[lbo-talk] Re:employment

[Jose Rodriguez & Sally Everson]

I cannot really afford to shop at Walmart on a regular basis, but when and
if I make a big purchase - like an electronic item - I would think of going
to Walmart or whatever.  When Walmarts and Home Depot and Walgreens first
came into this area, it seemed like the prices were super low for
everything, but then as they became established (after driving the smaller
local stores out of business I suppose), the prices for basic stuff crept
up, but bigger ticket items are still usually the best deals.  So now people
who can afford it just go out of habit to Walmart - like my mother-in-law.
She constantly complains at how expensive they are now, but she keeps going.
Other I have heard say that in the end they probably save money.  I think
the big appeal of Walmart -- here anyway -- is its newness and trendiness,
its -- dare I say -- "all-Americanness". Most stores have been built in the
last five years or so -- and they have everything and are so bright and
clean and cheery.  So the older but cheaper department stores, like Pitusa
just aren't as attractive as Walmart et al. -- plus they are not in
convienent areas for the gated community dwellers even though they sell more
or less the same stuff at better prices.  More importantly, I think, is that
Pitusa-ish stores are full of poor people.
One thing I still cannot figure out though is why people flock to Sam's
Club -- its rather grungy (they have pigeons which live up in the rafters!),
its always crowded, the people are rude, you have to pack your own groceries
after paying to belong (gasp!), and it only sells packaged/processed food or
nasty old produce.  I can see buying your beer there -- but food -- give me
the local grocery or plaza mercado anyday!

Sally Everson

----- Original Message -----
From: Chuck0 <chuck at mutualaid.org>
To: <lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org>
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2003 4:28 PM
Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Re:employment


> Doug Henwood wrote:
>
> > That's very hard to do. People see the choice as between driving to the
> > non-Wal-Mart or to the Wal-Mart, and choose the latter because they'll
> > save 10%. What taxes subsidize Wal-Mart that wouldn't subsidize other
> > stores? We'd have roads and traffic cops even if WMT didn't exist.
> > Wal-Mart's secret is relentless exploitation at every level of the
> > supply chain. How do you make that vivid?
>
> Good point about the taxes.
>
> Capitalism is pretty good at hiding how it works.
>
> The best way to make these hidden operations vivid is to disrupt those
> operations. One way is through work stoppages, especially in the
> shipping industry.
>
> Chuck0
>
> ___________________________________
> http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk