An old conflict between bottom line and human lives

Help the workers? Pahleaaaaaassssseeeee

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Bottom line over human lives…pro life, right?

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I get it now, the Republicans are against regulations because it’s just too costly to ensure people survive a day on the job. Nice.

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So once again, it’s rich Americans that are at fault with everything bad that happens in the world.

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But, but, but…. JOB CREATORS!!!!

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Serbia’s ambassador to NATO was chatting and joking with colleagues in a multistory parking garage at Brussels Airport when he suddenly strolled to a barrier, climbed over and flung himself to the ground below, a diplomat said.

That’s a bit odd.

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Is it not culturally imperialistic to impose our safety regulations on other nations?

@ Corbin Sharpe: If there is a “special place in hell for the Waltons” it’s probably air-conditioned, beautifully furnished and decorated, and Satan personally serves them.

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“It is not financially feasible for the brands to make such investments.”

Bad business decision due to greed is when governments clawback some of those billions.

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It’s a process. A Tragic process, but still a process. Companies go by margins, so it’s a risk vs margin type of deal.
How many fires have occurred in the past 5 years?
How many fires are expected to occur in the next 5 years?

Even IF money was allocated at that meeting to upgrade those factories, would it have prevented THIS fire? (does anyone know the cause?)

Alas, the next step is the companies learning that yes, it IS worth it to upgrade those factories. Of course, they should have known before and reduced the risk for the sake of the workers, but that part is hindsight now.
We’ll see if they’ve actually learned and will upgrade factories to actually be safer.

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Not enough babies being born in the United States ? Just legalize gay marriage, that should fix the problem.

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In order to fix a recession caused by the housing industry, we must force everyone to buy health insurance.

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L. Dude — “It’s a process. A Tragic process, but still a process. Companies go by margins, so it’s a risk vs margin type of deal.
How many fires have occurred in the past 5 years?
How many fires are expected to occur in the next 5 years?”

I can’t disagree. I once saw a corporate VP ask “how much would it cost to fix and how much would the fine be” when he was asked to authorize expenditures to address a data security hole in his company’s processes.

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how much of that liability lay at the feet of consumers wanting cheaper and cheaper crap from walmat and company?

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CONS ARE YOU READY FOR ANOTHER BUTT KICKING YET?

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All those major suppliers would share in the costs. It’s not as if one retailer would be at a distinct disadvantage for the same product. Heck those guys all buy from the same factories, then set their own prices according to how ‘upscale’ they are and who they’re appealing to.

Personal greed’s the only explanation I can see.

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“If my name was “Smart Liberal”, then that would be an oxymoron.”

Hilarious. What’s more likely is that you just don’t get it.
“What a maroon.” as Bugs Bunny would say.

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Stupid Liberal might as well be Nero, Oops, Ben Shockley or one of the other trolls who swoop in every couple of minutes and crap all over the place…..

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how much of that liability lay at the feet of consumers wanting cheaper and cheaper crap from walmat and company?

Excellent question and I think it shines a light on the overall problem. When wages are stagnant and don’t have as much buying power, you have to buy cheaper to live or buy on credit. We’ve recently seen where buying on credit leads to. Buying cheaper has meant the loss of jobs for us. From the way I see it, it’s all a stagnating circle of depression that we’re not going to easily excape due to the global economy.

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My family has been boycotting Wal-Mart for years, and it seems like every time we turn around, they give us a new reason to continue doing so. The people who run the place are sociopaths.

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how much of that liability lay at the feet of consumers wanting cheaper and cheaper crap from walmat and company

It’s the fundamental blackmail on which the world capitalist order is built. Consumerism, low prices, driven by the ever shrinking incomes among the majority of the population.

Consumers happy to have a Wal-Mart around to buy things dirt cheap at, but failing to realize that the Wal-Martization of their economy is undermining their standard of living more generally.

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Jay @ 1:07

An even better idea would be to get your IT department to install an ignore button/option on the AJC blogs to avoid even having to deal with stuff like that. The WaPo just got that feature added to their comment sections on their site.

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An even better idea would be to get your IT department to install an ignore button/option on the AJC blogs to avoid even having to deal with stuff like that.

I’ve been pleading with Jay to put a clown filter in these threads for years, now.

I’d also prefer actual threading, so that one could easily skip past the rabbit holes.

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So let me see if I follow this logic. A family that is collectively worth 107 billion dollars decides that the cost to upgrade a factory at a cost of $500,000 per factory or 22.5 million (estimated) is just not “financially feasible” What, does reducing ones lifestyle to a mere 106 billion and some change really cause that much of a hardship?

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“If the president’s proposal was made in good faith, Democrats should be eager to vote for it,” he added. “So I’m surprised the majority leader just declined the chance for them to support it with their votes.”

Reid, a Nevada Democrat dismissed McConnell’s request as yet another example of GOP “obstruction.”

—-

democrats live in fantasy land

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To repeat a point I made on an earlier topic, This is also in addition to us taxpayers subsidizing the Walton’s employees through Govt. assistance.

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Hey Jay, $27 billion doesn’t go as far as it used to.

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Apple moving making computers back to the USA.

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Decibels: “Jay, that final graphic in your post literally had me close to vomiting.”

Had you not heard about those figures before?

Of course I had. But the timing, the juxtapositioning with the outright lies these plutocrats spew–it got to me, is all.

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The thing that protected American workers was the rise of unions from situations like the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and other similar events. But somehow unions are bad things when they help protect the worker.

I know unions have gone too far in some cases but without them we will continue to have these types of tragedies around the world. I think the world can and should model their workplace after how the German’s have done theirs. The German economy is one of the strongest and they also have very strong unions. Go figure, both can coexist.

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Socialists always look for the next confiscation … after all taxation IS “redistribution of the wealth”.

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So in regard to the Bangladesh tragedy. Can one assume that this is what the Romney/Ryan team had in mind when preaching the virtues of “unbridled capitalism”?

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how much of that liability lay at the feet of consumers wanting cheaper and cheaper crap from walmat and company?

Of course it’s all connected. But if we’re going to branch out with the liability, why not go to Congress, which has been so ideologically bound to the Austerity gods that they won’t free up money to put people to work, which in turn keeps wages artificially low, which means people don’t really have THAT much of a choice if they’re going to try to keep everyone in the family clothed and fed.

Sure, they can take baby steps–at least, say, shop at Costco rather than WallyWorld. But do you really expect masses of people to take that kind of ideological step in their workaday world? How many Americans even know about this particular tragedy, do you think?

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Here’s a great illustration of this issue. Say you have a house with two huge problems. The first issue is the wiring is not up to code. The wiring works, but is outdated and needs to be upgraded. The second issue is the foundation has a huge crack and the entire house is in danger of falling apart.

Which issue in your opinion is more important to fix first? You are dependent upon the electrical wires to keep your HVAC working and your family kept warm and your refrigerator powered, but your house will eventually fall without a foundation fix.

This is where we are as a country. Our house will fall down and we will be Greece if our foundation isn’t fixed. A complex issue, but one where the writing is on the wall.

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why not go to Congress, which has been so ideologically bound to the Austerity gods that they won’t free up money to put people to work

Because Congress doesn’t work for the benefit and betterment of America as much as they work for the benefit and betterment of their financiers.

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So when the cons blame government for regulations, they ignore they are added because of tragedies like this one.

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Sounds like Jay wants a gub’ment take over of Wal-Mart. Another brilliant idea from Jay – the socialist philosopher

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Walmart heirs involved in the business, top shareholders and board members should be ashamed of themselves.

I understand the argument of consumers wanting cheaper goods, but in the end no consumer or consumer group forces Walmart or any company along with their suppliers to cut corners that could lead to potential tragedies.

They all employ directly or indirectly (usually both) risk managers that make assessments as to risk, cost, etc on all facets of their business.

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Sometimes I wonder if our country hasn’t turned to a new chapter in its history and is beginning to become a corporate-owned police state.

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I think it would have been cheaper to provide protection to the people in Benghazi. But only 4 died in that protest.

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It is not about sheldon con.

Focus on the issue.

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I refused to shop at WalMart years before it was cool to refuse to shop at WalMart.

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a Wal-Mart director of ethical sourcing — From the article cited by Stands and Jay

now there is an oxymoron…..

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If you don’t like Wal-Mart why do you go there? Let’s see – they have what you want and it costs less – right? Are you willing to give that up and buy from MOM and POP? Let’s see how your moral outrage is effected when YOU have to sacrifice something yourself.

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Yeah you refused to shop at Wal-Mart years ago – but Target’s O.K.

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Jay – You hear about the disabilities amendment with a UN banner that would help ensure that other countries would try to accomodate people with disabilities in the workplace, etc? Republicans shot it down. Another UN conspiracy.

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If you don’t like Wal-Mart why do you go there?

I don’t like Wal Mart, and I don’t shop there. I usually go to either Mom/Pop stores or I go to chains that franchise out, like Ace Hardware. I try to keep my money local.

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So Morality has confirmed that its not really the consumer’s fault. Walmart drives the low prices as part of their corporate policy and size not consumers.

But its clear that Morality has not read the linked story and its explanation of what occurred.

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nero,

At least you are not focused on the fiscal cliff but you need to get on topic.

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Remember back when Walmart was first starting to work its way into little towns all over America and it promised that it would only sell Made in America goods? Then, of course, once it got established it not only went back on that promise, it started demanding such low prices from manufacturers that to comply they were forced to shut down their factories in America and set up shop in China, India, etc. I’m sure they would have loved to tell Walmart, no thanks, we’ll just sell our goods elsewhere. But since Walmart had run all the other stores out of business….

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Brosephus – Well there’s somebody that puts their money where their mouth is but there are millions of Obama voters out there with moral outrage for Wal-Mart but shop there because they are not willing to sacrifice anything themselves – like convenience or price. Got no problem with Wal-Mart myself…… good lots of cheap Chinese junk – guaranteed to last until you get it out the door.

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If Wal-Mart was owned by Bill Gates or the Oracle of Omaha – doubt Jay would be critical of them – but heh Wal-Mart “donates” to BOTH parties.

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You folks do realize that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act probably wouldn’t have been passed without Wal*Mart’s support, yes?

I point this out not to praise this company, but to recognize that it is not going anywhere; rather than dreaming of a mass consumer uprising, we’d be better off shaming companies publicly and forcing their hands into making policy/procurement changes. People like Jay play a role. you can too.

As for personal shopping decisions, I would ask that folks not only shop locally (always a good idea if you can manage it) but try to patronize outfits that promote fair trade. Here’s one excellent resource for gift shopping (they have two retail outlets in the ATL metro area. Here’s another.

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nero,

You were warned.

Red card.

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“Don’t talk to me about morality I’m a business man”. Frank Lorenzo 1989. The Waltons, and other big retailers, are taking this one to heart!

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As long as Americans want low prices, this type of tragedy will continue. If the retailers demanded minimum safety standards the factory owners would charge more and prices to consumers would increase. How much they would increase is debatable but as long we we demand low prices and support these retailers, this will continue. If we’re willing to pay more, problem solved….unless the company heads are so greedy they tell us the factories are up to standard, pocket the price increase as profit and laugh all the way to the bank. Really simple stuff and I think this issue tends to get filed under the “Corporate Stewardship” section of the round file.

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dB

Thanks for the coffee link…

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Morality – why do you feel it is your business which gods I thank?

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Bro,
Man we don’t make anything much anymore (electronics, clothing.) Did (and I’m just asking) we go overboard with demands on businesses to the point where it just was not feasable? All the textile mills in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. They are about ALL closed. I know it regs, etc. are not solely to blame, but?????? The easy answer everybody wants to shout is “greed” ; is that the only answer, or is it answer D: all of the above! (Greed, too many demands, etc.) I know its tough in the work force, but folks now don’t expect to work. Many (not all, but many) expect 364 days off per year from vacation and sick days, they know that in many cases they will not be fired whether they are sorry or not…….help me out here; I ain’t sure what the solution is…..and yes, I buy American as much as possible!

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Byte – It’s a good thing we have our government watching out for us (sarc)

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I heard bush started the fire when he discarded the butt of a cuban in a pile of leaves out front. I also heard him, Cheney, and rove were barricading the doors so no one could escape.

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More of Jay’s bash the rich moronic dribble.
One post said something about Made in America, Impossible with all the welfare programs NO ONE will work. And for all you globalist, what a job is worth in a foreign country that’s what it is worth here!

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If they cared as much about viable human beings as they do fetuses, their concerns would be more credible.

If they caared as much about first graders as they do fetuses, it would make more sense.

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It’s easy for the let to always take shots at Wal-Mart. But how exactly did Wal-Mart become so huge and successful? Well for one thing, Sam Walton was willing to invest and open stores in the poorer more rural parts of the country where other retailers thougt the people were too stupid and poor to ever make money off of. Walton did not have the contempt for these such rural people as the othe major retailers did. Walton proved that there was money to be made by serving this market, a market which the other supposedly *more caring* retailers ceded to him. As well, Walton invested in state-of-the art technolody and was able to create a distribution system far more advanced and efficient than the retailers from the *smarter* parts of the country. In a nutshell, Wal-Mart became what it became for 2 primary reasons. It had faith enough in the poorer rural parts of the country to invest in such places — and it just flat out was far more technologically innovative and visionary than the retailers from the *smarter* parts of the country. Their primary crime was giving poorer people access to decent quality goods at prices they could afford, whereas the other retailers didn’t even both trying to sell to such people as they didn’t think such people were worth their time. That’s the other side of the story, and it’s a far more accurate one than the side the left likes to tell regarding Wal-Mart.

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skipper

I think it’s an “all the above” answer with greed and short term thinking as the primary motivator.

Greed on the part of the consumer who sees superstars buying extravagant sh*t and wanting to live like that themselves and not having the means to do so.

Greed on the part of the investor who expects huge returns on investments to go on forever.

Greed on the part of the businesses who fail to realize that growth is not prepetual or guaranteed.

Short term thinking on the part of politicians who saw “free trade agreements” as a way to feed the greed without thinking of the long term issues that would arise.

I could go on, but, in short, I think we basically brought it on ourselves. Until we get business leaders to realize that they employ their customer base, nothing will change. If you don’t pay your workers enough to afford your goods, you can’t sell your goods.

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They’re modern Robber Barons, like those of the 19th century, look at human beings as tools of productivity. If a tool breaks, throw it out and get another. In their minds, humans as tools are disposable and totally secondary to the goal of cheap productivity.

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wonder how the waltons feel around christmas time and the playing of “scrooge”?

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mark in mid-town:
Correct, that is how Wal-Mart started and that is how Sam Walton ran it. There was also a time, up till the mid 90s I recall, when Wal-Mart advertised that their products were Made in America. Then Sam passed away. The MIA was relegated so smaller and smaller sections in the stores and eventually that slogan was discontinued completely. That was about the same time the kids expanded the chain from 500 stores to over 5,000 super stores. This (the cheapening of the brand) would not have happened under Sams watch.
You are also correct in that the chain could grow so much so fast due to the American consumers unquenchable thirst for cheaper stuff.
Perhaps having a photo of the person who made your product on the top of each isle or clothing rack would make people rethink their purchase. Do I want the $4 toaster made by the 13 year old girl in China, or the $19 toaster made by the father of 4 in Iowa?

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Off topic, I know, but this is too rich,,,what does this guy know about reality anyhow?

http://xfinity.comcast.net/blogs/tv/2012/12/06/glenn-beck-vince-vaughn-peter-billingsley-launch-reality-show/

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If you don’t pay your workers enough to afford your goods, you can’t sell your goods.

Henry Ford gave his workers a better wage so they could buy the products they were making

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There are stupid people in all catagories. Most of the CONS are stupid and fewer LIBS are stupid and this STUPID LIBERAL is soooo stupid his mama ………

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ARMW

http://www.madeinamericastore.com/

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“Henry Ford gave his workers a better wage so they could buy the products they were making”

Henry Ford gave SOME OF his workers a better wage so they could buy the products they were making. he increased the pay of the men in his business, but not the women.

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getalife:

Tell Obama ……. he’s in charge or is he not listening to you now ?

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Henry Ford gave his workers a better wage so they could buy the products they were making

And 100 years later, Ford Motor Company still has plants in the US. Can’t quite say the same thing for VF Corporation and Wrangler jeans.

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fedup

December 6th, 2012
2:21 pm

There are stupid people in all catagories. Most of the CONS are stupid and MORE LIBS are stupider and this STUPID LIBERAL is soooo stupid his mama loves him for it.

fixed it for ya..

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Mr Digits – you seem depressed today – all your posts are about death and such.

Maybe take a walk, or tell someone a joke – you’ll feel better.

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Doggone/GA

December 6th, 2012
2:25 pm

“Henry Ford gave his workers a better wage so they could buy the products they were making”

Henry Ford gave SOME OF his workers a better wage so they could buy the products they were making. he increased the pay of the men in his business, but not the women.
++++++++++++++++++++++++

Feminazi………….

It still goes on today. Women make less for the same job. It’s changing but too slowly.

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The tea party had it’s “Waterloo” and are dead.

The majority still rules our country even after citizen united.

If you can’t beat him cons, join our President.

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If Obama was president over there, this incident wouldn’t have happened. This is crony republicanism at its finest. They don’t give a d**n about people! It is time for world wide economic fairness and to cut this tyrannical nonsense out! This is why we will be a blue state by 2016!

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I’m totally in favor of some serious wealth redistribution after seeing all the money that those walton children have amassed. You would think that they would want their loyal employees to be the best paid? Nahh it just doesn’t work that way. One billion equals 10 hundred million, seriously what more can you do with a fortune like that???

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getalife:

“He knows the majority wanted out of Afghanistan so he set the date.”

Ah ………………… are the President and Panetta not talking to each other ?????

HEADLINE NBC News: “Panetta: US foresees ‘enduring presence’ to fight al-Qaida in Afghanistan”

WASHINGTON — “Al-Qaida fighters are still trying to make inroads into Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday, cautioning that battling the group would be a core U.S. mission there for years to come.”

P.S. Maybe you need to get out more often.

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Women make less for the same job
If the comparison is apples to apples and all human capital is included…women make about 3% less,

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“Remember when all of the Middle East problems were going to be solved because he was elected the first time ?”

Could I get a link to that, Mr Digits?

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Have Republicans managed to bring up the case that those jobs could be here in the states were it not for minor things including regulations prohibiting the exploitation of minors and unsafe work environments amongst other profit-robbing things. And blaming the consumer for buying the lower cost item after first making sure that the consumer can only afford the lower cost item is really a stretch, dontcha know.

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Remember when all of the Middle East problems were going to be solved because he was elected the first time ?

No. This has been yet another example of the appropriate use of simple answers.

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It is not WalMarts fault that cheap imports are sold here. Put the blame where it belongs. Congress and ” K ” Street are the guilty ones.

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You know the jews expected jesus to solve their middle east problems with the romans, that wasn’t his purpose.
No american president has been able to solve the ME problems, although the much maligned jimmy carter was hands down the best at that effort…

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Wal-mart decided to offer the lower-priced item – it’s a bit disingenuous to blame the consumer for buying it…

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There is no known way to correct this problem so this tragedy in Banglalesh as well as the general mistreatment of American workers will continue.

I disagree. If one is to believe in American Exceptionalism, then that should extend to us being able to teach other countries based on the growing pains we’ve already experienced. Company execs should be more than willing to proactively take care of the safety of workers as opposed to re-inventing the wheel by fighting organized labor again. History has a way of repeating itself, and the story doesn’t typically change or end differently when you do the same thing while expecting different results.

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Uncle Samantha

Why not read the link provided earlier by Welcome to the Occupation @ 1:37?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/world/asia/bangladeshi-labor-organizer-is-found-killed.html

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Alas, the next step is the companies learning that yes, it IS worth it to upgrade those factories. Of course, they should have known before and reduced the risk for the sake of the workers, but that part is hindsight now.
We’ll see if they’ve actually learned and will upgrade factories to actually be safer.

Every relative of those workers should petition their country to take WalMart et al. to World Court for crimes against humanity.

This is not about “they should’ve known”; this is about “they knew but decided the dollar was worth more than one human life”.

“When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses.” ― Shirley Chisholm

“The Road To Serfdom is about capitalism. That’s why on the side of that road you’ll find me, in a kiosk, selling ankle chains and handcuffs.
” ― Jarod Kintz, 99 Cents For Some Nonsense

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Regnad Kcin

There are consumers and there are socially connected consumers, who know they have both a conscience and a choice. Picking and choosing were we shop based on conscience has done great things for this country, among them making sure everyone has their constitutional rights! Just sayin’…

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Mr. Snarky

December 6th, 2012
12:59 pm
Sounds like “STUPID LIBERAL” is just stupid…trying to change the subject, naturally.
___________________________________________________________________
Yes, because Jay’s piece was about Republicans stance on regulations, so you didnt say anything about this comment…

“I get it now, the Republicans are against regulations because it’s just too costly to ensure people survive a day on the job. Nice.”

No, it was about Serbia’s ambassador, so you ignored this…
“Serbia’s ambassador to NATO was chatting and joking with colleagues in a multistory parking garage at Brussels Airport when he suddenly strolled to a barrier, climbed over and flung himself to the ground below, a diplomat said”

Or maybe your selective poutrage gland is in hyperdrive and causes you to only see off-topic comments from the left.

There’s an app for that.

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SoCoBro: Company execs should be more than willing to proactively take care of the safety of workers as opposed to re-inventing the wheel by fighting organized labor again

Well Bro – if that was the case, then BP, instead of taking those billions yearly since the oil spill in the Gulf; would’ve given the money to the states. Instead they had to be MADE to do it.

The only thing those companies understand, is PAIN. The only pain they feel is the pain of a loss of profits.

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@ debbie.. tell that to citi workers.. over 11,000 laid off because of low profits.. maybe they feel the pain too?

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Well, it’s too bad all those people got burned to death.

I just hope WalMart won’t raise their prices because of all this. I need to go there every month for my white sox and underwear when it’s time to take my bath. Things are sorta tight, you know.

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debbie.. tell that to citi workers.. over 11,000 laid off because of low profits.. maybe they feel the pain too?

Citi isn’t feeling any pain. They’re making a strategic move in order to boost the Board and Investors’ portfolios.

The workers, well workers ALWAYS feel the pain. Ask the loved ones of those that died in that fire.

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BTW – Wasn’t Citibank one of the companies that were bailed out?

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Uncle Samantha

American in Bangladesh is subject to their rules, not ours. I don’t know of very many people who are going to volunteer for such as suicide mission. Most Americans I know enjoy living just a we bit more than the idea of being a martyr for the labor movement.

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We’re gonna have to close Walmart. After that, we need to take all the Waltons’ money and distribute it among those more deserving; it’s the only fair thing to do. And while we’re at it, we need to give Obama the power to levy a tax on all savings accounts, IRAs, 401s and dare anyone to start a business with the idea of making money. I mean, why would anybody be so foolish to think they should make money just because they’re in business. I want to thank Bookman an “awful lot” for pointing out this nasty old capitalistic notion that some people have.

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DDR

I’m starting my counting from today, and I’m bowing to you in utter respect for what you’ve done! (But now where am I going to get my “Faded Glory” crap? LOL)

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Brosephus – 2:52

You might want to reconsider after reading this.

http://businessheroes.net/business/sociopathic-success/

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“Obama claimed “diplomacy” will solve the Iran nuclear problem”

“A key part of candidate Obama’s 2008 speech was a discussion of how his tough diplomacy would solve the problem of Iran’s illicit nuclear program.”

http://www.rpc.senate.gov/policy-papers/president-obama-versus-candidate-obama-on-the-middle-east

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0311 — “Obama claimed “diplomacy” will solve the Iran nuclear problem”

And after one Obama term, Iran still doesn’t have the bomb.

What happened in the first Bush term? North Korea GOT the bomb.

Conclusion: Obama > Bush.

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YAWN !

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If you don’t like how Wal-Mart operates (and much of the world’s garment industry operates in this type of environment or even worse), then simply do not shop there.

All shareholders of Wal-Mart will suffer as a result of the drop in stock price (it won’t hurt a Walton to be worth $20 B instead of $26B), a few fund managers might lose their jobs, I’ll take a hit as I’m sure most mutual funds own some Wal-Mart, etc. (every large stock index fund would). It is the stock market and consumers that reward Wal-Mart for their business model, if you don’t care to support it, don’t.

Freedom of choice is such a wonderful thing.

Terrible what happened to the people. Look at the label and if it says “Made In Bangladesh”, then consider not buying it.

Of course, sweatshops exist in Manhattan and downtown Los Angeles as well.

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The solution here is very simple, Jay. You and your fellow haters should start buying all your “walmart” type items from Democrat owned retailers who pay all their employees a “living” wage, provide healtcare to all of them, and whose CEO/owner only makes 2.5 times the wages of the labor force. Surely there should be countless options since half the voters voted Democrat and ya’ll claim to be all for all this stuff, right?

Hey, how about posting the names of all these companies here for us to help everybody with their shopping choices. Thanks.

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RB, I loved it.

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“off-topic comments from the left”

Make that “off-topic comments from the right”

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0311 — “YAWN !”

Your surrender and concession are noted and appreciated.

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indigo

I understand your point, so I’ll try to re-state mine.

If America is supposed to be “THE” example of capitalism and all that’s good about it, should we not try to teach others how to do things the right way as we do them? This country has already gone through the struggles of labor and safety. Why would we not teach others based upon the mistakes and growing pains we’ve already endured if we’re supposed to be the “world leader”?

My point is that the stuff about American Exceptionalism is pure bullsh*t. The only thing exceptional about us is the way we manipulate others in order to get what we want. THAT ties directly into your link, and I agree with you 100% on the point you’re making.

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Mama:

And you are that naive to think the Iran situation has been solved ?

Geez !

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OWN IT OBAMA ! “UNEMPLOYMENT BACK ABOVE 8%”

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The “urban myth” of Henry Ford raising some of his workers pay:
http://corporate.ford.com/news-center/press-releases-detail/677-5-dollar-a-day

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What’s the next campaign, Jay? How about complete Socialization where the government runs everythng. Oh I forgot, that does not work so well either, i.e. USSR, etc. But the Moonbat mind thinks if “they” run it the outcome will be different. rrriiiggghhhttt.

Obviously, your goal is to demonize people of opposite political views, especially if they are wealthy. Your piece is very inflammatory and unnecessary. In case you have not noticed, you have a bunch of soft-mellon followers who eat up what you write. You have a responsibility ignored in this case. This has to be your worst work.

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getalife:

“He knows the majority wanted out of Afghanistan so he set the date”

“You know we usually keep troops there after a war”

Make up your mind !

PITIFUL !

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scout,

We want lower unemployment.

You are out of the majority.

Way out.

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Mark in Midtown: Sam Walton was willing to invest and open stores in the poorer more rural parts of the country where other retailers thougt the people were too stupid and poor to ever make money off of. Walton did not have the contempt for these such rural people as the othe major retailers did. Walton proved that there was money to be made by serving this market, a market which the other supposedly *more caring* retailers ceded to him. As well, Walton invested in state-of-the art technolody and was able to create a distribution system far more advanced and efficient than the retailers from the *smarter* parts of the country. In a nutshell, Wal-Mart became what it became for 2 primary reasons. It had faith enough in the poorer rural parts of the country to invest in such places

Curious: Wal-Mart’s success is due to that dastardly 47% of moochers.

Yep – you’re both correct!! So the Waltons got rich from catering to the “everyday man”. Because, let’s face it, IF they shop for themselves, rich people invariably aren’t OFTEN seen at Walmart.

Tom M. : I’m starting my counting from today, and I’m bowing to you in utter respect for what you’ve done! (But now where am I going to get my “Faded Glory” crap? LOL)

Hiya Tom!! You could probably get your stuff direct from the “manufacturer”; OR you can go to Thrift stores.

PS: I know I’m taking your question WAY too seriously, but it was a really good question!!

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indigo

I was being a bit sarcastic in that we’re the model for which the rest of the world should follow.

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Note: Please mark sarcasm. Too hard to pick up on a comment board.

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J. Reb — “Obviously, your goal is to demonize people of opposite political views”

“In case you have not noticed, you have a bunch of soft-mellon followers who eat up what you write.”

Assertion + Demonstration = Embarrassment

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Please mark sarcasm. Too hard to pick up on a comment board.

My bad… I’m usually good about truth in labeling.

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Welcome — read your link about the Kochs. What i find so amazing about them is their history. Few people know, or care it seems, that their father made his money from and spent a great bit of time in the Soviet Union; and his sons did too.

It seems to me, with all of the Koch’s anti–American sentiments, that no one has ever questioned them about where their loyalties lies.

I guess it’s the godlen rule working overtime again.

He who has the gold, makes the rules.

PS: The article — i think that every GOP stronghold state in America has those “Right To Work” laws; spearheaded by a Koch “employee” in one form or another.

When people don’t vote, this ^^^^ is what they get. My only joy is in knowing that I won’t be leaving any children of my own to live through this mess that some of the older generation has made.

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There are a LOT of people who are rich that don’t show their wealth. They also shop at Walmart, thrift stores and buy used cars.

Uh huh. I wonder if ANY of the Waltons shop at their own stores?

Probably not.

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Scout

Your comments earlier regarding Vietnam, Iraq and Afganistan surely have merit, but that absolves Walmart and their supplier in regards to this issue exactly how?

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Scout

And no I do not shop at Walmart.

And yes they lobby and support both parties with huge amounts of money.

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Ahh…the class warefare continues…gee Jay, lets take 75% of your gross salary and help those people!!!!

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BREAKING NEWS!!!
http://gretawire.foxnewsinsider.com/2012/12/06/now-senate-majority-leaders-wants-to-bring-food-to-the-senate-screening-of-steven-spielbergs-movie-lincoln-do-we-have-to-pay-for-that-too/

Now this is really important.

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Scout: The unemployment report for November’s numbers isn’t out yet.

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“There are a LOT of people who are rich that don’t show their wealth. They also shop at Walmart, thrift stores and buy used cars.’

In my broker days my boss gave me a profile to read of what the average millionaire looked like. And it wasn’t the young guy in the flashy suit driving a new BMW who was struggling to make his payments every month. The average millionaire was a guy in his mid 50s who wore polyester pants, his home was paid for, he drove an older model American car like an oldsmobile, and yes- he did shop at the local Walmart and was frugal with his money. You would be shocked at the people who have money and at the people who you think have money who are living paycheck to paycheck.

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C 98 — “Yeah, I’m not sure how that works.”

It doesn’t work at all, but that’s because you’ve put up a pretty stupid binary choice and represented the situation as being manifestly identical to that selfsame stupid binary choice. Wal-Mart could just as easily have pressed the producers to implement better safety procedures and systems in their production facilities, but that doesn’t even seem to figure in your construction.

“Typical liberal thought process. “FIRE BAD!!!”. Instead of thanking Wal-Mart for providing these people a with a job, the executives must be demonized.”

Years ago, when I was in grad school and teaching at the college level, I’d occasionally get students like you; they’d object to grades of “C” and below by saying something like ‘but I stayed up an entire weekend working on that paper’ or ‘but I put so much work into that.’ as if they were somehow supposed to be graded on effort alone and not the QUALITY of the work they turned in.

Their papers, just like Wal-Mart’s jobs, were barely sufficient to meet requirements. Now, maybe that’s impressive to you and worth some kind of slap on the back, but I had higher standards for my students — and I think employees should expect higher standards from their employees as well. Maybe you’d thank an employer for putting you to work on the 16th floor of a firetrap building with no fire escape, but I certainly wouldn’t.

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Doom — “How is it Walmart’s job to regulate worker safety in foreign nations?”

Same way food producers monitor production at their overseas producers. Foreign ag producers have to meet USDA standards and importers are obliged to monitor for compliance.

Nothing stopping Walmart or any other retailer from monitoring conditions at producer facilities overseas. Apple does it — a poor job of it, true, but they do it.

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Thulsa

Knew a guy who worked at the largest employer just south of downtown. He probably never made more than 70K during his 30 yrs there and wore the gawdiest clothes.

He and his brother were big into commercial real estate and he made numerous millions as his side gig.

When I first meet him when I was in my early 20s, he drove a Chevy Luv.

When he retired he came back as a contractor. When company hit hard times and they laid off all contractors, he got mad as of he didn’t have a penny to his name…

He would chuckle at the young engineers and finance folks driving high priced cars and living in apartments in Midtown and Buckhead

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@ Joe Hussein Mama

funny.. if you were grading papers these days.. all the students would be getting c’s.. wouldnt be fair that some students were more skilled than others… and we surely cannot have any fail.. so you would just need to redistribute the grades to the ones that were less fortunate..

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Union — “@ Joe Hussein Mama funny.. if you were grading papers these days.. all the students would be getting c’s.. wouldnt be fair that some students were more skilled than others… and we surely cannot have any fail.. so you would just need to redistribute the grades to the ones that were less fortunate..”

Well, I can see that *you* wouldn’t be getting a passing grade if you turned in prattle like that.

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Union — “@ Joe Hussein Mama – nice side step..”

Nice fabrication.

I don’t really need you to tell me what kinds of grades I’d be giving because quite frankly, you don’t have the first effing clue.

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Thulsa

It is called risk assessment. I’m sure you are familiar with the term.

All major companies do it for all facets of their business and make decisions accordingly.

No different if you are building a house and your contractor’s sub messes up….. Your throat to choke is the general contractor or maybe both, but you wouldn’t not let the general off the hook. Smart folks wouldn’t.

If you are good with it, it speaks more about you than me.

They reap the rewards form their business prowess and should be ready to reap the bad when it occurs

I live my life on a two way street.

You?

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DDR@3:51

THANK YOU! Believe it or not, you took the question right. I was never a real hippie because I always had a job, but part of me – the creative part – still lives in the 60s. I loves me some Faded Glory.

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josef

December 6th, 2012
4:08 pm
BLACK GUY

There are wealthy people and there are bourgeois wannabes. Wealthy people aren’t trying to prove anything. Wannabes are.
_________________________________
That is soooo true josef. I know one guy who owns a fairly large trucking company. He has 2 vehicles.
a 2006 Tahoe for when he and the wife go out and a 97 Chevy pick up (that he bought used).

I know people who are living check to check with houses bigger than his.

BTW, Hi everybody.

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Joe Hussein Mama – “Look, it wasn’t funny 20 years ago (the first time I heard it) and it isn’t any more funny today.”

who said anything about funny? you seem to be getting a little irritated with this line of discussion.. sorry if it hits home.

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“Hey, how about posting the names of all these companies here for us to help everybody with their shopping choices. Thanks.”

Bueller… Bueller…

I don’t understand, libs. Is it that democrats don’t own/run any businesses or are they not the benevolent saviors of the American worker you pretend they are?

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Union — “who said anything about funny?”

Oh, so are you saying you were SERIOUS when you posted this?

@ Joe Hussein Mama funny.. if you were grading papers these days.. all the students would be getting c’s.. wouldnt be fair that some students were more skilled than others… and we surely cannot have any fail.. so you would just need to redistribute the grades to the ones that were less fortunate..

If you posted it to be funny, don’t worry. It wasn’t funny at all.

OTOH, if you were *serious* when you posted it, then I’m *certain* you haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.

“you seem to be getting a little irritated with this line of discussion..”

Yes, I am. The damnfool conservative notion that grades are or should be, under a liberal mindset, something fungible and somehow *shareable* is, IMO, absolutely ludicrous.

“sorry if it hits home.”

It doesn’t hit home at all. It just clarifies to me that you haven’t got a clue in your head about college grades. Otherwise, I don’t think you’d have posted something so patently foolish.

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Re: RB from Gwinnett

Costco for starters. They pay, on average, nearly double what Walmart pays their employees. They provide benefits and contribute to a 401K plan. Employee turn-over is significantly less than at Walmart.

We know historically that Walmart employees are one of the largest affiliated group of EMPLOYED AMERICANS that have to rely on the social safety net including food assistance, MEDICAID, etc. because of the deplorable wages and benefits offered to the average worker at a Walmart store.

That is only with respect to their store employees here in the U.S. I can’t speak to their oversight practices regarding the manufacturers and suppliers of their goods.

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This shows that we really need consumer boycotts of these retailers and demand that they provide safe working conditions for those who make the clothes they sell. I’m not buying any clothing again from those retailers–Gap, Target, Walmart, JC Penny. Save Lives! Don’t buy clothes from these guys!

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Our President met with a middle class family today at their house.

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” Wal-Mart in fact had technically ended its relationship with the Bangladesh factory where the most recent fire occurred, but the company also now acknowledges that Walmart goods were still being produced there because a supplier had “subcontracted work to this factory without authorization and in direct violation of our policies.” ” ! So why are you bashing walmart if they have ended its relationship ? Maybe you should have put up names and pics of the execs at the GAP instead of bashing the group you tell us are not doing biz with this factory. This just shows the contempt you have for the Waltons.

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Union — “Joe Hussein Mama – foolish?.. this whole post is foolish.. we are blaming a company for buying a product from a manufacture that failed to implement appropriate safety standards for employees.. simply because the major shareholders are “rich”

1) Your argument doesn’t hold water in view of agricultural imports. Read up on the USDA’s APHIS program. There’s no reason something similar couldn’t be done for other classes of imported goods.

2) Your pivot back to the main topic is noted, but does not dismiss my previous criticism of you in re your comments about grades.

“maybe ford, gm and other us car makers should implement tighter security to protect the workers in mexico as they are in danger of getting whacked by a drug cartel.. they know about it as you cannot pick up a paper and not read about it. lets boycott those guys. youre correct though jhm.. its all foolish”

Not all of it. Just you, when it comes to grades.

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What many of you do not realize is that we are literally standing in the threshold of World War III. Syria is different from Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, & Libya. The Russians and likely the Chinese are not going to stand by idly and let Washington’s and Tel Aviv’s hegemony and imperialist ambitions continue.

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“What many of you do not realize is that we are literally standing in the threshold of World War III”

Well, I’ve been living with that threat since I was born. The players change, the threat doesn’t. And you know what? If there is a third World War…we’ll deal with it when it comes, but in the meantime we’ll try to prevent it. We really will.

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DOGGONE

Yep.

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Sooth

I could be wrong but I think Russia and China will make any stand over Iran.

Several months ago, I thought one or both would do more in Syria but not sure if Syria brings enough to the table for either to really “bow up”. Not saying they are not or will not do something on a small scale, but not sure a big scale outside of Iran being a prominent player on a big scale.

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Sooth – I’m sure Russia and China will do their best to insure that no one interrupts their imperialist ambitions.

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What really amazes me is the silence of the conned regarding Walmart. When you stop and examine the business model, what you get is a retail giant paying minimal wages to people who cannot afford the company health insurance or any set-aside toward retirement. They supplement their wages with public assistance, food stamps, medicaid, etc. So the government is doing what the GOTP detests the most! The government is subsidizing a corporation AND the people who work there in order to maximize profits for the 1%! Oh, the irony…..

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It is a beautiful thing to see (most of) ‘merka become aware,
at the same time, aware of the power you have as a consumer.
You are 70+% of the world’s largest economy.
Look at that picture above, LOOK at it.
Pull out that big stick & whoop some ass.

Some of you will STILL be surprised how quick this world is gon change.

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What Tel Aviv and the world Jewry should be concerned with is that their leading the world into World War III causes such a backlash that the results will make the Holocaust look like child’s play.

Russia has already warned the United States and by proxy, Tel Aviv, that it will “not allow Syria to become another Libya.”

Israel has, unfortunately, cast its lot with a madman — Netanyahu — who very likely will cause the world more pain and suffering than ever caused by Adoph Hitler — although for different reasons.

Notice how Israel waited until after the U.S. elections before its actions against Palestine?

Notice how the U.S. waited until after the U.S. elections before raising this “chemical weapons” hoakum?

It’s almost like they’re following a script isn’t it?

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Jay, you’ve got a powerful emotional argument there. Can you give us some more logic? I thought you preferred intellectual appeals to emotional ones.

You might start by addressing these questions.

Who has primary responaibility for the safety of a factory?

Do you have any documentation on just what the upgrades woiuld cost?

What, exactly, does the personal financial worth of the Waltons, accumulated over time, have to do with what is currently financially feasible for the company?

Is fire safety one of the tradeoffs third world countries and companies have to make becauase of their limited resources? (There are probably ways we could have spent more money ahead of time to reduce the deaths from Hurricane Sandy. Does that mean somebody was bad for not spending it?)

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you know what they’re MOST scared of?

that you’ll form a Consumer’s Union.

that’s it. think about it…

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And what about Russia’s not-so-veiled threat gives them the moral and ethical high ground? They only look to preserve their own interests, and will attempt to intimidate anyone they perceive as a threat.

Syria is Russia’s ally. They don’t need any moral or ethical high ground. As if Washington and Tel Aviv have any high ground.

Make no mistake: this is pure hegemony and imperialism. If you can’t see it, don’t blame me.

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josef: this has nothing to do with anti-Semitism. Once again you take the low ground rather than argue on merit. Of course there is anti-Semitism. That’s not the question here.

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SOOTH

Oh, horse sh*t…that “world Jewry” cr*p? There is no more anti-Semitic a choice of words than that..

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BOTH

I am much more concerned with Iran’s role there…they do have a stake in the outcome, and a pretty hefty one…

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Oh and radical islam has nothing at all to do with this conflict?

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I guess size does matter, huh?

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Oh and radical islam has nothing at all to do with this conflict?

Don’t forget that Libya, Egypt, and Iraq all had peaceful secular governments before Western intervention.

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And of course the Soviets (intentially used word) will come to the defense of their allies (i.e. strategic oil producer client states), because they are just so humanitarian. They really care (sniff, sniff) about the poor people of Iran and Syria.

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pogo

Kinda funny the way you frame things: first of all, the egyptian people elected morsi and now that they have buyers remorse egyptian style, you want to blame obama? That makes no sense what so ever or is just plain nonsense!
I, for one, am applauding the egyptian people for demonstrating against one who aspires to be a dictator, that’s a good sign…

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Josef

Understood and that is why I mentioned “small” and “large” scale..

Iran is reliant on Russia and China to an extent imo..

If they say let it go, I don’t see Iran totally doing so, but as Syria is a proxy to an extent to Iran…. So is Iran to an extent to their big brothers. Nothing is set in stone and any nation can still react, but I see the two big brothers pushing Iran to let it go..

Of course that will not happen on absolute terms on every level, but imo is what could be working on the back burner.

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I guess the Waltons must be Jews…

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The end of President Obama’s first term is going well.

No drama Obama indeed.

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I would prefer that you have sense enough to quit lumping all Jews together in some mysterious conspiracy.

josef: I never said or implied that. What I said was they may suffer the consequences — by extension — of the actions of the Israelis.

Stop putting words in my mouth.

Good night!

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SOOTH

Who put words in your mouth? Your mouth to G-d’s ears…

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BOTH

@ 6:17

Yep.

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Judge may invalidate GM bailout

http://freebeacon.com/bailout-on-the-brink/

Right before the bankruptcy, GM transferred a bunch of GM Canada liabilities to the old GM (US) to make the “disappear” (and apparently did this with other overseas divisions as well).

GM Canada’s creditors sued and it’s in court right now. The judge has indicated that he is very unhappy about the court being mislead.

Such a decision could force both GM and GM Canada into liquidation.

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dbm: “That’s slightly more relevant, since you’re talking about current pay. But I still see more emotion than logic in your post, and nothing about fire safety.”

It’s true that the evidence presented here is thin. That’s kind of the nature of this forum, in most cases. The arguments presented here in the original posts are not always supported with detailed data – though they sometimes are – and with this issue I suppose that’s because there is large body of assumed background knowledge that is more or less shared here, such as the relentless rollback of labor rights over the past 30 yrs, the relative stagnation in wages among the bulk of workers as corporate profits soar, and the emblematic role of Wal-Mart as the poster boy for all these trends, it being the company that has best embodied the trends and in many cases accelerated them by virtue of the company’s phenomenal reach and power. So, based on all those things, it kind of follows what the relationship between fire safety and costs are.

Are you suggesting that the matter of worker safety is a matter where you can simply put a price tag on? Do you work in a workplace where there is a significant risk of fire exposure? Do your family members, children?

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half a brain

The father took the risk, not the kiddies, how did they earn it? No one begrudges them a fortune but billions of dollars at the expense of worker exploitation? Cry me a river…

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So, where did Sooth get off to? I think he may be doing some light reading…

http://www.radioislam.org/protocols/quote-eng.htm

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Now, it seems that half a graduating college class earns honors.

not honors, but certainly enough to keep HOPE and Fed fountains flowin

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brain

My comment had nothing to do with shopping there. As I said earlier, one billion dollars is ten hundred million, how much is enough? If you had that kind of money, wouldn’t you feel a sense of obligation to make you workers lives better???

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OREP

I may have told this story before, but in case you didn’t catch it. I had one of those butt-kicking teachers in high school (English, Latin and French). If you came under her special attention, you could be assured of having to produce to her expectations. When I was working on my junior year term paper, I put untold hours into the research, and read, reread, and read again the manuscript. When it was returned, there was one red mark and a big F. Of course, I wanted to know why when all I had done was to leave out a comma. She wouldn’t tell me, but told me to read it over until I found out why. I read, reread, and read again a dozen times over. Finally, it hit me. By not putting in the comma, I had stated my thesis in such a way that the argument which followed drew the opposite conclusion than I had intended. When I told her, she smiled, opened the grade-book, and showed me my A+!

Even if I don’t show it here, I learned the lesson.

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BROSEPHUS

@ 6:51

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Mick @ 6:59

Agreed. Best marketing in the last 100 yrs is those making 5OK or there abouts equivalent to that time in question, to vote against their own economic interests….

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Woke up this morning and for no reason that I can think of, this one was playing in my head…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCV-qY05Qlo

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@STUPID LIBERAL

December 6th, 2012
1:05 pm

Newsflash, some of your cohorts are weaning themselves off Rush-A-Cola. Heck, even Paul Ryan has suddenly got religion and is singing a new tune.

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@Erwin’s cat 7:04 p.m.

That is a great question. I think there are probably a number of factors that determine what is a “working wage”. A working wage in New York City is likely higher than the same in a small town in central Iowa (not picking on Iowa).

The point I took with Jay’s blog topic was that companies (WalMart but many others) offshore production and assembly in order to save money. The calculus is if they can reduce the cost of production they can either reduce the price and sell more or keep the price the same and make more profit.

This is done against a backdrop where these company executives do not ensure sufficient oversight of these facilities to protect the lives and health of the workers. These same executives would never allow one of their family members to work in these settings but don’t pro-actively police and monitor these for the most basic of human consideration.

They are either engaging in immoral corporate governance or they think it is fine to place the health and lives of the workers that make the goods to fate.

Many of these same executives are members of their respective faith communities and think they are moral individuals. Their actions in management, oversight or the boardroom betray their hypocrisy.

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What is considered a “good” working wage?

I guess that’s all dependent upon where you’re living. $25k a year would leave you in a cardboard box in NYC, but you’d be ok with that in my hometown of Gadsden, AL. I don’t think that would be a point of contention or question if costs had stagnated along with wages over the past 30 plus years. Technology has allowed the costs of some goods to drop, but it’s still not cheap to live in a major metropolitan area.

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COMMON

“…but determined by cost of living per area.”

There’s a logic to that. The problem, though, would come from who is setting that minimum. If it were set locally, you would have competition for who is paying the lowest in bringing in jobs.

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yeah, i really hadn’t considered the demographics when i posed the question…was thinking of the big fish little fish scenario…if the wage was increased to get there but so would the cost of goods…before ya know it…it doesn’t matter….like a CEO making $3 mill/year of a 10k employee company…give that CEO salary to the workers instead and it’s only a $300/yr stipend…it is not the reason for the inequalities that i can tell

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EC

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/25/average-ceo-pay-2011_n_1545225.html

Interesting numbers.

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Sam believed in buying American. That all went out the window once he died.

Maybe the AFL-CIO will step up to save those poor people in Bangladesh…

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Sam Walton is dead and WalMart died with him but it takes a
giant a long time to die and it usually dies in bits and pieces.

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Gore: Obama sux

http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/al-gore-obama-must-get-moving-84728.html?hp=l7

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You can survive in a large metro area (if the have well placed public transit) sometimes for less than people think.

True, but in the age of austerity, what major metropolitan area would be able to increase their investment in public transit to meet that need?

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EC

yeah, i really hadn’t considered the demographics when i posed the question

Not a problem at all. At least you’re thinking and not simply reciting rhetoric as though it was last year’s Easter speech at church. That garners much respect from me as that’s why my thinking is constantly evolving. I try to look beyond my personal perspective and try to see things from the perspective of others.

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getalife, incredible.

Hell, we finally ended our mini-prohibition here not long ago.

Who Knows? In another 85 years or so, weed may be legal in Georgia!

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Who Knows? In another 85 years or so, weed may be legal in Georgia!

And 85 years after that, we can buy it on Sunday.

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Welcome to the Occupation

December 6th, 2012
6:26 pm

I’m suggesting that any safety measure has a cost, and that people, organizations, and countries whose resources are limited have to weigh this along with everything else in deciding what to do. The richer anyone or anything is, the more fire safety they can afford, just like with everything else.

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“STONED IN SEATTLE!” drudgey spam.

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Funny how both florida and georgia are so behing the times yet both states have the climate to grow some of the best weed in the world! Yahoo’s, it’s a southern disease…

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And that goes even when TBS is adamant on an issue but is not correct on what it will take to get us there.

Isn’t that simply a long winded way of simply saying “always”???

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Bro

Was working on my humble side

Give a Latino brother a break

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For the less than compassionate conservatives…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeXcaRYNlSQ

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Bro

Will send you and TBG and email tomorrow. Based on schedules of course, let’s see if we can squeeze in a few beers before Christmas, if not before the New Year.

Hope mama and little mama are doing well.

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The gop are tossing the cons under the bus and we are moving forward not back.

Life is good.

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They BOTH

You set it on the tee. I only had to swing the club.

In all seriousness though, you’re A-OK in my book.

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Mick

I’m just hoping y’all let him leave out in one piece afterwards.

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The 2nd reason is that Costco actually does have plenty of low wage people who work at their stores, but Costco contracts the low wage positions out.

Interesting point. One figures that in for Costco’s employee pay, but nobody ever mentions contracting when it comes to public sector pay. Just thought I’d throw that one out there.

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Find out just what a people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress. ~Frederick Douglass

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Jam

Don’t want to say all Republicans because it will paint the brush I call them out when they paint as well as paint over some good Republican friends of mind who are right leaners……….. with that said………. this tune is should be their theme at this point in time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD3bGEFxGC0

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Jam

Turn it up and groove on some of this sot=southern boogie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRavC8CjRL0

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WUeOEkl270

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Being a Republican is no shame. But something has gone terribly wrong.

Spoke at length today with a very interesting, successful, well spoken, well traveled Aussie today and he said that from his perspective, a lot of the animus directed at Obama is racial.

Time for a little old fashioned, GOP enlightened self interest…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oakfWDsq_1Y

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Both,

Getting the Dems to focus on the middle class is leadership.

Forget the rhetoric and watch their actions.

Our President wants a middle class tax cut so they do not get stuck with 4 k bill.

Americans should be yelling at the gop to pass it.

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Let’s put this into perspective. Every year about 20 kids die getting off school buses because the school district don’t want to pay to double the routes so students only get off on the right side (so they don’t have to cross the street). There is a price on human life.

If we want overseas companies to follow our regulations, we have to impose tariffs on inported items from countries without the same regulations as us.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi0D9JizqWw

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-gCOEDeCYs

Billy Gibbons doing what he does best…………. blistering guitars…….

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the republican party is responding to a changing america and the party drifted too far right as they got arrogant and lazy. They are recognizing their mistakes and working hard to improve their representation of this country. This gives the voter options and may well attract more voters into the future elections and that is good for the country. Jay has said this is bad for the repubs as it will alienate some of their base, Is not this similar to the Dems of the 1960’s when they supported civil right act which they knew would loose them the south, and it did.. but of course it was morally correct and has , in the long term been extremely positive for the party AND the country.The Repubs will become a viable conservative alternative to the liberal/democrats, providing choice……GREAT!

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the republican party is responding to a changing america…

Not intended to be a factual statement.

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No BOTH, he’s an executive at an engineering co. We talked about England, Wales, the Premier League and such before discussing people and politics…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjdowef1oKE

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Dekalb comments wrote: “But I stand by my view that Costco, overall, accepts lower yields and profits in exchange for something. Whether we call that moral conviction, etc. is not mine to define.
—————————————————————————————————————
Costco locates in more affluent areas and their customers are on average far more affluent that a customer of Walmart or Sam’s Club. Costco does accept less percentage yield than Walmart, but that lower yield is a good part made possible by the larger revenue stream per customer and worker. And for what its worth, Walmart accepts less yield than Target. Anyway, the revenue per employee at Walmart is $211,000. At Costco, it’s about 3 times as much at $620,000 per employee.

It makes many liberals feel good to think that Costco treats its employees better than Walmart. But Costco also goes out of its way to avoid the lower income type consumers than Walmart caters to and the less affluent areas where Walmart has no problem locating in. The median income of a Costco member is a whopping $85,000 which is over double the U.S. average. For Walmart to be more like Costco, it would mean Walmart pulling out of the lower income parts of the country. That’s a lot of jobs that would be lost and a lot of people of modest means who wouldn’t have access to goods at very affordable prices. And I doubt Costco would then come in to fill the void.

Costco is a great company. They do what they do incredibly well. Costco is probably my favorite place to shop. But for people of average and modest means, Walmart has been a godsend. That’s what a lot of affluent liberals don’t understand, and probably never will.

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jam

hard to slow me down when I’m on a roll

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtF3KoSZuFQ

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…affluent liberals…

There’s your sign.

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dbm: ” The richer anyone or anything is, the more fire safety they can afford, just like with everything else.”

The richer WHO is, the workers or the owners?

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Welcome to the Occupation

December 6th, 2012
10:50 pm

To the extent that it’s the owners that pay for the fire safety, it would be the owners. But it could also apply to workers choosing where to work.

How rich are the owners of those third world factories?

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Mark in mid-town @ 10.13, if you happen to see this (otherwise I’ll need to google it myself later)

Fair points, all. However, I have to wonder if you’re mixing Costco w/ Wal*Mart when the better comparison would be strictly with Sam’s Club, for some of that analysis.

/drive-by

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http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/20264712/detroit-councilwoman-to-obama-we-supported-you-now-support-us

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Right Bookman – and another of your “we’re from the government and we’re here to help you”. Wonder how your op-ed piece will read a couple of years from now when the price of the Mac computer just announced yesterday to be produced in the U.S. in the future skyrockets due to increased labor cost. Probably something like “Apple executives and excess corporate profits fuel massive Mac laptop cost increase.”

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It’s the wanna be crowd of the GOP that is the at the selfish core.

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Trendy SHEETZ.

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Ignorance is bliss and deadly

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