File spoon-archives/marxism-intro.archive/marxism-intro_2004/marxism-intro.0411, message 111


Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2004 06:54:22 -0700
From: BIRD-AT-pseud.pseud
Subject: Re: M-INTRO: Exploitation for low prices


While I agree with the idea that Wal-mart is an exploitive corporation at all levels and
that it represents everything that is wrong with capitalism, I am afraid we don't have
anyone to blame but ourselves.  Because, bottom line, Wal-mart would not exist if we in
society did not buy their products.  

So the question is, now that we have created a monster, what are we going to do about it. 
Marx would suggest that the power is in the workers to unite and stand against the abusive
practices.  But when the workers are poor chinese in oppresive countries the ability for
them to stand against this giant seems pretty uncertain. I think that leaves it up to us
to make our feelings known. To unite as people against the unjust practices.  I hear the
familiar whine go up, "What can I do, I am just one person!"  Well, the people in
Centerville, Utah (like other places) have banded together and are fighting infiltration
by Wal-mart. Others in the media have pointed out the downsides so much so that Wal-mart
now runs national ads trying to convince us that it is a good employer - and maybe to a
few it is. 

Whatever happens I think the idea that more and more people are beginning to think about
"how" goods got to the shelves of a discount store and who might have been exploited in
the process is a good think.  But as always - with knowledge comes responsibility.  What
small thing can I do today to make a difference?



Mary Beth


Mary Beth Vogel-Ferguson, MSW
801-581-3071
801-580-4861 (cell)
Social Research Institute
College of Social Work
University of Utah
395 E. 1500 So.
Salt Lake City,  UT  84112
>>> Kaha-AT-pseud.pseud 11/22/04 1:04 AM >>>
I totally agree with you on this. And i'd like to say that another thing that
wal-mart is doing is that it is getting rid of private businesses. It goes into
virgin communities, and with its lower prices, drives all of its competitors
out of business. I want something ot be done as much as the next guy, but i
really don't think that's possible. Wal-mart is too strong a company for that.
It makes up a whopping 2 percent of our GDP, in other words, when it comes to
policy making in washington, what wal-mart wants, wal-mart gets. It sucks but
it's the way things go. I think that the best thing that we can get out of this
is to learn a lesson from it. This is what happens when things get unregulated.
It's America's bastard child and now no one wants to take care of it.



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