your thoughts??

[denbro]

hey all,
what's you guys thoughts on wal-mart and there new venture into carrying organic foods/produce??
i know this a senstive subject with some, so letter rip. let's hear it!
d

[werecat]

I will let you know when we actually get our super walmart in august. LOL

[onmyknees]

I personally am trying to break the WM habit. since they came into our town the local fabric store pet store hardware store etc went out of business. In general they encourage over consumption and foreign trade deficit. Don't get me wrong I go about twice a month for cheese Icant get it anywhere else) and large containers of Olives. I no longer purchase seeds plants etc from them even if it means going further away or paying more. Time for their comeupance. Hopefully someday the mom and pop business we used so much before WM will come back

[gulfcoastguy]

I remember in the 80's when they bragged about buying so many american products, US flags all over the store. Then it turned out that many of their products that were labeled USA were actually made in a town called Usa, in Taiwan if I remember right but definitely not in the United States. Personally I think when Sam Walton died the real Walmart died.

[boston]

I would not buy any produce in my local wal-mart because it just does not look good. A lot of it is old and dried out looks like it has been sitting around for months b4 they put it out

[HillsideDigger]

The nearest Walmart to me, about 7 miles, does not have a perishable food section.

[Bellepepper]

We don't have a choice around here to shop anywhere but Walmart. I would have to drive 60/75 miles to buy toilet paper. BUT I am so mad today that I may start doing that. I went to Walmart to pick up a few things. Our American flag was getting pretty tattered and decided it was time for a new one. I bought one and when I took it out of the sack I laid it on the kitchen counter face down. I looked at it and thought what the ##. It said "BANDERA DE LOS EE.UU." It went on to say Estrellas brillantes bordadas, Ideal para todo tipo de clima. And 4 more lines that I couldn't read. I am RETURNING the flag tomorrow. AND I am going to make a lot of noise at the customer desk.

[zebraman]

Hey Guys;Here in L.A.You have to drive to The Ghetto to shop at WalMart.White Neighborhoods WON"T allow these types of stores to be built.I have only been to the WalMart in Palm Springs.My friends in PS pointed out that WM in Palm Springs was the High Class one.Their prices are really cheap but then again so is their merchandise,not to mention most of their workers Do not speak fluent english,and the white ones looked like they spent most of their childhoods in a Trailer Park.
You Know I am Having a Hard Time picturing ALL those Jaguars parked out in the WM parking lot with all those WEALTHY MS folks having to lower themselves to such Utter Degredation.LMAO-so to speak.-

[denbro]

personally i think wal-mart is evil. they control the buying market, because they are so big and buy so much stuff that they can demand a low low price for the producer. my worries are when they start to carry organic foods/produce that they will drive the price down to nothing. the plus side. they will get organic stuff into the mainstream and maybe more and more folks will buy it. the negative and a very big one. because they can drive the price so low, the already underpaid farmer will get even less and everyone will think that organic red peppers should be 99cents/lb. then the consumer will go to their local organic farmer and see beautiful organic red peppers for $2.50/lb and think that the local farmer is trying to rip them off. then the small local farmer has to lower his price just to maybe break even. small, local organic farmers are the future, and they need our support

[flowerpower]

Bellepepper, I would write or call WM executive offices. These people do the real ordering of the merchandise. Make a big deal about it. I bet they will send you a gift card. The store will just give you a refund. And hopefully, an apology.

I don't shop at WM. And I know plenty of people who have worked there. No one liked it all that much. Most of their pitiful paychecks would get spent right at the store. Gotta use that 10 percent discount.

[redhooklane]

Aside from the possible organic produce, most of the Wal-mart goods are made in China. Supporting trade with China supports an evil government, that abuses its people and anyone else in its power. An American company, Cisco systems, sold the Chinese police face and voice recognition systems to find and jail whoever speaks out.
My Tibetan friend, Tenzin S., spent 15 years in a Chinese prison in Tibet as a political prisoner. Prisoners were underfed and given forcible injections. Killing them for organ donors wasn't yet practiced.When Tibet was invaded, the food was cut off, and his grandmother starved. After he was released from prison he came to America. Since I met him his youngest brother was murdered at Jokang Monastery when the monks demonstrating for Tibetan independance were gassed. About forty died. Check the site
studentsforafreetibet.org, and rainforestportal.org about China trying to log Indonesian rainforest for Olympic construction.
When China floods the market with cheap goods it can get a monopoly - a Wal-mart strategy.

[Bellepepper]

Flowerpower, I have already got the ball rolling. Sent an email to the manufacturer of the flag. NOT nice. Will do Walmart Ex next. Not that it will do any good. I get so tired of listining to the news and nothing is being done. I am (for once) not going to threat Walmart with a boycot. Like they care. Would only be costing me more.
I agee with some of the other post, Walmart's produce is not that good. Our local grocery store has better stuff. But now that we are into garden season, MY stuff is better. I wish I could be totally self sufficient and not have to depend on the "stores".

[TastyofHasty]

Urk! We are big Walmart customers ... gack! Wasn't it Bill Clinton who opened the doors to trade with China ... so they might buy all OUR goods!!! ha ha ha ... oh yeah ... and Clinton is another Skull and Bones member, along with our present Prez ...

[Ms.Lefty]

Hey, Bellepepper - just because the flag has Spanish text on it doesn't mean it's made outside of the USA - is there a line that begins "hecho en ...." that will confirm the country of origin? Or you objecting to the use of Spanish? Perhaps it was manufactured in Puerto Rico, which IS part of the US.

I remember buying a flag for my parents at Costco and finding out that it was made in China. Seems wrong, doesn't it?

[meghaninmissouri]

I think it is sad that Walmart carries organic. If they do, it only comes from the mega organic farm in California, you know who. Worse yet, it comes from that company in Cali, but when you read the label, it is grown in Mexico. I have no doubt that this organic company is paying their workers south of the border very generously. LOL. I would have to agree that it will undermine what is a fair price for us when it is so cheap at Walmart. They would not buy from anyone at a local level anyway, and if they do, they are not willing to pay for at least ninety days anyway. All we can do is buy locally as much as possible and encourage our friends and neighbors to do the same.

[flowerpower]

Actually, the WM here occasionally buys from the local farms. One farm did have a problem with the store. While shopping at WM, the farmer saw his sign on corn that he did not grow. He made them take it down and he told the local newspaper how they gave him a hard time.

[Cliff Timmons]

I visit Wal-Mart all the time and have no guilt doing so.

[Ms.Lefty]

I try to avoid shopping at Wal-Mart, but do go there on occasion. When my late mother was in a nursing home, I would buy clothes for her there - they carry a wide assortment of elastic-waist slacks, which was what the nursing home staff told us to get for her (she was in a wheelchair).

W-M is planning on building a Supercenter in my neighborhood, which I will probably use occasionally, as my area (an older working-class inner-ring suburbof Baltimore, MD) is underserved by the major grocery chains. At least here in Maryland, we have a law that forces W-M to dedicate a certain percentage of its money to employee health care. I know that doesn't make up for their exploitation of workers in other states, but it's a start.

[TastyofHasty]

There's a new book at the library called The Bully of Bentonville, How the High Cost of Wal-Mart's Everyday Low Prices is Hurting America. I'm about 2/3 through it. This book explains a LOT of things that are going on ... in the USA and in the world!!!

It just keeps getting better and better. Now I'm at the part where they've mentioned people in China are willing to work for 25 cents per hour. So Wal-Mart (of course) gets the Chinese to do the labor on its goods rather than Americans. Then it goes into conditions in some "work camps" in China where people get paid about $28 a month, and have to pay $15 a month for room & board, get beaten by their work superiors, and one report that they keep the first three months' pay which never gets paid if the person quits. Incredible. And Wal-Mart had the nerve to act like people trying to prevent it from starting a store (I think in Arizona) were like Nazis forcing people to burn books ...

And what seems to be the most serious side effect (here) of sending jobs off to China while Americans buy the goods ... America is losing all of its manufacturing jobs ... and its manufacturing plants ... it's really interesting ... a logical progression when you look at the underlying principles of Walmart ... and of free enterprise(!)

1) always the lowest price ... this means ruthlessness and pettiness and utter competitiveness and in the long run, how little can workers live on before dying(?) ... DYING to cut the last penny from the price of that hula hoop ... this stuff is actually pretty weird!!!... but it IS all about what IS going on in our world now.

2) What is the POINT of Walmart? It's a corporation, right? Sam Walton's "baby," but Sam Walton is DEAD ... his heirs are some of the richest people in the world ... do they still want MORE MONEY at the cost of the lives of innocent people in China? and at the cost of the loss of American jobs? Seems like the thing is just going to go on on its own steam ... like a monster brought to life that cannot be killed or die(?!!!) till it spawns more monsters of its own type that will eventually compete with/kill it. It is the perfect representation of the "free enterprise" system that produced it ... and can only be contained by a different sort of government, one with other values besides "free enterprise."

[Cliff Timmons]

But they are the only ones I can find that sell Blazin' Hot Wings!

[dirtundernails]

My biggest problem is the that knowledge of what is going on in W**Mart World is directly related to what God is going to ask about me when I die. I must remain aware of the consequences of my actions upon others. Eternity is much longer than any gratification attained from the sport of shopping.

dun

[AShadyElm]

We have successfully weaned ourselves from shopping at Walmart (we never did much anyway) and have tried to use our local small town business for most of our goods. If you live in a remote area and have trouble getting basics (toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste etc) consider using the web to buy them in bulk. We did our entire "household unperishables" shopping online in January and stored our goods downstairs in our cold room so when we need something we go "shopping" in the basement.

The fact that Walmart is getting organic products is only because the current trend is that organics sell well. I doubt it is because of some philosophical belief of theirs that people should eat better. On that note, since "organic" has been branded by the USDA, most of the organic labels found in stores are owned by some well known mega corporations. There is a website: http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/rcbtoa/services/corporate-ownership.html that shows who really owns most of the organic labels. It certainly isn't the farm down the road.
--APB

[flowerpower]

This area is full of farms and I only see 1 that is "certified" organic. Organic meat is easier to come by than veggies around here.

[bluelacedredhead]

Which I find very strange. Tells me that those farms have never experienced any sort of disease outbreak in their flocks/herds. I've never been that fortunate. I don't use meds indiscriminately, but if I've got an animal down, I'm going to do what I can to save it's life.

Don't misunderstand me. It can be done. Mostly by raising a closed flock. No outside exposure at all (no showing at fairs, no bringing in other animals for breeding purposes, no purchasing from outside sources without strictly enforcing a 4 week+- quarantine when bringing in something new).

[zebraman]

God is going to ask about shopping at Wal-Mart?GET OUT!!!
Boy is He going to be Impressed with MY Shopping skills.I buy Gucci and Versaci!Who Knew?!-

[werecat]

God is going to ask about shopping at Wal-Mart?GET OUT!!!
Boy is He going to be Impressed with MY Shopping skills.I buy Gucci and Versaci!Who Knew?!-
ROFLMFAO I just knew you wouldnt let that comment lay for long. LOL

[Cliff Timmons]

Sam Walton was the Anti-Christ?

[GreenCap]

Wal-marts produce is not that good it spoils quick and has anyone ever tasted thier meat......uuugggghhh. It is funny because it looks all pretty and tastes like an old shoe. I get mine from local farmers and from this health food store I go to, they have organic grass fed beef, mmmmm now that is the way meat should taste. I think they have cloned meat or something at Walmart :eek:

[dirtundernails]

Sam Walton started a good thing. Since his death, the corporation has no similarity. Hence the omission of Walton's name in my references to W**Mart. I'm not getting out, there's room for all of us here.
I do purchase stuff there, due to the lack of other stores in the area. The shopfronts still remain on the streets, empty and being vandalized. Thank you monopolozing huge enterprise for helping our community. I find the ideas posted here for avoidance of patronizing the Evil Store inviting and plan to utilize them. Not that it will matter in the store's economy, but on principle.

dun

Hey zebraman, paying that kind of money for goods coming from nice working conditions and decently paid people, couldn't be all that naughty. The conditions under which a $3 T-shirt is produced are horrid. I'd rather be a a migrant worker.

[leelanau_ferg]

I have never been a big fan of Walmart because they go into small communities and kill the mom and pop places. But, I must admit that most of the time I go to our local super-giant-grocery store, Meijer, because it is more convenient, and noticably less expensive than the smaller grocery stores and the natural foods co-op. I would love it if I could afford to go only to the smaller places, but I just can't. The difference of a dollar here and there on regularly purchased items, is very significant to me. I feel guilty about it, but what can I do? (I do go to the local hardware instead of Home Depot. Does that help my karma?)

[Cliff Timmons]

I have never been a big fan of Walmart because they go into small communities and kill the mom and pop places. But, I must admit that most of the time I go to our local super-giant-grocery store, Meijer, because it is more convenient, and noticably less expensive than the smaller grocery stores and the natural foods co-op. I would love it if I could afford to go only to the smaller places, but I just can't. The difference of a dollar here and there on regularly purchased items, is very significant to me. I feel guilty about it, but what can I do? (I do go to the local hardware instead of Home Depot. Does that help my karma?)


But then the big outfits like Home Depot and Wal-Mart hire displaced workers and in most instances give them better benifits then the Mom & Pop outfits could afford.

I think there's good and bad in everything.

[TastyofHasty]

Ms. Lefty said:
At least here in Maryland, we have a law that forces W-M to dedicate a certain percentage of its money to employee health care.

Wish we had a team of Christian-type super-intelligent lawyers dedicated to figuring out what would be the best thing to do about Wal-Mart, our trade deficit with China, and world affairs. That could then enact thoughtful and equitable laws here in the USA that would protect everybody. But is that POSSIBLE???? Seems like Jesus said it was ... but only when people ... like ... look at the bough in our own eye before criticizing the sliver in somebody else's ... love our enemy ... do good unto those who despitefully use us ...

BTW ... here's an interesting link I discovered recently ... you can actually read through congressional hearings about 6 months after they've happened ... quoted from this link:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_house_hearings&docid=f:21645.wais

Ms. Schakowsky . . .
Failure by the Administration to address such U.S.-China
trade issues such as forced labor production practices, massive
counterfeiting of American products, and the refusal to allow
the Yuan to float freely may be good for the Walton family
dividend checks from Wal-Mart, but it has been a disaster for
the American economy as a whole and America's working families
in particular.

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/index.html#committees
is the link that lists a whole bunch of committees you can check out ... I just go for the most recent hearings ...

I too am thinking about trying to divorce us from shopping at Wal-Mart ... but it is very hard to make a decision that will cost us DOLLARS. One of the good/bad things about Wal-Mart is their policy of NOT taking "what they can get," but of simply keeping a small percentage markup of the best price they can negotiate. This makes them undefeatable, and it is also a form of "good faith" with their consumers which consumers have got to appreciate, by shopping there. At least in part, it's based on believing that we WILL find the best price at Wal-Mart, no matter if we 'comparison shop' or not. Wal-Mart even posts its competitors' (grocery) flyers on the wall and invites shoppers to shop their competitors' best prices ... at Wal-Mart.

But their ruthlessness is distasteful. Definition of RUTHLESS:
Having no compassion or pity; merciless: ruthless cruelty; ruthless opportunism.
YUP, it's a religious matter indeed ... is not one of the prime attributes of God supposed to be ... MERCY?

[zebraman]

This would Totally Ruin Hollywood!-

[dirtundernails]

So what's the down side, Z ?
:)


dun

[zebraman]

Like EVERYTHING that opens after 10:00 pm.And look at the laws to "Protect Us" after 9/11.
All Americans get searched like Criminals at Airports and Public,But not Arabs because that would be Racial Profiling.Christian Lawyers would be even worse than the Bottom Feeders that we have now.
The Whole point of Free Will is the Ability to choose the Wrong Choice.-----------------------------------------------------------------------.Woundn't be near as much FUN.And Besides if Jesus would have wanted this we wouldn't be having this discussion now.-

[ipaintedmyhousewhite]

I live in a pretty rural area, and WalMart is one of the very few places in town to shop for many things. Still, I have gotten so sick and fed up with it, I've sworn off of it twice. And gone back, because I felt like I needed to. I went back today, to get some items (organic, incidentally) that I didn't find at the other places I normally shop. I hated it just as much. I hate WalMart! I don't even feel like a human when I walk through there. I feel like an animal, being shuttled through the store, having everything around me and dangled in front of me that I'm supposed to like...studied and researched, and then exploited for my cash. I don't care if it's the name of the game, or just business or something. It sucks and I hate it. Somehow it's different to me when WalMart does it than if the mom & pop place down the street was taking surveys. I don't know why.
Since I stopped going there almost completely, I have started shopping at this really cool market that just got built here. It's employee-owned. I feel good about that. Also they're really nice in there. And in the summer when they're open, I like to get stuff at this orchard near here, too.

[TastyofHasty]

So what's the down side, Z ? HAR!!! :D

And besides, Z, whatcha mean, if Jesus would have wanted this we wouldn't be having this discussion now.-

Here's what Jesus said about LAWYERS ...
[1] Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
[2] Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees (LAWYERS) sit in Moses' seat:
[3] All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
[4] For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
[5] But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
[6] And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
[7] And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

HMMMMmmm ... good "Christian-type lawyers" would ALWAYS keep this in mind ... but they are a very rare breed ... rarer than hen's teeth ... wish we could GROW 'em, but ... conditions are not good for growing 'em ... that's why they're so extremely rare as to be (maybe) non-existant.

[chubbyduckie]

I hate WalMart! I don't even feel like a human when I walk through there. I feel like an animal, being shuttled through the store, having everything around me and dangled in front of me that I'm supposed to like...studied and researched, and then exploited for my cash. I don't care if it's the name of the game, or just business or something. It sucks and I hate it. Somehow it's different to me when WalMart does it than if the mom & pop place down the street was taking surveys. I don't know why.
Since I stopped going there almost completely, I have started shopping at this really cool market that just got built here. It's employee-owned. I feel good about that. Also they're really nice in there. And in the summer when they're open, I like to get stuff at this orchard near here, too.

WOW - I do agree!! I try to avoid the place as much as possible. I don't buy groceries there, I shop at our local store; much better produce and meat. Wal-Mart pre-packaged meat isn't even the right color. I know meat is dyed in some places, but theirs looks like it's been sitting around for ages; not like 'aged' meat, but just yucky.
Whoever mentioned the book about Wal-Mart....thanks!! I am definitely going to read that one.

[Cliff Timmons]

My biggest problem is the that knowledge of what is going on in W**Mart World is directly related to what God is going to ask about me when I die. I must remain aware of the consequences of my actions upon others. Eternity is much longer than any gratification attained from the sport of shopping.

dun

Salvation
I think that will be the #1 question. "Have you been saved?"

[bmarkham]

Skipping Walmart per-se, I'd like to mention the phenomenon of Agribusiness Organics.

It used to be, five years and more ago, that when you bought something that was Organic it was almost always local, too. And it was GOOD too. High quality.

Now, organic stuff my wife has bought has been horrible. The cauliflower is always infested with flea beetles or worse. The tomatoes are just the same old stuff shipped 500 miles or more.

I'm NOT impressed with today's "organic" produce. It's just agribusiness gone organic. I don't care what anyone says - some nameless corporation just can't care as much as I do about the quality of my food. That's why I now ... Dig My OWN darned Garden! (*grin*) I've had it with lousy food. I've especially had it with paying 300% more for premium organic food - only to get it home and find out it's yucky and infested or rotten or whatever.

So now Walmart is gonna start selling lousy food with a trendy organic label. Well - I won't buy it.

:-)

[dirtundernails]

OK, it might help Cliff and Zebraman to understand that when I wrote the death post, it was 4 days after we had been shot at in the wee hours of the morning. We unknowingly moved to meth lab alley, and they don't like outsiders meddling in there "dealings". Please pardon the life flashing before my eyes depth charge. I'll see about staying more shallow for you.
And yes, we're saved. Not because of anything we've done, but because of what Christ did for us. I also do read direct connections to personal actions and Judgement Day in the bible.

dun

[Cliff Timmons]

Wow, I missed the "Death Post".
I'm glad you guys are OK.

And as a side note, I agree with you on personal actions and Judgement Day. But not that Salvation hinges on "anything we've done, but because of what Christ did for us"

You're gonna make me shout!
Stop it. <grin>

[zebraman]

Hey Guys;Jesus Christ is Jewish-Right.How come he has a Mexican first name?

[TastyofHasty]

DUN said:
it was 4 days after we had been shot at in the wee hours of the morning. We unknowingly moved to meth lab alley,
Dun, I was wanting to CONGRATULATE you on living in Mansfield, Missouri, homeplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder . . . How times change(?)

Here's a webpage called nometh.org ... related to Missouri ... their page on "What to Do if You Suspect or Are Exposed to a meth Lab ...
http://www.nometh.org/suspect.html

& here's another one for a five-state area that includes Missouri ...
http://www.kci.org/meth_info/hidta.htm

if you're interested ... Good luck and Keep Safe.

[chubbyduckie]

Dun, it's good to know you are safe!! I'm sure we have meth labs in our area too, since it's quite rural. Luckily we know all our close neighbors and haven't seen any evidence of that right around here....scary, though.

Tasty, thanks for those sites--I really need to learn more about that; I do worry about the grandkids with that garbage around.

[JereGettle]

Hey, this thread has gotten way off topic, thanks for posting... but think it is time to move on :)