Wal-Mart should run our country

T

Thekla

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Re: the Post office.
Let's get this straight. The PO is in financial trouble in part because of the downturn (FedEx has been laying off, too). But a big chunk of their problem comes from an effort to hide the true cost of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq by beefing up the accounts of Treasury, where the PO deposits its pension/healthcare dollars. In 2006, Congress passed a law requiring the PO to deposit 75 future years of pension&healthcare funds within 10 years. In short, Congress requires the PO to right now fund the pensions and healthcare of postal employees who haven't even been born yet. And Treasury still owes the PO between 50 and 75 billion of overpayments into the fund from the 70s and 80s.

In sum, the Bush II era govt. cut taxes and hid the cost of the wars on the back of a constitutionally guaranteed service - the Post Office.
 
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HalfoffSale

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I'm not dogmatically holding onto anything...just simply stating that if we could eliminate bloated spending, we could all enjoy lower taxes.

Wow, why didn't any one else think of that? You must be some sort of savant to realize that. Someone get Obama on the phone right now so Miniverchivi can inform him of this ground breaking concept.

Also, I never got an answer from you why 6 people holding more wealth than 42% of the nation combined is acceptable, but the government is the one trying to hoard all the money.
 
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ThatRobGuy

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Wow, why didn't any one else think of that? You must be some sort of savant to realize that. Someone get Obama on the phone right now so Miniverchivi can inform him of this ground breaking concept.

Also, I never got an answer from you why 6 people holding more wealth than 42% of the nation combined is acceptable, but the government is the one trying to hoard all the money.

Apparently Obama & Bush didn't realize that, that's why we're in this mess.

You asked, I answered...no need to get snippy.


Let's break out the means of holding wealth. I have no problem with it if it's earned, I do have a problem with it if it's taken.

I'd rather have a person earn 100K/year than a person be given 25k/year for free.
 
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HalfoffSale

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Let's break out the means of holding wealth. I have no problem with it if it's earned, I do have a problem with it if it's taken.

I'd rather have a person earn 100K/year than a person be given 25k/year for free.

How do you figure 6 people earned more than the combined net worth of nearly half the country? That's an incredibly unbelievable amount of money for 6 people to "earn" on their own. Especially with the large number of extortion cases and charges against the company. You're giving them an awful lot of benefit of the doubt, way more than you're giving say, the teachers or the Caterpillar workers. And at what point would you say there's a problem? If those 6 hold 60% of the wealth? 80%? At what point do they become greedy villains as well? It's not like that title is exclusive to governments.
 
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Thekla

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Apparently Obama & Bush didn't realize that, that's why we're in this mess.

You asked, I answered...no need to get snippy.


Let's break out the means of holding wealth. I have no problem with it if it's earned, I do have a problem with it if it's taken.

I'd rather have a person earn 100K/year than a person be given 25k/year for free.

Depends on what you mean by "earned" vs. "taken".

Imo, financialization (gambling as opposed to investing) is a form of 'taking'.

Re: WalMart's wage structure - let's see how much their top tier would earn with no employees to run the operation.
 
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ThatRobGuy

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How do you figure 6 people earned more than the combined net worth of nearly half the country? That's an incredibly unbelievable amount of money for 6 people to "earn" on their own. Especially with the large number of extortion cases and charges against the company. You're giving them an awful lot of benefit of the doubt, way more than you're giving say, the teachers or the Caterpillar workers. And at what point would you say there's a problem? If those 6 hold 60% of the wealth? 80%? At what point do they become greedy villains as well? It's not like that title is exclusive to governments.

The line gets drawn when they have a monopoly (which they don't have).

What do you expect the government to do? enforce a nation-wide salary cap so people can't make "too much money"?

Also, where are you getting the stats that this one family holds 40% of the nation's wealth?

Last stat in forbes is that the family as a whole is worth 93 Billion.

40% of the money in the US would be $5,200,000,000,000.

I think the stat you're actually referring to is that the top 1% hold 40% of the wealth in the US...There's a lot more people in the 1% than just the Waltons...
 
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ThatRobGuy

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Depends on what you mean by "earned" vs. "taken".

Imo, financialization (gambling as opposed to investing) is a form of 'taking'.

Re: WalMart's wage structure - let's see how much their top tier would earn with no employees to run the operation.

The wouldn't earn anything...which means if the conditions got bad enough for everyone to quit, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot (free-market).

Since all of their employees haven't quit yet, I'm assuming their conditions haven't gotten bad enough to be self-destructive to the organization.
 
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Thekla

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The wouldn't earn anything...which means if the conditions got bad enough for everyone to quit, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot (free-market).

Since all of their employees haven't quit yet, I'm assuming their conditions haven't gotten bad enough to be self-destructive to the organization.

It depends on how free market is defined, and whether such a thing is even empirically supported (or possible).

In a free market, does starvation = freedom ?

You missed my question on financialization, so to rephrase: does speculation/gambling = work ? Does risk = work ?
 
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ThatRobGuy

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It depends on how free market is defined, and whether such a thing is even empirically supported (or possible).

In a free market, does starvation = freedom ?

You missed my question on financialization, so to rephrase: does speculation/gambling = work ? Does risk = work ?

Gambling does not equal work, nor does risk.

I've stated in numerous other threads that I have no problem with high taxes on inheritence, non-retirement capital gains, & lotto winnings.
 
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Thekla

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Gambling does not equal work, nor does risk.

I've stated in numerous other threads that I have no problem with high taxes on inheritence, non-retirement capital gains, & lotto winnings.

I recall that, thanks.

I do wonder what sort of work is done at the top of the WalMart heap to justify that sort of income ... or whether that's the realized gain that should've instead been 'priced in' to WalMart's effect on the US economy ...
 
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ThatRobGuy

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I recall that, thanks.

I do wonder what sort of work is done at the top of the WalMart heap to justify that sort of income ... or whether that's the realized gain that should've instead been 'priced in' to WalMart's effect on the US economy ...

If you own a company, you're going to reap some indirect benefits just as with anything you own.

If you buy a house, pay it off, and hire people to handle the maintenence and landscaping, does that mean that they should own more of your house than you do since technically they work harder on it than you do? When that house appreciates in value, do you have to do your own physical work on it to justify your increase in equity?
 
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Trogool

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Wal-Mart vs. The Morons (NOT A JOKE)

This is spot-on.
PLEASE, READ THIS TO THE END. IT IS VERY INTERESTING!!!
Wal-Mart vs. The Morons

1. Americans spend $36,000,000 at Wal-Mart Every hour of
every day.

2. This works out to $20,928 profit every minute!

3. Wal-Mart will sell more from January 1 to St. Patrick's
Day (March 17th) than Target sells all year.

4. Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot + Kroger + Target +Sears
+ Costco + K-Mart combined.

5. Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people, is the world's largest
private employer, and most speak English.

6. Wal-Mart is the largest company in the history of the world.

7. Wal-Mart now sells more food than Kroger and Safeway
combined, and keep in mind they did this in only fifteen years.

8. During this same period, 31 big supermarket chains sought
bankruptcy.

9. Wal-Mart now sells more food than any other store in the
world.

10. Wal-Mart has approx 3,900 stores in the USA of which 1,906
are Super Centers; this is 1,000 more than it had five years ago.

11. This year 7.2 billion different purchasing experiences will
occur at Wal-Mart stores. (Earth's population is approximately
6.5 Billion.)

12. 90% of all Americans live within fifteen miles of a Wal-Mart.

You may think that I am complaining, but I am really laying the
ground work for suggesting that MAYBE we should hire the guys
who run Wal-Mart to fix the economy.

This should be read and understood by all Americans… Democrats,
Republicans, EVERYONE!!

To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature

It is now official that the majority of you are corrupt morons:

a.. The U.S. Postal Service was established in 1775. You have
had 237 years to get it right and it is broke.

b... Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 77
years to get it right and it is broke.
c.. Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 74 years
to get it right and it is broke.

d.. War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 48 years to
get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each
year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more.

e.. Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have
had 47 years to get it right and they are broke.

f.. Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 42 years
to get it right and it is broke.

g.. The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our
dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees
with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than
ever before. You had 35 years to get it right and it is an
abysmal failure.

You have FAILED in every "government service" you have shoved
down our throats while overspending our tax dollars.

AND YOU WANT AMERICANS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED
WITH A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM??

Folks, keep this circulating. It is very well stated. Maybe
it will end up in the e-mails of some of our "duly elected'
(they never read anything) and their staff will clue them in
on how Americans feel.
AND
I know what's wrong. We have lost our minds to "Political
Correctness" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Someone please tell me what the HELL's wrong with all the
people that run this country!!!!!!
We're "broke" & can't help our own Seniors, Veterans, Orphans,
Homeless etc.,???????????
In the last months we have provided aid to Haiti , Chile ,
Japan and Turkey..And now Pakistan ........previous home of
bin Laden. Literally, BILLIONS of DOLLARS!!!

Our retired seniors living on a 'fixed income' receive no aid
nor do they get any breaks…

AMERICA: a country where we have homeless without shelter,
children going to bed hungry, elderly going without 'needed'
meds, and mentally ill without treatment -etc,etc.

Imagine if the *GOVERNMENT* gave 'US' the same support they
give to other countries. Sad isn't it?

That was the stupidest chain email I've read in ages. Is this the same Wal-Mart that treats their workers like automatons?
 
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T

Thekla

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If you own a company, you're going to reap some indirect benefits just as with anything you own.

If you buy a house, pay it off, and hire people to handle the maintenence and landscaping, does that mean that they should own more of your house than you do since technically they work harder on it than you do? When that house appreciates in value, do you have to do your own physical work on it to justify your increase in equity?

In the case of WalMart, the "indirect benefits" were a direct result of the negative real impact of policies that helped to fuel the erosion of the US economy.

Likewise, the idea among some "free market" proponents that a benefit for some is a benefit in some form to all recommends that the swap deals that broke the fiscal health of a town in Alabama, led to the bankrupt status of the capitol of Pennsylvania, and severe cutbacks, erosion of educational quality, and rising property taxes of at least on Pa. school district were actually positive overall; after all, someone made a lot of money ...

Rising equity value (either sweat equity, inflating or real rises in property values, or employment paid increase in value) is a tenuous thing. At least however, unlike the holdings at the top of the income structure at WalMart, the money paid to persons employed to work on a house cycle back into the 'real' economy.
 
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stamperben

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Okay, I've held off as long as I can before unloading on the Walmatians!

I got this email a couple of days ago. I will give the disclaimer that I have no idea if it's true or not. You decide.

[FONT=&quot]A few days ago my best friend from high school sent me a
'Viet Nam Veteran' cap. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I never had one of these before,
and I was pretty hyped about it, especially because my
friend was considerate enough to take the time to give it
to me.[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Yesterday, I wore it when I went to Walmart. There was
nothing in particular that I needed at the world's largest
retailer; but, since I retired, trips to Wally World to
look at the Walmartians is always good for some comic
relief. Besides, I always feel pretty normal after seeing
some of the people that frequent the establishment. But, I
digress ... enough of my psychological fixations.[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]While standing in line to check out, the guy in front of
me, probably in his early thirties, asked, "Are you a VietNam Vet?"[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]"No," I replied.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]"Then why are you wearing that cap?"[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]"Because I couldn't find the one from the War of 1812."[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I thought it was a snappy retort.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]"The War of 1812, huh?" the Walmartian queried, "When was that?"[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Lord forgive me, but I couldn't pass up such an opportunity.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]"1936," I answered as straight-faced as possible.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]He pondered my response for a moment and responded, "Why
do they call it the War of 1812 if it was in 1936?"[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]"It was a Black Op. No one is supposed to know about it."[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]This was beginning to be way fun![/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]"Dude! Really?" he exclaimed. "How did you get to do
something that COOOOL?"[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]I glanced furtively around me for effect, leaned toward
the guy and in a low voice said, "I'm not sure. I was the
only Caucasian on the mission."[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]"Dude," he was really getting excited about what he was
hearing, "that is seriously awesome! But, didn't you kind
of stand out?"[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]"Not really. The other guys were wearing white camouflage."[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The moron nodded knowingly.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]"Listen man," I said in a very serious tone, "You can't
tell anyone about this. It's still 'top secret' and I
shouldn't have said anything."[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]"Oh yeah?" he gave me the 'don't threaten me look.'
"Like, what's gonna happen if I do?"[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]With a really hard look I said, "You have a family don't
you? We wouldn't want anything to happen to them, would we?"[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The guy gulped, left his basket where it was and fled
through the door. [/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]By this time the lady behind me was
about to have a heart attack she was laughing so hard. I
just grinned at her.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]After checking out and going to the parking lot I saw
Dimwit leaning in a car window talking to a young woman.
Upon catching sight of me he started pointing excitedly in
my direction. Giving him another 'deadly' serious look, I
made the 'I see you' gesture. He turned kind of pale,
jumped in the car and sped out of the parking lot.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]What a great time![/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Tomorrow I'm going back with my Homeland Security cap.[/FONT]​


[FONT=&quot]Whoever said retirement is boring just needs the right kind of cap![/FONT]​
 
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Paulos23

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SharonL said:
Wal-Mart vs. The Morons (NOT A JOKE)

This is spot-on.
PLEASE, READ THIS TO THE END. IT IS VERY INTERESTING!!!
Wal-Mart vs. The Morons

1. Americans spend $36,000,000 at Wal-Mart Every hour of
every day.

2. This works out to $20,928 profit every minute!

3. Wal-Mart will sell more from January 1 to St. Patrick's
Day (March 17th) than Target sells all year.

4. Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot + Kroger + Target +Sears
+ Costco + K-Mart combined.

5. Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people, is the world's largest
private employer, and most speak English.

6. Wal-Mart is the largest company in the history of the world.

7. Wal-Mart now sells more food than Kroger and Safeway
combined, and keep in mind they did this in only fifteen years.

8. During this same period, 31 big supermarket chains sought
bankruptcy.

9. Wal-Mart now sells more food than any other store in the
world.

10. Wal-Mart has approx 3,900 stores in the USA of which 1,906
are Super Centers; this is 1,000 more than it had five years ago.

11. This year 7.2 billion different purchasing experiences will
occur at Wal-Mart stores. (Earth's population is approximately
6.5 Billion.)

12. 90% of all Americans live within fifteen miles of a Wal-Mart.

You may think that I am complaining, but I am really laying the
ground work for suggesting that MAYBE we should hire the guys
who run Wal-Mart to fix the economy.

This should be read and understood by all Americans… Democrats,
Republicans, EVERYONE!!

To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature

It is now official that the majority of you are corrupt morons:

a.. The U.S. Postal Service was established in 1775. You have
had 237 years to get it right and it is broke.

b... Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 77
years to get it right and it is broke.
c.. Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 74 years
to get it right and it is broke.

d.. War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 48 years to
get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each
year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more.

e.. Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have
had 47 years to get it right and they are broke.

f.. Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 42 years
to get it right and it is broke.

g.. The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our
dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees
with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than
ever before. You had 35 years to get it right and it is an
abysmal failure.

You have FAILED in every "government service" you have shoved
down our throats while overspending our tax dollars.

AND YOU WANT AMERICANS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED
WITH A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM??

Folks, keep this circulating. It is very well stated. Maybe
it will end up in the e-mails of some of our "duly elected'
(they never read anything) and their staff will clue them in
on how Americans feel.
AND
I know what's wrong. We have lost our minds to "Political
Correctness" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Someone please tell me what the HELL's wrong with all the
people that run this country!!!!!!
We're "broke" & can't help our own Seniors, Veterans, Orphans,
Homeless etc.,???????????
In the last months we have provided aid to Haiti , Chile ,
Japan and Turkey..And now Pakistan ........previous home of
bin Laden. Literally, BILLIONS of DOLLARS!!!

Our retired seniors living on a 'fixed income' receive no aid
nor do they get any breaks…

AMERICA: a country where we have homeless without shelter,
children going to bed hungry, elderly going without 'needed'
meds, and mentally ill without treatment -etc,etc.

Imagine if the *GOVERNMENT* gave 'US' the same support they
give to other countries. Sad isn't it?

How is running a company (I.e. increasing profits) even relavent to running a government? Government based on profits for someone (and I don't think it would be for the people) sounds like a tyrany.
 
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Douger

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This is comparing apples to flounder.

If you're going to talk about government efficiency, then point out more efficient governments, Canada, Chile, Germany, Brazil, you name it, but not Wal-Mart for crying out loud.

Unless you think the government should be in charge of importation, retail, prices, wages and benefits.

I guess this just goes to show how one can go so far to the right that you end up a extreme leftist :cool:
 
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SimplyMe

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That was the stupidest chain email I've read in ages. Is this the same Wal-Mart that treats their workers like automatons?

walmart%2Bborg.gif
 
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jayem

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This would be my choice for a company which government could emulate.

Positives: The most admired company in it's industry. A proven innovator. Huge financial success (for stockholders, anyway.) Highly rated customer service. Ranks in the top 10 of the best managed companies, and in the top 15 in happiest employees.

Negative: Manufacturing off-shored to Asia with history of questionable treatment of workers. Supposedly being addressed.

The positives still outweigh the negative.



current-apple-logo.jpg
 
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WalksWithChrist

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This would be my choice for a company which government could emulate.

Positives: The most admired company in it's industry. A proven innovator. Huge financial success (for stockholders, anyway.) Highly rated customer service. Ranks in the top 10 of the best managed companies, and in the top 15 in happiest employees.

Negative: Manufacturing off-shored to Asia with history of questionable treatment of workers. Supposedly being addressed.

The positives still outweigh the negative.



current-apple-logo.jpg
Bah, Apple's just a fruit company.
;)
 
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