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Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 98
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 10:51 am: | 
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A while back a poster opined that a lot of us would rather be lynched than do without our glorious Wal-Marts.
Apparently the voters of Inglewood feel different, voting down a proposal, floated by the theiving and rapacious corporate giant, to bypass normal procedures when proposing one of it's business destroying, worker dogging superstore monstrosities.
Are the American people, at the so-called beginning of the American Century, beginning to grow sour on the global economy? |
Akaivyleaf
Newbie Poster
Username: Akaivyleaf
Post Number: 19
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 01:02 pm: |
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I think defeating Wal-mart is Englewood's loss. For those of us die-hard Wal-mart junkies, we'll drive a ways to get to one and happily spend an hour or two dropping our hard earned money on a bargins, pick up lunch in their deli and head on back up the road toward home. Maybe its the country girl in me who opines for a place where I can make a choice on where to spend my currency where it best fits my pocket economically. I like choices and if I choose to give Walmart my money and you choose to spend your money elsewhere we're both happy in our decision.
Am I the only one who sees walmart as the success of the american dream? What happened to the survival of the fittest? Who hasn't wished that Wal-mart was their idea? |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 102
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 01:43 pm: |
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Would you like to work for Wall Mart? How about if you owned a small convenince or grocery store in an area where they bulled their way in?
Wal Mart ain't my idea. Maybe we should all just bail up our money and send it to the Walton clan and gather outside their gated community and hope that they might toss us some coins as they ride by in their Rolls Royces?
And now another note on gender confusion--you're a woman? I thought you were a man (go ahead. Give it to me. But make it quick!) |
Yukio
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 150
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 02:26 pm: |
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capitalism is amazing, for it creates insensitive consumers(the its my decision and choice perspective that circumvents political action, Akaivyleaf please don't take this personal!)...how does a person become concerned about a moms and pops store, when they can get cheaper, better, commodities...even a greater variety all in one place....and through shopping in a place like Wal Mart...you will rarely see the turmoil that the small convenient store experiences...you just drive by...By the way, I love walmart...I can't say I believe in survival of the fittest...this notions escapes justice, fairness, etc...other ideas that i can't say i believe in but I do try.... |
Akaivyleaf
Newbie Poster
Username: Akaivyleaf
Post Number: 21
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 02:37 pm: |
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oooh.... I see you haven't yet figured out what my screen name represents. Anybody here want to help him out before I break it down?
As far as Wal-Mart.... No, I work for myself and have no plans on working for others but if I can say that if I was the mom and pop grocery store that Wal-mart might have designs on putting out of business, I'd have to prove myself fit wouldn't I! I'd have to step up my game. Wal-mart isn't necessarily tops on customer service, Wal-mart doesn't carry specialized products, Wal-mart doesn't necessarily give back to the community and all of those things are factors when I decide on spending my dollars. True getting a bargin is one thing but there are other factors and there are certian Wal-marts that I won't frequent because they tend to target black folk when leaving their establishments by searching our bags-even with a receipt in hand.
Nope I won't be standing outside of the Walton gate just giving my alms or expecting to receive them, but I do applaud them for "moving on up" an I have designs on doing the same!
Break down of the screenname: Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) a symbol of ours is the ivy. As you can see I'm a proud fully active member.
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Yukio
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 154
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 02:58 pm: |
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yes, Akaivyleaf...i saw barbershop 2...but in this world, the small store almost always loses...this is really the same conversation discussed on another thread about how black book stores are losing out... I hear you! |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 104
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 03:14 pm: |
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When I was a lad, there were several businesses in my neighborhood, which was black, owned by Jewish people.
One of them was a second hand furniture store. The owner of this store made so much from it he got a house in Ladue, which is one of the richest areas in the St. Louis area.
Another was a confectionary. When I went in there, they used to have their little kids, 8 10 years old, waiting on customers. They were learning how, in a very rudimentary form, to run a business.
Wal Mart and these giant firms ain't gonna have no little kids learning how to run a business. Ain't nobody running a cash register in Walmart ever going to afford a house in Ladue.
From little acorns mighty oaks grow. Most of your big corporations started in somebody's basement or garage or storefront.
The family farms are gone. Soon all the small businesses will be gone. Soon the only place you will be able to learn how to run a business, unless you can go to college or get an MBA is on a streetcorner selling dope.
Then you have a nation of drones. But perhaps this is the goal. . . . |
Akaivyleaf
Newbie Poster
Username: Akaivyleaf
Post Number: 22
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 03:20 pm: |
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I forgot Chris that we are from the same neck of the woods. I'm an East St. Louis native. My families business still thrives there and we aren't going anyplace anytime soon. All of my cousins, uncles etc know how to run a business from our humble beginnings on the both the East and West side of the Mighty Mississippi. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 105
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 03:42 pm: |
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There it is, ivy. Folks over on the East Side are more toward getting their own businesses--even if it is nothing but a pop stand. Some of those pop stands have produced law school graduates, administrators. The great Hudlin brothers come from an entreprenuereal family--convenience stores, liquor stores, insurance. You know what I'm talking about. When you are around this as a child you have a big jump on somebody deciding to start a business in his 20's or after college with no background. This is what I see wrong with Wal Mart--don't look like I will be able to stop it--
What I am thinking is that once they have driven everybody out of business they will start putting the screws to the customers |
Jmho
Newbie Poster
Username: Jmho
Post Number: 20
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 03:42 pm: |
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Yukio wrote:
this is really the same conversation discussed on another thread about how black book stores are losing out...
I was wondering if all these book bargain hunters, no matter the long terms effects despite short term gains, were going to make the connection. One can't whine when the black book stores goes under when they brought all your books at Wal-mart! |
Akaivyleaf
Newbie Poster
Username: Akaivyleaf
Post Number: 23
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 03:56 pm: |
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There are no private messages on here? I was going to ask you Chris if you were familiar with the Officer family... Funeral home, mayor etc.. Those would be my kin.
JMHO- it is the same discussion to a degree. I don't shop at Wal-mart for my books but I'm different than most. They aren't specialized enough in that department for me, so I go to the specialty store- the IB for my needs in this area. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 214
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 04:15 pm: |
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Did I miss something, or has anybody mentioned that WalMart does not allowed its employees to uionize? WalMart was all prepared to open up a super store in Chicago and the unions raised such a stink that these plans have been put on hold. And, now, the down-trodden neighborhood where the store was to be opened is complaining because WalMart's coming there would've meant jobs and revenue. It's really a dilemma. |
Crystal
Newbie Poster
Username: Crystal
Post Number: 23
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 04:28 pm: |
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The proposed Wal-Mart in Inglewood would end up giving shoppers fewer choices. The spot they picked is right in the middle of the largest shopping area Inglewood has – and that ain’t much. Target and Home Base were built there less than 5 years ago along with a bunch of little shops and one of the pharmacy chains. If Wal Mart comes in Target will go and probably the pharmacy too. No doubt several of the small clothing stores and $1 & Up stores too. There’s a Food 4 Less across the street that will probably close [although it’s so terrible that it won’t really be a loss]. Costco and the 99-Cent Store are also across the street so there really is no need for Wal-Mart in that spot. Plus, I don’t like the way they tried to bully their way into an all Black/Hispanic community with no regard to the procedures in place. And being where it is I’d expect this Wal-Mart to be the poorest stocked and managed one around very soon after the grand opening sales.
I’m not a Wal-Mart shopper. Mostly because there are not many near me. I’ve been to the one near my parents a couple of times and didn’t think much of it – but then I’m not much of a shopper. The one they built in the L.A. hood on Crenshaw Bl. is a joke. They put it in the empty 3-story Macy’s spot in the Baldwin Hills Mall. It’s cramped and you have to take your shopping cart on an elevator to go from floor to floor. I don’t even bother going in there.
Cynique: the unions got very involved in Inglewood too. They even got one of the union heads elected to the city council. Although it took 3 elections to get him in. After the 1st election it was an almost tie between the union man and another guy so there was a run-off. The union guy one. Then a 3rd person that had run and lost found out that the "other" guy didn't really live in the district and had him disqualified so there had to be another election, which the union guy won again. So, there was 1 regular election and 2 special elections for this one spot. Crazy, but I guess it worked.
Unfortunately Wal-Mart is a very good example of the American dream – which in reality is usually a nightmare for us small folks.
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Klb
Newbie Poster
Username: Klb
Post Number: 19
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 09:54 am: |
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They recently opened a new WalMart In my neighborhood. It was orginally scheduled to be a 24 hr supercenter. The powers that be decided that because it's in the hood it will only be 18 hr. This burns me up. Yes this is a mostly AA neighborhood, but it is not a high crime area. |
Abm
Regular Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 27
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 01:21 pm: |
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Cynique, what you say about the proposed installation of a Chicago Wal-Mart doesn't surprise me one bit. Chicago has written the 'encyclopedia' on political hi-jinks. But anyone who knows ANYTHING the Second City knows if Wal-Mart kisses gaudy pinky-ring of the all-powerful Mayor Rich Daley (Jr.), all arguments against Wal-Mart are effectively muted.
EVERYONE should know Wal-Mart's game: They intend to be the sole-source merchandiser for virtually ALL of the consumable needs of lower/middle class America. And they've got countless BILLIONS to effect their mission.
Still, no matter how potent WM maybe, an organized citizenry can still control them to a degree. For example, if you have concerns about the wages they pay, why not simply require they maintain an average wage rate (via worker classifications) equivalent to some city, state or national average. It you question their working conditions, the city/state can randomly run EPA, OSHA, INS inspectors thru their joint. And if they become more a detriment than benefit to a community, you can vote to simply "zone" their a$$e$ out business.
Excellent points, Crystal. Wal-Mart has a long/sordid history of cannibalizing local businesses. A few years ago, PBS aired a very sobering account of how destructive Wal-Mart has been to countless small businesses throughout much of suburban and rural America. And because those vanquished business were the living blood of those communities, many of those towns have withered and died. Yes, it is the local shoe, electronic and low/modest price clothing stores that have the most to lose once the omnipotent ghost of Sam Walton blows into town.
Can anyone cite specific studies/programs that detail the socio-economic effects of installing a Wal-Mart within a populous city? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 222
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 06:50 pm: |
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Daley is waffling on this issue, ABM. He doesn't want to incur the wrath of the unions. I think WalMart will probably prevail, however, because although there are several WalMarts in the suburbs, there are none in the city and Chicagoans want one. And actually, the only small businesses that will suffer from a Chicago WalMart presence will be those run by Arabs and Koreans. But they deserve a chance to earn a living, too, I guess. |
Blkmalereading
Regular Poster
Username: Blkmalereading
Post Number: 39
Registered: 02-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 11:07 pm: |
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I think once you investigate Wal-mart, you may choose to shop differently. I also saw a special, don't know if it was PBS, but they showed where Wal-mart was really not such a 'bargain' as many think. They draw you in with a few sales, but many of the other things, that you end up picking up, just because you're there and it's convenient could be purchased at the same price or cheaper at many of the other stores.
Stores where they do respect their employees, give them a fair wage. Benefits and pensions. But even some of the other stores are ending with with questionable employee practices to 'keep up' with Wal-mart. We've heard more of this happening at the Target's and Kroger's (other name brand grocery stores) where Wal-mart is the competition.
The way they get me is that when it's 2am and I feel I NEED to have something, I end up at the 24 hour Wal-Mart. Also, I keep telling my mechanic to meet or beat the 18.88 oil change where they also vacuum your inside, something I always need. So I'm guilty a few times in those areas, but looking for alternatives the more I hear about this company. |
Crystal
Newbie Poster
Username: Crystal
Post Number: 24
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 09, 2004 - 12:15 pm: |
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BMR: that’s what I think of Wal-Mart too – overall the prices aren’t that much better than other places. Although, I’ve never shopped in one of the super stores. For my parents it’s a matter of convenience – closest thing to them for a few miles.
Wal-Mart played a big part in the months long supermarket strike we had in SoCal at the end of last year into the beginning of this one. It went on through Thanksgiving, Christmas and beyond New Years. The companies were threatening the workers with employee-bully Wal Mart. And after all that the workers didn’t win much. There is now a 2-tier system where the current employees get a small raise and save some benefits for a few years [I’m thinking 3 years but may be wrong] and new hires get lower wages and fewer benefits.
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