Confessions of a Wal-Mart Hit Man

The debilitating nature of "big box" stores on America's working class is slowly coming to the fore. Did anyone else catch Jay Leno when he aired that Jibjab cartoon about big box stores like Wal-Mart and Target?

And now from Robert Greenwald, who brought us the indispensable Outfoxed, comes Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. Click the link to see bonus scenes featuring a former "Wal-Mart Hit Man."

:kick:

Thanks for posting. Everyone should see this. :toast:

Julie

i hate that store. cheap china made shit. i will never shop there

I boycotted after I saw the PBS Frontline show about Wal-Mart. I shared the links on PBS' website with other people. Only one person I shared this info with boycotted Wal-Mart along with me. The rest simply don't give a shit. They don't care if Wal-Mart is hurting our economy and destroying our standard of living. They see cheap crap and want it.

All the video, movies, articles, etc. are great and will educate some people. We live in a "me, me, me" "gotta buy stuff" society. People don't stop long enough to understand what it's all about. I can't see that it will change anytime soon. And it's not just about WalMart. It's the steel industry, textiles, you name it. This country is full of consumers, not producers.

... but change cannot occur without awareness. And with the destruction of our economy at the hands of the Bush Administration and the Corporate Elite, it seems that people are beginning to question the status quo - whether it be tax-cuts for the rich, corporate-financing of our politicians, and the general trust-in-the-rich attitude that permeates our society.

Polls here and there show that people would be willing to pay more taxes if society got things in return - like universal healthcare. This attitude may expand into "I'd be willing to pay 5 bucks more for a shirt if I know that it was made by an American making a decent wage."

I'm rarely accused of being an optimist, but just the fact that this issue is popping up is promising.

Think back - remember when we on the left were called conspiracy freaks, tinfoil hat nutcases, and crackpots when accusing the Bush Administration of lying about WMD? Now a majority of Americans think the case for war was twisted. And it only took a few years. We can make big boxes a similar target.

in years. I'm very discouraged when people I know, good liberal Democrats some of them, stubbornly continue to shop there. The prevailing attitude is that not shopping there won't make a difference, so they may as well go. I can't get them to realize they're wrong, but I absolutely will not go inside one.

I have a friend from high school who's a corporate lawyer from them, and she's shocked at my attitude. I've been telling her for years she should change jobs. I don't think they actually pay her all that well, so I really don't understand why she doesn't send out her resume, or contact a headhunter, because she's a seriously good attorney. And a liberal Democrat in every other way but her job.

I heard that once and it pissed me off. If 1000 "one persons" stopped shopping at my local WalMart it would make a hell of a difference.

That's what I say.

The big boxes have been so successful so fast that they have managed to "take over" many communities by pushing others out of business and sometimes you can't get away from the need to go there. I live in Austin, TX and have seen many small towns in the hill country that are basically completely dependent on Wal-Mart as it is the only store left in town.

But we can get online and look for alternatives. There are plenty of organizations trying to assemble listings of responsible stores and suppliers - give it a shot. If your search comes up bunk - well, atleast you tried.

Plus, before we buy something at a big box as a last resort, we can ask - "Do I really it?"

Buy online if you can and support whatever local small businesses that are still there. I haven't been inside a mall or a WalMart in 2 years. This isn't some huge city I'm talking about and I don't have a lot of money, but if I can do it then just about anyone should be able to do it.

it's amazing how much stuff you can really do without when Meijer is 20 miles away.

They're union, too. Still decent prices, and nicer stores. I used to shop at Meijer all the time when I lived in Battle Creek. Wal-Mart is a seriously depressing place to go into...the sense of negative energy is at times overwhelming.

Todd in Beerbratistan

And I think they are pumping oxygen into the air, I know they are putting a cinnamon smell in it.