250 billion to american jobs

[whip]

Walmart is pledging that amount to local jobs. It's strange seeing that from a company that has demanded the products they buy and sell be cheaper, and forced many manufactures to go over seas. Menard's has been pushing made in the USA for a while. I'm all for more jobs, but I'm not sure how Walmart "pledging" money will help.
Considering they used a canadian song, I'm not sure I have faith in them getting it right.

 

[DBMaster]

It's always been odd to me that we worship capitalism practically as a religion. Many of us rail against regulation, protectionism, trade barriers, and what we see as "socialism." Yet, when a company or individual operates in a very capitalistic way we hate them because of a variety of reasons that make us sound an awful lot like socialists and protectionists.

You can't have it both ways. If the majority really had issue with Wal Mart's sourcing practices they would vote with their wallets and not shop there. Since that is not happening I would have to surmise that the majority do not care at all about where the stuff is made or who makes it.

 

[dernp]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
It's always been odd to me that we worship capitalism practically as a religion. Many of us rail against regulation, protectionism, trade barriers, and what we see as "socialism." Yet, when a company or individual operates in a very capitalistic way we hate them because of a variety of reasons that make us sound an awful lot like socialists and protectionists.

You can't have it both ways. If the majority really had issue with Wal Mart's sourcing practices they would vote with their wallets and not shop there. Since that is not happening I would have to surmise that the majority do not care at all about where the stuff is made or who makes it.


Very well spoken.

 

[bigt61]

Capitalism works!.... with minimal regulation. Socialism does not work and hasn't worked wherever it has been tried. The human spirit thrives on the energy to succeed. Thankfully, most capitalists also have a sense of morality, but sadly, there will always be some who do not. I personally love that Walmart ad - the version I have seen ends with...."Work is a beautiful thing."

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Because of the high levels of inflation causing the US dollar to be worth less, it's financially beneficial to these companies to manufacture here in the USA.

 

[danthaman1980]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
It's always been odd to me that we worship capitalism practically as a religion. Many of us rail against regulation, protectionism, trade barriers, and what we see as "socialism." Yet, when a company or individual operates in a very capitalistic way we hate them because of a variety of reasons that make us sound an awful lot like socialists and protectionists.

You can't have it both ways. If the majority really had issue with Wal Mart's sourcing practices they would vote with their wallets and not shop there. Since that is not happening I would have to surmise that the majority do not care at all about where the stuff is made or who makes it.


I agree, we can't have it both ways - but there has to be some balance between capitalism and regulation... and between free trade and protectionism. The extremes are rarely pretty. I think most people would agree, but we falter in that we sensationalize every piece of news and forget that a balance already exists. The goal is (or should be) to optimize the balance.

I remember a couple of decades ago that Wal-Mart did push 'Made in the USA' (about the same time as the 'you're always next in line' campaign). I'm glad to see some hope that WM may return to those values.

 

[KB2008X]

When pondering any company's meaningless "pledge" remember that it is just a marketing ploy. Walmart is a soulless corporation pretending to care so they can get more of your money. Don't be duped by the dollar amount or the sentiment.

As for Walmart demanding lower prices from their suppliers, for the products that they sell on their shelves, that's what the giants of retail have always done. Sears, and others, was the big bully for decades and now it's Walmart, and others. Nothing new. They are actually behaving exactly as they should. Corporations have an obligation to maximize the shareholders return on investment. If that means their suppliers have to go overseas to have product made cheaper to keep selling to Walmart then that's what they have to do.

Capitalism is a heartless institution and the American style of nearly, unbridled capitalism is even worse, but it has made us the biggest, baddest s.o.b. on the block and that's not all bad. I'm glad to be on the inside, as rough as that can be, and not on the outside, looking in.

I think most Americans come to the same conclusion.

 

[diver1972]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
It's always been odd to me that we worship capitalism practically as a religion. Many of us rail against regulation, protectionism, trade barriers, and what we see as "socialism." Yet, when a company or individual operates in a very capitalistic way we hate them because of a variety of reasons that make us sound an awful lot like socialists and protectionists.

You can't have it both ways. If the majority really had issue with Wal Mart's sourcing practices they would vote with their wallets and not shop there. Since that is not happening I would have to surmise that the majority do not care at all about where the stuff is made or who makes it.

 

[eljefino]

WM wants to be ahead of the curve. Contrast that to Sears which is offshoring Craftsman tools of all things.

I use WM for photofinishing b/c they were the first to offer reasonable online-upload, pickup in-store of JPGs that print on photo paper. Reasonably priced. I use their $4 prescriptions even though other pharmacies have them now.

I'll buy WM's USA stuff, it'll be at least adequate. I use their "Lights of America" shoplights for example.

Since Amazon is nipping on WM's heels in the low pricing and selection departments, maybe this will help WM stand out.

For all the US has in capitalism and democracy, we sure have a lot of oil, coal, fertile soil, educated populace, land, water, wind power, etc. It's easy to be successful sitting on this dirt, politics aside.

 

[Pops1050]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
It's always been odd to me that we worship capitalism practically as a religion. Many of us rail against regulation, protectionism, trade barriers, and what we see as "socialism." Yet, when a company or individual operates in a very capitalistic way we hate them because of a variety of reasons that make us sound an awful lot like socialists and protectionists.

You can't have it both ways. If the majority really had issue with Wal Mart's sourcing practices they would vote with their wallets and not shop there. Since that is not happening I would have to surmise that the majority do not care at all about where the stuff is made or who makes it.


^^ Well spoken ! Corporations do what they were created to do. The burden to do good is an individual thing!

 

[oldhp]

All they are trying to do is make like they give a hoot about the American shopper/worker. They got themselves into a PR nightmare with their stance against their workers and all the ugly press that went along with it.
You can paint a turd gold.....its still a turd. But, If you keep painting turds gold people will start not noticing the smell and seeing the gold. Typical media whitewash paid for by WM to help improve their image.

 

[DBMaster]

Originally Posted By: oldhp
If you keep painting turds gold people will start not noticing the smell and seeing the gold.


I love it!

 

[TrevorS]

Economics 101: A free market is where there are infinite buyers and sellers and perfect information and no differences in transaction costs. This means "normal" profit is earned.

Lesson 2: A capitalist wants to be a monopolist.

You see everyday cases where we are not in a free market in the true sense of the word. Thus regulation is required so that markets behave more like free markets. Unfortunately, the self interest motive means that the regulatory process if co-opted by those with a different intention. And who are the people that enable and participate in that? Why it's all those who have been taught that self interest is #1. In other words pretty much everyone.

In Europe, regulation is very pro consumer and makes things easier for consumers. Its funny how in the US, business complain about regulation. I think that this is because regulation is not smart and it is not smart because it is a compromise between ideologies and is written through a process of self interest rather than of serving.

What we as individuals value is what we get in terms of corporations and politicians.

Some value (or need) low prices above anything else hence Walmart. Some require their hotels and restaurants to have an environmental conscience hence these corporations undertaking various initiatives.

The great thing about the free market is that you can change things with your everyday activities. You get to vote everyday.

In a different way, we get the politicians we deserve. If we don't want to listen to deeper explanations, like to apportion blame, need our politicians to look good, need to feel in our hearts rather than think with our heads, then we get ........ American politicians - exactly what we deserve.

 

[DBMaster]

Originally Posted By: TrevorS
then we get ........ American politicians - exactly what we deserve.


Hear, hear! I agree 100%.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
It's always been odd to me that we worship capitalism practically as a religion. Many of us rail against regulation, protectionism, trade barriers, and what we see as "socialism." Yet, when a company or individual operates in a very capitalistic way we hate them because of a variety of reasons that make us sound an awful lot like socialists and protectionists.

You can't have it both ways. If the majority really had issue with Wal Mart's sourcing practices they would vote with their wallets and not shop there. Since that is not happening I would have to surmise that the majority do not care at all about where the stuff is made or who makes it.


Welcome Murray Rothbard

 

[sciphi]

What about giving a rip about the stakeholders in an enterprise? You know, the employees, the suppliers, the customers, the ones who don't have stock but have a definable incentive to see the business succeed? For a place like Wal-Mart, their stakeholders and their customers are one and the same. It's a no-brainer to me at least that by treating their stakeholders better, the shareholders will do better too.

 

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted By: bigt61
Capitalism works!.... with minimal regulation. Socialism does not work and hasn't worked wherever it has been tried. The human spirit thrives on the energy to succeed. Thankfully, most capitalists also have a sense of morality, but sadly, there will always be some who do not. I personally love that Walmart ad - the version I have seen ends with...."Work is a beautiful thing."


I've always been of the opinion that a cooperative society is what we do normally on a community level. The divisive and exploitative nature of capitalism certainly brings out the worst in us; turning us into scurrying rats competing with each other for artificially-restricted resources.

Can you define "works"; as in "this system works"? By what metric(s) would one measure what "works"? It seems measuring the ability of a system to foster wealth creation for those best suited to grab it (the greedy, the aggressive, those prone to exploit others in order to accumulate more and more ownership) juxtaposed with systems that center more around direct democracy and common ownership of the means of production are in total contrast; and it'd be hard to compare "apples" and "oranges' when the raison d'etre of these opposing systems have entirely different objectives. Can you also give me an example or two of where socialism has "been tried"? You may be thinking about the abject failures (from both economic and humanistic perspectives) of state-dominated capitalisms like the former USSR and modern China. Capitalism - if a given group of people choose to live by it - certainly demands a LACK of buggering from a common authority: Self-centered individualism is it's life-blood; and as disgusting as people like me may find that it is hard to argue otherwise.

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: uc50ic4more


I've always been of the opinion that a cooperative society is what we do normally on a community level. The divisive and exploitative nature of capitalism certainly brings out the worst in us; turning us into scurrying rats competing with each other for artificially-restricted resources.

Can you define "works"; as in "this system works"? By what metric(s) would one measure what "works"? It seems measuring the ability of a system to foster wealth creation for those best suited to grab it (the greedy, the aggressive, those prone to exploit others in order to accumulate more and more ownership) juxtaposed with systems that center more around direct democracy and common ownership of the means of production are in total contrast; and it'd be hard to compare "apples" and "oranges' when the raison d'etre of these opposing systems have entirely different objectives. Can you also give me an example or two of where socialism has "been tried"? You may be thinking about the abject failures (from both economic and humanistic perspectives) of state-dominated capitalisms like the former USSR and modern China. Capitalism - if a given group of people choose to live by it - certainly demands a LACK of buggering from a common authority: Self-centered individualism is it's life-blood; and as disgusting as people like me may find that it is hard to argue otherwise.


I would say that capitalism in it's purest sense works.

But Crony Capitalism and the Centrally Planned "Capitalism" as you call it don't work because a select few can stack the deck.

Probably can't go too far into the topic or it becomes a poli-sci piece, going against the TOS here.

I would say that capitalism, in it's purest form, demands the consumer become educated. You can't act in your self interest if you are unable to determine what is in your best interest.

When folks stop acting in their own self-interest and expect the government to intervene to ensure their interests are preserved instead of doing the job themselves, is what I believe is where the system begins to collapse under it's own, ever increasing, administrative burden.

 

[rshaw125]

Remember the 'free trade agreements' were nothing of the sort. They were hundreds of pages of special treatment and rules favoring the other country. The US and it's workers always came out the looser. The other countries, like China, would never sign them if it did not favor them.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: javacontour


I would say that capitalism, in it's purest form, demands the consumer become educated. You can't act in your self interest if you are unable to determine what is in your best interest.


But how can you be as educated as possible? If you need a lawyer, accountant, mechanic, doctor, they will know more than you. Otherwise you wouldn't need them. You could know "enough" to spot an obvious swindle, but how would a layman unravel, say, mortgage-backed derivatives?

Hope I'm not being a pest.