-third of all [retail] projects." This would suggest that over a thousand Wal-Mart stores have been subsidized. ["Shopping For Subsidies: How Wal-Mart Uses Taxpayer Money to Finance Its Never-Ending Growth," Good Job First, May 2004]

All of the above would remain true for the same people even if they weren't working at Walmart. They would still get food assistance, income tax subsidies in the form of eitc and child tax credits, and all the other stuff on the list. That Walmart is the largest private employer in America contributes to the fact that as a group the employees get more in services from the government-there are just so many people workng there.

 

[elgordoboy]

WOW ! Makes me want to call my Broker on Sunday and say BUY BUY BUY! That is just sickening, Pun intended!

BB your post is FACT! I have had family members work for them for several years and they still met everyone of those Fed handouts!

Sam Walton was a TRUE American, Greed and power will be the demise of WM now...Looks like its not to far down the road IMO.. Better watch those stocks close, Looks like WM is having a very slow 3rd and 4th Qtr this year. Hummm, Don't get me going on the SEC and the stock markets and MM's! another thread...

Merry Christmas to all!

What's the pun? I saw someone else post in another thread about a pun. And I didn't see one there either.

 

[Pirate]

If people value service and quality so much why do stores around a Wal Mart close?