Wal-Mart is Evil

[Xgthug]

I never understood why so many Christians choose to shop at Wal-Mart. (Furthermore, even go as far as to leave their shopping carts in the middle of the parking lot, which is a huge pet peeve of mine.) If Jesus were physically here today, I'm pretty sure he would condemn the corporate monster for what it is.

Here are a few popular criticisms of Wal-Mart I've read:

Destroys small businesses, ( http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/business/05walmart.html?_r=1 ) underpays employees, closely monitors/spies on/harasses shoppers, inserts traceable RFID chips in clothing (as of August 1st 2010 YouTube - POLICE STATE 2010: WALMART PUTTING RFID CHIPS IN CLOTHES), opens life insurance claims on employees without their permission and receives 100% of the benefits when an employee dies, purchases a good majority of their products from overseas, and the list goes on and on.

I feel no need to write a big essay on the matter, since there is already much coverage on the internet...

Links:
WakeUpWalMart.com - Join the fight to change Wal-Mart and change America
WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price
Wal-Mart Watch | Fighting for Wal-Mart Workers | Employee Free Choice Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Wal-Mart

So my question is... Why would ANY Christian want to shop at Wal-Mart?
Nobody is forcing us (yet) to shop there, so why feed an entity that is slowly destroying our communities and economy?

 

[cobweb]

If you are that bothered by them, I hope you don't shop at any of their major competitors. They do the same sort of stuff.

 

[Spartan 421]

FACT: Hyperbole destroys your crediblity.

FACT: Wal-Mart affords the same services a small town store does but cheaper and with a wider selection of goods.

FACT: Typing FACT is fun.

 

[Xgthug]

FACT: Hyperbole destroys your crediblity.

FACT: Wal-Mart affords the same services a small town store does but cheaper and with a wider selection of goods.

FACT: Typing FACT is fun.

FACT: 2 ninja responses while I was in the process of removing "FACT:" from the thread title.

 

[Skaloop]

I never understood why so many Christians choose to shop at Wal-Mart. (Furthermore, even go as far as to leave their shopping carts in the middle of the parking lot, which is a huge pet peeve of mine.) If Jesus were physically here today, I'm pretty sure he would condemn the corporate monster for what it is.

So my question is... Why would ANY Christian want to shop at Wal-Mart?
Nobody is forcing us (yet) to shop there, so why feed an entity that is slowly destroying our communities and economy?

Simple answer. Because it's cheaper. And despite what Jesus might have preached, or what he would do in this situation, if it keeps their wallet a little more padded, that bit can be set aside.

Personally, I do not shop there.

 

[Chris81]

Walmart does not really bothered me because I have never been impressed with either their customer service or any of the products they have to sell. I can take my business to many other stores that sell products of much better quality. I don't see the sense of shopping at Walmart. I would say that if you don't like Walmart, don't shop there. It is that simple.

 

[Xgthug]

if you don't like Walmart, don't shop there. It is that simple.

On behalf of my wife and I, we do not shop at Wal-Mart.
This has nothing to do with me disliking Wal-Mart personally.

 

[Macx]

My wife and I don't like Walmart and refuse to shop there til (at least) 75% of their products are U.S. made.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Destroys small businesses

Nonsense. Customers "destroy" small busineses when they don't shop at them. Walmart isn't to blame for providing products for low prices and with greater convenience.

underpays employees

Market forces set wages. There is no intrinsic amount that employees are worth.

closely monitors/spies on/harasses shoppers

If true, why do they shop there?

inserts traceable RFID chips in clothing

Sounds like conspiracy theory nonsense to me.

opens life insurance claims on employees without their permission and receives 100% of the benefits when an employee dies

If true, why is this a problem?

purchases a good majority of their products from overseas

Yes? What is so wrong with this?

Nobody is forcing us (yet) to shop there, so why feed an entity that is slowly destroying our communities and economy?

Probably because it is offering goods at low, low prices, thus helping the poor and unemployed.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[onemorequestion]

I never understood why so many Christians choose to shop at Wal-Mart. (Furthermore, even go as far as to leave their shopping carts in the middle of the parking lot, which is a huge pet peeve of mine.) If Jesus were physically here today, I'm pretty sure he would condemn the corporate monster for what it is.

Here are a few popular criticisms of Wal-Mart I've read:

Destroys small businesses, ( http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/business/05walmart.html?_r=1 ) underpays employees, closely monitors/spies on/harasses shoppers, inserts traceable RFID chips in clothing (as of August 1st 2010 YouTube - POLICE STATE 2010: WALMART PUTTING RFID CHIPS IN CLOTHES), opens life insurance claims on employees without their permission and receives 100% of the benefits when an employee dies, purchases a good majority of their products from overseas, and the list goes on and on.

I feel no need to write a big essay on the matter, since there is already much coverage on the internet...

Links:
WakeUpWalMart.com - Join the fight to change Wal-Mart and change America
WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price
Wal-Mart Watch | Fighting for Wal-Mart Workers | Employee Free Choice Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Wal-Mart

So my question is... Why would ANY Christian want to shop at Wal-Mart?
Nobody is forcing us (yet) to shop there, so why feed an entity that is slowly destroying our communities and economy?

.

The Walmart issue sounds like what the Democrats want to turn the United States into. A one stop shopping place where the store management tells the populace what to do and how.


.

 

[29apples]

Water is wet.

1 more ?, how is this like the Dems? Your post does not make any sense. If any political affiliation is analogous it is the GOP. Capitalism, big business, and all that.

 

[onemorequestion]

Water is wet.

1 more ?, how is this like the Dems? Your post does not make any sense. If any political affiliation is analogous it is the GOP. Capitalism, big business, and all that.

Wal Mart is a big governing body of elites ruling all.

It is far more like the Democrat "Big Tent WE will control" ideology.

 

[29apples]

Except walmart is a business (not a governing body) that controls the market through aggressive capitalistic ventures and bullying small businesses. They are for the dollar and not the people. GOP is classically pro big business (more then dems anyway).

Your analogy would be better if walmart gave all its employees a higher than average wage regardless if they deserved it or not and gave its profits back to the community (you know SOCIALISM!!! that many GOPers seem to rage about)

 

[LyraJean]

So are employees who work at Walmart evil?

 

[Singermom]

I can afford Wal-Mart; I can't afford some of the other major stores.

I have NEVER been harrassed at a Wal-Mart; I find most of their employees to be friendly, helpful, courteous, and knowledgeable of their departments. The very, very few times I have had an issue with a clerk, I went straight to the manager with it, and it has been resolved to my satisfaction.

It's fun saying "We're going to Wally World!"

It's better than patronizing a place like Abercrombie & Fitch, which supports child porn and totally disregards the feelings of parents of young children.

Sam Walton, I believe, was a Christian.

 

[Harry_Ivanator]

I agree, Wal-Mart is evil

 

[Harry_Ivanator]

I agree, Wal-Mart is evil

I agree

 

[onemorequestion]

Except walmart is a business (not a governing body) that controls the market through aggressive capitalistic ventures and bullying small businesses.

That sounds exactly like the Unions that are as connected to the Democrats as a worm is to damp ground.

They are for the dollar and not the people.

That sounds like every inner-city politician. AKA Democrats.

GOP is classically pro big business (more then dems anyway).

That is PRO people.

Your analogy would be better if Walmart gave all its employees a higher than average wage regardless if they deserved it or not

Have you actually held a conversation with a few Walmart employees?

. . . and gave its profits back to the community (you know SOCIALISM!!! that many GOPers seem to rage about)

Businesses are the "things" giving billions and billions of dollars to charities. OK, on that Walmart and Republicans are united.

 

[Singermom]

I agree

It's so nice that you agree...with yourself... *eyeroll*

 

[LyraJean]

All I have to say is Walmart gave me a job when others would not hire me. I applied to a Family Christian bookstore for a cashier position in which I have at least 5 years of experience before I applied to Walmart.