Wal-Mart sent out a letter to over 30,000 Iowa employees/residents in the past two weeks to respond to U.S. Presidential hopefuls that starting slinging mud at the global retailer. As usual, whether you side with Wal-Mart or not, politicians regularly beat the emotional drum trying to score votes from the ill-informed. This group unfortunately includes many tens of millions of Americans (perhaps more). As such, Wal-Mart was right to stand up for itself and respond to the attacks. As a citizen, you can choose who to side with and believe, but equality in representation is always key.
With that said, Wal-Mart is preparing to send out "fact check" letters to its 27,000 Wal-Mart employees in South Carolina in preparation for the onslaught of potential Presidential candidates. With anti-Wal-Mart groups gearing up for battle -- again on the grounds of a "living wage" argument that I understand but partially disagree with -- Wal-Mart's letter should be interesting. Iowa and South Carolina are important initial states that sometimes "set the tone" for primaries and caucuses. It's no wonder we're all seeing this level of activity well ahead of the next Presidential election.
What would be great is if an Iowa or South Carolina Wal-Mart employee or resident would get us a copy of the letter Wal-Mart distributed along with a written version (verbatim) of what these Presidential hopefuls are saying. We could then set both documents down side-by-side and examine the merits of each one. That's the only fair way to see how slighted either side is. Opinions are one thing, but facts are another.
Brian White has worked in various executive positions in technology and telecommunications and now focuses on editing and writing.
Last updated: November 25, 2009: 05:23 PM
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-18-2006 @ 4:09PM
jackeline estrada said...
walmart is getting expensive.they dont have enough help. go back to the prices ofbefore. when clothing and toys were a reasonable price getting to expensive toshop there
8-18-2006 @ 4:31PM
mark R said...
I agree with coment 1, line 1
8-18-2006 @ 5:10PM
Dirkson Boregard said...
I used to love walmart 15 years ago...now it sucks
it shut down the old stores downtown I remember as a kid. I'll miss them as much as the people that usewd to run them...
8-18-2006 @ 5:26PM
loufalce said...
Let`s face it. Wal-Mart is here to stay. Contrary to what the left tells us, Wal-Mart does NOT use forced labor.You work here for one reason.You need a job.I have NO problem shopping here, but it is a sad fact that with all the Wal-Marts, Home Depots, Toys-R Us, Starbucks Coffee and others, the small merchant hasn`t got a chance.No health insurance? Kick the illegals out and provide this service to hard working working-class Americans.
8-18-2006 @ 7:24PM
Ara Pridjian said...
The market is more efficient in setting prices. Intrusion in this process only adds to inflationary pressures and further makes jobs disappear. Although employees of Walmart and others cannot be outsourced to a third world country the impact this will have on other wages and in turn other prices will be felt throughout the economy.
Wages are a real cost and should not be marginalized. Unrealistic wages only lead to the abandonment of our shores by industry.
We should all get/have MORE but at whose expense?
8-18-2006 @ 8:43PM
Mary Stark said...
Wal-Mart may not pay top wages but they pay as well or better than other retailers. I know people that have retired from Wal-Mart with very good retirements. They keep prices lower for working families and they give lots of money back to the communities that other retailers don't. Do I think Wal-Mart is good for America? YES, and I would personally not vote for any politician that signals out Wal-Mart without finding the truth before they speak.
8-19-2006 @ 9:02AM
Gilbert Cron said...
Walmart is a cancer on the Business Community. There are laws governing monopolies and Anti Trust business, but nothing is done to stop this cancerous growth. Walmart does use forced labor. They pay under scale and require employees to provide their own benefits. After 49 years in the retail food industry, I'm wondering how Walmart can continue to lie to the public about their products. Walmart does not have a single meat cutter in their stores. All meat products are cut in another state or even another country. They are pumped with preservatives and packaged many days ahead of shipping. Ground meat can not stay fresh for 10 days, it will spoil. Check the package of your red meat and it will give a sell by date. Any package of red meat that has more than a three day sell date has added preservatives to keep it red. Most of the soft goods and hard line items are produced in foreign countries and even some of the countries force inmates in prison or children to produce these products. Lastly, the wage package for an associate is way below living standards and requires the employee to seek another job or even worse seek aid from government agencies at our the taxpayers expense. We need to stop this cancer now. GC
8-19-2006 @ 11:00AM
walmart worker said...
do any of you work for walmart? or do you just believe everything that you read and hear? its everyones lies that make walmart bad, if you worked for walmart then maybe you would hear some truth. no we are not perfect, that is why you all bash us, but i dont see anything about anyother retailers, what about them and what they pay. do you all expect walmart just to give, give, give? then really what the associates have? at least they dont make us work for a union...and in the long run...the longer you work for the company the more you get...maybe you all should go into WALMARTFACTS.COM and read the real truth instead of believeing everything you read and hear....
8-19-2006 @ 1:40PM
Robert Eiferd said...
What follows is my letter to the democratic party --
To: Howard Dean and the rest of the policy team --
RE: Democratic Party Attacks on Walmart
I have been a democrat for 50 years. I have been a middle class worker for 50 years. I have lived in Michigan for 5 years. The economy is terrible in Michigan. The reasons for the bad times are myriad and the solutions will not be easy.
During these tough times my wife has contributed greatly to our family finances. Among her accomplishments has been her ability to provide our family with great health insurance benefits. My wife works for WALMART. I assure you that Walmart's business policies have not contributed to the woes of the economy in Michigan. If you people want my vote, stop trying to blame Walmart for the bad times and figure out a way to eliminate the divide between the fat cat rich republicans and the rest of us.
Remember Walmart has close to 2 million employees. Most are probably hard working democrates. Don't beat the hand that feeds us -- we will revolt. Not against Walmart -- but against candidates who throw stones at Walmart because it is easy.
Respectfully,
Robert Eiferd
8-20-2006 @ 7:54PM
mark R said...
Walmart has been the economic downfall of west KY and in spite of the neo-conservive who posed post 8, MI too. Walmart is the owner and operator of the country. Anyone remember when they "were bringing it home America" in repose to criticism many years ago?
Companies like Mattel, Briggs and Stratton, general tire, Ingersal Rand are some of the large companies that have picked up and left the area or have moved work out, and but have left the country almost all hive sighted Walmart as the reason. If Walmart is so good for a community as they claim isn't it odd most communities seem to NOT want them in there community? Isn't it interesting that one of the promoting supporters of the "minimum wage increase was Walmart? WHY? Old "Ma" Walton (Sam's wife) is getting up there in years and isn't in very good health and the kids want to scoop up that stock for themselves rather than repay the country that subsidize there existence.
What is my personal beef with Walmart? Dudes this is my country to, please stop rapeing it for your own short term pleasure.