I don't weigh nearly enough to be a Wal-Mart regular in this area. Also, my Spanish is sub-par. However, I'm a fan. I do go from time to time as a matter of general principles. They are tough on small suppliers, however.

2006-08-25T03:35:43

Man that article is a load of shite. Walmart is inherently un-American. Most of the garbage they sell is made in Red China much of it in their gulag labor system. Walmart is responsible for millions of US jobs being shipped of to 3rd world shithole nations that hate us. Sure I can buy a 10 dollar toaster there which is great short term, but I am contributing to the massive trade imbalance and strategically weakening the US economy against a nation that we will be fighting soon enough. When ole Sam Walton was alive Walmart had a concerted made in the USA program, his heirs have not followed suit. I'm not shopping there, anything that benefits commies ain't cool.

2006-08-28T00:01:09

Well, elvez, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, and most people do shop at Wal-Mart with reservations regarding the benefits to the Chi-coms.

However, that does beg the question ... If what Wal-Mart does is so beneficial to those same Chi-coms, why do the Donks hate Wal-Mart so, given the known connection between their sweetheart Al Gore and the Chinese?

Likewise, not everything you buy at Wal-Mart comes from China, and they do have a large employee base that is growing every day. These are minimum-wage workers, largely kids, who get to learn the value of a dollar and make a positive contribution to the American economy in the process.

I think that's what Van Helsing was really getting at.

Also, be careful about calling his work a "load of shit". He's a much bigger blogger than you or I, and deserves that respect.

RWR

2006-08-28T00:30:40

Elvez, I'm not a fan of communism either. That's why I'm glad capitalism is steadily eroding it in China, thanks to the market we provide. As for Wal-Mart being un-American: it uses capitalism to give people what they want at a price they can afford, employing millions in the process. What could be more American than that?

2006-08-28T01:25:31

Yeah, elvez, the Chi-coms are definitely something to be concerned about, but they will be either forced into war with us in the near future, or they will crumble under the weight of communism in time, as the Soviets did.

In the long run, they're nothing to worry about.

Thanks for coming around, and I'm sure Van will concur!

RWR

2006-08-29T16:41:52

I have no problem with walmarts wage structure or hiring policies and I agree that they employ lots of kids and elderly folks which is a huge benefit to the larger economy, and while I agree that getting the Chinese to adopt free-market policies is a good thing, I still fear the Chinese Communists and their larger strategic aims and huge military buildup. They also still control the nation with an iron grip and many of the factories that send cheap goods to the US are run for profit by the PLA. I don't think walmart should face some kind of gov't regulation or be forced to unionize, but I do think that consumers should think twice about the consequences of shopping there, by the way gentlemen I read both of your blogs on a daily basis, both are well written and always food for thought.

Cheers.

2006-08-28T22:46:36

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