Walmart boycott dilemma

[cboy4]

I boycott Walmart, being the evil global empire it is.

But I feel kinda bad doing so, because I think of all of the employees who are kept in poverty with low wages and no benefits.

Am I indirectly punishing them -- many of whom I'm sure take the job out of desperation to pay some of the bills

Then again, I guess maybe if enough of us boycott and sales slip, Walmart might start getting the message to change, but I doubt it.

So I'm torn :(

[trotsky]

1. By boycotting, you'll increase business elsewhere

and hopefully make up for Mal-Wart job losses that way.

[Roland99]

2. Bingo

Target sells CD players, clothes, some groceries, makeup, etc. So do other stores.

[cboy4]

4. yes, that's a good point....and I like Target cuz

they banned the homophobic Salvation Army bell ringers this past Christmas ;)

[trotsky]

8. Well, in fairness...

Target didn't remove the bell ringers because the SA is homophobic, they did it because they could not justify allowing just ONE organization access to its doors for fundraising. Faced with the decision of allowing them all versus allowing none, they chose the sensible path.

[cboy4]

11. I don't wanna be fair when it comes to the S.A.,,,just kidding....

I thought I read otherwise, but regardless, I agree, they chose a sensible path.

[Shoeempress]

3. Are you aware of the "dead peasant" life insurance policies they take

out on their employees? No not the top execs., the lowly cashier and stock person. When that person dies, Walmart gets the life insurance proceeds. And this can and does continue after they leave the employ of Walmart. So if less people are working at Walmart, Good. let them go work at Costco, who doesn't engage in these despicable practices.

[cboy4]

7. yup....it's criminal

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Most large companies do this

That doesn't make it right but WalMart isn't alone in this practice.

[Double T]

5. When You Shop At Walmart, Only Buy Products....

...made in America. Send Walmart the message that you won't buy products made by slave labor.

[Tempest]

13. You'd walk out empty-handed

Wal-mart doesn't sell many products made in the U.S.

There's not enough profit margin in them for Wal-mart's bottom line.

[trotsky]

14. Correct.

And many products at Mal-Wart that DO carry a "Made in USA" tag are actually made in sweatshops in territories that don't have to comply with American labor laws.

[Nikia]

19. We manufacture a food product for them

which is made in Wisconsin. I think that many of their processed food products are American, but I don't think that one can tell that for sure, espcially on their Sam's Choice products.
I couldn't imagine their clothing and shoes being made in the U.S. Generally such manufactureres remaining in the U.S. put out more expensive higher quality products.

[hfojvt]

21. in a mall I visited recently

I visited two shoes stores, where the shoes were $45-80 a pair, unlike Wal-mart where I would get a pair for $15 any day. None of their shoes were American made, at least none of the half a dozen that I looked at. I would also be surprised if the employees there had wages and benefits that were much better than Wal-mart's. I wonder if shoes are even made in America anymore.

[Dogmudgeon]

6. At this point ...

... it would be more effective to lobby your local politicians to NOT give Wal-Mart any special tax, zoning, or other breaks, and require them to pay into uninsured workers' benefits funds. Even putting together an information pack and sitting down with your local politician(s) to discuss it would go a long, long way.

The Wal-Mart in my neighborhood is actually fairly progressive, as goes the company. The management chooses to not enforce Wal-Mart's silly-assed employee social engineering policies, and several of the junior managers are Democrats. Most other Wal-Marts are like right-wing purgatories.

Most people are aware of Wal-Mart's destructive policies. What is needed now is more pressure for constructive action.

Of course, if you want to boycott, that's fine, too.

--p!

[China_cat]

10. People felt that way when asked to boycott

businesses that supplied South Africa. The people there, though, said "yes, we know it will hurt for a while, but please stop these companies who are supporting apartheid".

[Zorra]

12. Maybe they can go get a better job at Costco. Costco is a Democrat

supporting company that treats employees fairly.

Wal-Mart is a republican supporting corporation that treats employees like scum.

[Deja Q]

15. No revolution is without its share of pain. Those who say 'you might hurt

someone if you put things into a cart then leave' (for example) don't realize that making a statement won't cause hardship.

When we make a dog-eat-dog society, some of the passive poodles need to stop eating the free milk bones.

[NewWaveChick1981]

16. Actually, it's Wal Mart who's punishing the employees...

...by paying them a pittance and milking the profits from their labor. I will NOT shop at Wal Mart, even if it's the only store in town (thankfully, it's not). Give me Target anytime. Target stores are cleaner, the prices aren't much different, and the employees seem to be treated better.

[insane_cratic_gal]

17. Target is Red as Red gets

They hand your money over to the republican party.

Besides the fact that they look better, their products are just as Asian. Malaysian as Walmart, they don't pay any better, nor are their benifits for their employees any better.

only about 100 U.S. and European multinationals participate in...efforts to find and remedy abuses...Perhaps the most troublesome absence has been that of the large retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Target Corp.

I hate it too! I love target, however.. we as consumers (or what is left to the buying economy) have to pressure them into going white, 50/50 donation to both sides of the party lines. OR just refuse to donate to any party.

http://www.buyblue.org/alphalist.php



BuyBlue.org's Rating:

Rating: Dark Red - 17 %


BuyBlue.org's Position:
Target currently has a 17% BuyBlue rating due to political contributions for the 2003-2004 election cycle. Target executives contributed solely to Republican candidates and Target's Chairman and CEO contributed fairly heavily. Target also has a Political Action Committee which contributed very heavily in the 2003-2004 election cycle weighing in at $173,240 (21.00% D, 78.00% R).


Kmart is a better supplier then Walmart or Target.. with a 50/50 rating.

They have to be blue, I just want the donation list to be even.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/industry.asp?txt=N03&cycle=2002

[Synnical]

28. I'm thinking of buying at K-Mart again

Now that they have merged or whatever with Sears. K-Marts were so dirty previously and the check out lines were so long. Once I learned that Target is as red as Wal-Mart, I had to re-think my support of them. I've told co-workers in the past that Wal-Mart/Sams = BAD. Target/Costco = GOOD. Hmm, is Costco still good??

This past week-end I was in Central Florida visiting my mom. She's addicted to Nicorette. (Yeah, I know they advertise it as a way to quit smoking, don't believe it. My mom just exchanged one addiction for another.) She told me she was out of the gum and had to stop by Wal-Mart to get some more. I told her I would not take her into a Wal-Mart. She asked if I wanted her to pay $2 more at Walgreens. I replied yes. Now, if she could not afford the $2 I would have let her walk in there and buy her gum. But, she can afford it and because she had to pick up a 'script at Walgreens she did agree to buy the gum there.

I'm certain she'll go back to Wal-Mart, but I won't shop there.

[insane_cratic_gal]

29. uhoh Walgreens is red too

They've invaded all of the stores!

LOL, I just didn't want to break that to ya.

I agree if they can clean up Kmart, it would be good.

I really do like most people here love Target, But the pressure needs to come from the consumers for them to either pull political support of all canidates OR become white.. 50/50 donation to political nominees.

Yes, Costco is still Blue.

So It's Walmart/Target/Sam's Club all BAD..

Costco/Bed Bath & Beyond/Kmart all Good

[AldebTX]

18. Am I The Only One That Remembers.....

That Walmart (and their warehouse store Sam's) used to extol the fact they bought American made products (even when a lower cost foreign made product was available)and ran a campaign Buy American First.

When I pointed this out to a friend that is a Store Manager at Walmart and has been for years....he pointed out that Walmart has always been about providing consumers with the "best value". With a total straight face and smile he informs me...unfortunately America just does not "provide" value in this day in age.

If this keeps up...just what WILL we provide?

[Stinky The Clown]

20. Buy Local ... support Main Street

There are many alternatives to WalMart. There are, of course, other big box stores. But more importantly, support your own local businesses. I've been doing this for years. Just by way of example, I support a local Ace Hardware. A franchise, it is locally owned, locally managed (by the owner) and staffed with locals (from part time HS kids to professional tradesmen, just like Home Depot **used** to be). I rarely find that I am unable to get what I need there. Only then do I go, first to Lowes and then as a last resort, Home Depot.

Across the board, there are local business that compete head to head with WalMart for parts of their product lines. The best part is, this creates local jobs and local profits. And that benefits **directly** your community.

Increase sales for local stores and you'll soon be creating new jobs in those same local stores.

Shop small before you shop big ... support your home town merchants and businesses.

Its patriotic, too.
:patriot:

[cboy4]

22. Yea, but are there realistically enough of us who will do this...

(support the locals) or will there always be too many people who think, "ya know, Walmart really fuks over its employees and Walmart causes the vicious cycle of slave labor in China and India and Central America, but when push comes to shove, I have to shop at the cheapest place(s) because that's what I can afford??

[Stinky The Clown]

23. Talk to your neighbors

No need to put WalMart down overtly. There's not that much price difference, either. I can tell you that around here, even known repubs avoid WalMart ... not for political reasons, but because it makes good sense. NO ONE can argue that WalMart is good for one damned thing. And quite likely no one will.

[cboy4]

25. Yea, here in California, they're starting to build these

monsterous Walmart "superstores" where you can buy groceries. The major state grocery chains such as Safeway, Albertsons, Raleys and Ralphs are freaking out, because they pay union wages, thus prices are higher, so they're worried about competing with Walmart's non-union prices.

There's already been a long, bitter strike in the Los Angeles area over this among union grocery workers. This situation could get way out of control I bet.

[applegrove]

24. I find it hard to. I try not to get involved in any boycotts in my area.

I am not against corporations - I just think they should not cross a line and care about how they are perceived. Otherwise - they don't belong any of the cushy laws they have.

They have to provide something.

[LizW]

26. You're not hurting them, WalMart is

By not shopping at WalMart, you're helping other businesses that treat their employees decently stay in business. And don't worry, your tax dollars are paying for medical care for many of WalMart's employees because WalMart won't.

And if no other reason works, tell yourself this: you help yourself and your family by staying out of WalMart. WalMart's one and only goal is to separate you from your hard-earned cash. If you stay out of there, they can't do it.

[cboy4]

27. I like your answer :-)

N/T