Walmart every time. Why? Because, mostly Walmart is about selling things people want more than they are about retain power – which is what FEMA, and every government agency, is about.
UPDATE:
“Commerce civilizes us. It makes us more peaceful. It makes us want to treat each other better.”
Awesome.
There is always talk about the evils of Walmart. Low wages being one. The other is that they put mom and pops out of business.
I worked at a number of those mom-n-pops – pizza joint, gas station and local newspaper.
None could have afforded me this:
So, I’ve already commented on the fact that a union decided that a 100% pay cut was better than an 8% pay cut.
I don’t get it, but hey, maybe the principle behind the whole thing mattered.
Then I hear of the story of Walmart workers who are mad at the prospect of making more money:
Along with Target and Sears, Wal-Mart has plans to open retail stores at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. Employees said they weren’t given a choice as to whether they would work on Thanksgiving and were told to do so with little warning. “They don’t care about family,” said Charlene Fletcher, a Wal-Mart associate in Duarte, Calif. She said she is expected to report for work at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The workers said that when they complain about scheduling and other problems, management cuts their hours or fires people.
I make a decent living. In fact, I suspect I’m in the top 10% of Americans in terms of salary. I enjoy the benefits of this condition. However, there are sacrifices I have to make:
I don’t get it. I don’t get the concept that says that hard work doesn’t pay off. That sacrifice doesn’t lead to rewards. I don’t understand how people who want money are resistant to working to earn more money.
Or at least I didn’t understand.
I saw a Facebook post recently regarding the strike at Hostess and the totally shocking result of the closing of the business. One of the comments went something like this:
If they strike and get released, at least they’ll get 100 weeks of unemployment.
I added that they would also now get free healthcare.
And that reminded me of this:
More and more these people don’t need jobs. If they lose their job they’ll get unemployment for nearly 2 years. Plenty of time to work something out. Further, with the election of Obama, they are sure to get free healthcare as well.
Literally, what is it that would incent these people to work? If they lose their jobs, what really is the downside? How much would they net lose?
What kind of perverse incentives are we building into our society?
Posted in Economics, Economy, Life
Tagged Barack Obama, Health Care, Unemployment, Walmart, Wizard of ID
In an effort to drive sales and increase profit, Wal-Mart is doing the unconscionable. 
Well known for being the outlet of poorer American’s, Wal-Mart is raising prices on all basic needs products. This, in the middle of the current economic struggle we’re going through is proof enough that Wal-Mart is evil.
Huh? Wait? That’s not accurate?
I was shopping for some computer periphery this afternoon. I found that I’m not alone in appreciating Puerto Rico:
Puerto Rico Competition
Identical shopping carts; 1 from Wal-Mart and one from “Competencia”. The Wal-Mart savings? 14%.
Puerto Rican shoppers can save 14%, or $12.68 on $90.70, by shopping at Wal-Mart. Further, because Wal-Mart exists, people who never shop there even save money as the competition is forced to keep pace.
People talk about greed. That greed is bad bad bad. Money corrupts and money s the root of all evil.
Posted in Economics, Politics: National, Politics: North Carolina
Tagged California, Greed, Post Office, Socialism, Walmart, WCPSS