wal mart
- Thread starter centralharbor
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Matak said:
That unlevel playing field is what creates comparative advantage and the entire point of trade and commerce. It is to your benefit to use that source of labor, and it is your loss if you chose not to. It is a total and complete myth that outsourcing is ruining our economy, last time they calculated jobs lost to outsourcing it was some insignificant number like 100,000. That many jobs is created a month when our economy is healthy. And there were lists of predicted number of jobs lost to outsourcing as well over the next 50 or so years, and they were still rather insignificant. Not nearly enough for so many to be worried about every middle class job being outsourced. Its simply not possible.
Further, restriciting trade(imports) with other countries does two things, it increases prices consumers pay for goods, and increases wages to domestic producers of goods. By a function of the loss of efficiency, the loss to consumers will always exceed the gain to producers. Your idea of protecting the american workers in fact will only harm them.
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Jason01 said:
Of course, once one realizes that the US itself has attack/defense plans for nearly every other country on earth that we could possibly deem a threat, the idea doesnt seem quite as remote. Dont believe however, that the existance of such plans means we want to or are even willing to act on them.
I would very much hope that our government would not use such plans of action on other countries, unless it was absolutely nessicary. I for one pray to god, and I hope that every other person alive prays to whomever they do that war does not happen. Especially with a giant like china. The losses on either side would be phenominal. From any point of view, it would be a very bad idea to promote a war.
impending war with China aside- I don't think I could phrase any of my points any better than Matak and Tomm10. Except to say that yes- I do think that the way they do business in small towns is unethical- is it illegal? No. Yes, I imagine it is good business from their end but that does not mean I believe they are a good company. As for why I choose to support local business and pay maybe two dollars more- I don't care if Wal- Mart is successful. I do care if my local economy is. And yes of course to some degree the two are tied, but the more diversified an economy is the healthier it is. An economy where small business can thrive is a healthy economy- small business still employs 51% of the nation. This is why I believe wal mart's ability to offer nearly everything you could possibly buy, long term, is going to hurt us. They are already forcing big businesses to grow larger to compete. As for small businesses, I can think of three GREAT businesses that have gone under due to the influx of box stores in my area. This is limiting my choices as a consumer, first of all, as well as forcing me to buy lower quality goods. One example was this great kitchen store. Really cool store- I don't cook but my husband and my brother do so it was a great place to buy gifts. I once bought a set of emeril pots there for the same price they were being offered at national stores- but to give gourmet stores an edge, these pots were designed with an extra plate in the bottom, so the pots I have have three plates, if you bought them at a chain they would have two. So for the same price, I got soemthing better. And this wasn't the only thing- they had higher quality items than chains for the same price all over the store. It's out of business now. It had been in the same location for about sixteen years- it in the end just wasn't as visible as the larger stores. Competition between large companies is good for the consumer, I will agree with you there. I think we've probably all benefitted from price wars between airlines or cell phone companies and I understand why that is good- this is different. Wal mart steps on ants. they eliminate choice. they make it harder for new small businesses to enter the marketplace. If you want to go to wal mart fine, that's your choice. But dont act like people who make a different choice aren't as pressed for time or money as you, or that they are ignorant of 'how things work'. As for the remark about small businesses choosing not to buy in bulk- that just makes no sense- why would you think any business would eschew a discount? Any business that can buy in bulk does. If they don't they can't afford it (moneywise or spacewise). I don't mean to get so soapboxy, I just get sick of people acting like if you avoid wal mart you're either a millionaire or some moon unit hippie moron.
ash said:
Competition amongst businesses is not only ethical, it should be encouraged. It is not only walmart that benefits, but every single consumer who buys any product such a store carries.
An economy where a business can drastically overcharge on products is no healthy economy.
They eliminate inefficient businesses, as it should be. The only barrier to the market is having a well managed and efficient business.
Here's the situation: If China ever figures out how to teleport mass numbers of people to anywhere in the world, we are screwed. Until then, superior technology and mass numbers of reservists will remain the paradigm concept in military strategy.
As an aside, look up UCAV and see how a war against China could be waged. Oh, imagine if the tech gets better...
As an aside, look up UCAV and see how a war against China could be waged. Oh, imagine if the tech gets better...
The way they do business in small towns has nothing to do with competition. they slaughter and establish a monopoly. That's their goal. And what makes you say small businesses drastically over charge? What's going to be wal mart's motivation to KEEP offering low prices when they whittle down the competition? and " as it should be? " we'll see what people say in fifteen years when small business (you know, the backbone of our nation) is on its last leg.
Matak said:
All I'm trying to point out is that WalMart helps "fuel" China's communist military.
It is a fact, that some will still bury "their heads in the sand" and not see it.
That's all.
:idea2:
It's reality, and it's happening right now.
Hmm, did the U.S. ever sell scrap metal to the Japanese? .. Before WWII ?
:idea2:
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The new 525 Maanshan PLAN Frigate, launched, interestingly enough, on 9/11/2003.
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July 5,1940 United States passes Export Control Act
On this day in 1940, Congress passes the Export Control Act, forbidding the exporting of aircraft parts, chemicals, and minerals without a license. This prohibition was a reaction to Japan's occupation of parts of the Indo-Chinese coast.
The United States, fearing the advance of Japanese expansion and cooperation, even if by coercion, between German-controlled France and Japan, took its own action, by banning the export of aircraft parts without a license and, three weeks later, the export of aviation fuel and scrap metal and iron without a license. The United States was not alone in its concern. Great Britain, which had it own colonies in the Far East (Burma, Hong Kong, and Malaya) also feared an aggressive Japan.
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