Comments on: 50% Of Poll Respondents Chose Wal-Mart As Best Symbol Of America. http://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/09/30/50-of-poll-respondents-chose-wal-mart-as-best-symbol-of-america/ A place to discuss money...for the rest of us. Thu, 24 May 2012 23:41:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Uncle Bhttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/09/30/50-of-poll-respondents-chose-wal-mart-as-best-symbol-of-america/#comment-36892 Uncle B Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:52:32 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2230#comment-36892 The great hulking American neanderthal, spawn of two hundred years of selective breeding by corporatists for the express purpose of rapid and profitable exploitation of the easy resources of North America has finally found themselves in WalMarts hopelessly addicted to the shiny beads that drove them forward all these years! Now China wants its piece of these noble beasts as they face demise in the modern, mechanized age! No longer in demand for their brawn and endurance, these great over-weight, cumbersome beasts wallow in air conditioned circumstance entertaining themselves with material things while the very fabric of their country is torn away! Sad to see the end of the Empire! Sadder still to see the noble altruism of the great humanitarian beasts dies with them. We enter a new age of differing moralities, sick values, sadistic and vicious corporatists some Asian, some domestic! Will America survive? Not likely! The great hulking American neanderthal, spawn of two hundred years of selective breeding by corporatists for the express purpose of rapid and profitable exploitation of the easy resources of North America has finally found themselves in WalMarts hopelessly addicted to the shiny beads that drove them forward all these years! Now China wants its piece of these noble beasts as they face demise in the modern, mechanized age! No longer in demand for their brawn and endurance, these great over-weight, cumbersome beasts wallow in air conditioned circumstance entertaining themselves with material things while the very fabric of their country is torn away!
Sad to see the end of the Empire! Sadder still to see the noble altruism of the great humanitarian beasts dies with them. We enter a new age of differing moralities, sick values, sadistic and vicious corporatists some Asian, some domestic! Will America survive? Not likely!

]]> By: kittyhttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/09/30/50-of-poll-respondents-chose-wal-mart-as-best-symbol-of-america/#comment-34432 kitty Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:30:33 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2230#comment-34432 This is so sad! This is so sad!

]]> By: Tinahttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/09/30/50-of-poll-respondents-chose-wal-mart-as-best-symbol-of-america/#comment-34423 Tina Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:05:09 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2230#comment-34423 I am ashamed to say that I use to work for Walmart, back when I was young and foolish, I experienced first hand some of the tactics that help Walmart keep their prices down. I am as frugal as the next but the all mighty dollar speaks for me and my family. I don't and won't give Walmart a penny of it. Also being a union workers wife I know there are positive and negatives of unions but as previously posted all unions negotiate their own contracts so there are no givens in one union to another. Walmart as an American Icon, good grief. I am ashamed to say that I use to work for Walmart, back when I was young and foolish, I experienced first hand some of the tactics that help Walmart keep their prices down. I am as frugal as the next but the all mighty dollar speaks for me and my family. I don’t and won’t give Walmart a penny of it.

Also being a union workers wife I know there are positive and negatives of unions but as previously posted all unions negotiate their own contracts so there are no givens in one union to another.

Walmart as an American Icon, good grief.

]]> By: Davidhttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/09/30/50-of-poll-respondents-chose-wal-mart-as-best-symbol-of-america/#comment-34417 David Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:51:45 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2230#comment-34417 Yes that is a sade commentary on the mentality of the general American public--which I have never had too much faith in anyways. Decent prices, but who can get beyond the non-cleanliness, the quality of the goods, and the inability to get checked out in less than an hour. Yes that is a sade commentary on the mentality of the general American public–which I have never had too much faith in anyways.

Decent prices, but who can get beyond the non-cleanliness, the quality of the goods, and the inability to get checked out in less than an hour.

]]> By: Annie Joneshttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/09/30/50-of-poll-respondents-chose-wal-mart-as-best-symbol-of-america/#comment-34414 Annie Jones Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:19:13 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2230#comment-34414 I guess I'm somewhere in the middle on this one. I don't agree that Wal-Mart is the best symbol of America, but we do shop there once every couple of months. We aren't generally tempted by their "worthless crap", which they do indeed have, but go there to buy basics such as toothpaste, shampoo, oil and filters to do our own oil changes, school supplies and the like. Sure, all of those things could be bought at local businesses, and we do buy locally when we can, but sometimes every penny counts, and it's the least expensive choice in terms of time and actual cost. To me, shopping at Wal-Mart is a lot like sticking your tongue in the whole where you just lost a tooth...you don't want to, and you try not to, but sometimes you just have to... Also, to Glew: As a union ironworker's wife, I have to say that not all union-made goods are overpriced and crappy, and while most union members do enjoy a nice benefits package, each union negotiates for their benefits; benefits vary widely from one trade to another. It's blanket statements like yours that cause public misconceptions, not just about unions, but about many subject that aren't fully understand by the general public. I guess I’m somewhere in the middle on this one.

I don’t agree that Wal-Mart is the best symbol of America, but we do shop there once every couple of months.

We aren’t generally tempted by their “worthless crap”, which they do indeed have, but go there to buy basics such as toothpaste, shampoo, oil and filters to do our own oil changes, school supplies and the like.

Sure, all of those things could be bought at local businesses, and we do buy locally when we can, but sometimes every penny counts, and it’s the least expensive choice in terms of time and actual cost.

To me, shopping at Wal-Mart is a lot like sticking your tongue in the whole where you just lost a tooth…you don’t want to, and you try not to, but sometimes you just have to…

Also, to Glew: As a union ironworker’s wife, I have to say that not all union-made goods are overpriced and crappy, and while most union members do enjoy a nice benefits package, each union negotiates for their benefits; benefits vary widely from one trade to another. It’s blanket statements like yours that cause public misconceptions, not just about unions, but about many subject that aren’t fully understand by the general public.

]]> By: Matt Jabshttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/09/30/50-of-poll-respondents-chose-wal-mart-as-best-symbol-of-america/#comment-34411 Matt Jabs Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:15:25 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2230#comment-34411 Around a year ago my wife and I committed to shopping at ALL LOCAL PLACES for as much of our needs as possible. The difference in our own lives has been amazing. Committing to this change was one of those triggers that sparked a whole lot of other awesome changes in our lives. Now we eat much better, save more, and feel really good about supporting the local economy. Great stuff! It's all very patriotic actually... :-) Around a year ago my wife and I committed to shopping at ALL LOCAL PLACES for as much of our needs as possible. The difference in our own lives has been amazing.

Committing to this change was one of those triggers that sparked a whole lot of other awesome changes in our lives. Now we eat much better, save more, and feel really good about supporting the local economy. Great stuff! It’s all very patriotic actually… :-)

]]> By: Meghttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/09/30/50-of-poll-respondents-chose-wal-mart-as-best-symbol-of-america/#comment-34409 Meg Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:57:45 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2230#comment-34409 Glew, you REALLY think those are the only choices?! Now THAT is sad! I actually prefer well-made goods that last made by craftsmen who take pride in their work and sold by local business owners (often the makers) who will spend time explaining to you how to use and care for your purchase best and who are probably a lot less likely to cheat you considering that they have a local reputation to uphold. Does it cost a bit more? Yeah, sometimes. Is it worth it? Definitely -- especially when you don't have to replace your bookcase after a couple of months because it falls apart after if you dare to put hardcover books on it! And if I have to buy less cheap crap I don't need to buy higher quality items that really serve my needs then I just guess that's a sacrifice I'll have to make! But alas, all those who are willing to sacrifice any bit of quality to save a few more cents are making it harder for local businesses to stay in business, especially in low population areas. Glew, you REALLY think those are the only choices?! Now THAT is sad!

I actually prefer well-made goods that last made by craftsmen who take pride in their work and sold by local business owners (often the makers) who will spend time explaining to you how to use and care for your purchase best and who are probably a lot less likely to cheat you considering that they have a local reputation to uphold.

Does it cost a bit more? Yeah, sometimes. Is it worth it? Definitely — especially when you don’t have to replace your bookcase after a couple of months because it falls apart after if you dare to put hardcover books on it! And if I have to buy less cheap crap I don’t need to buy higher quality items that really serve my needs then I just guess that’s a sacrifice I’ll have to make!

But alas, all those who are willing to sacrifice any bit of quality to save a few more cents are making it harder for local businesses to stay in business, especially in low population areas.

]]> By: Davidhttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/09/30/50-of-poll-respondents-chose-wal-mart-as-best-symbol-of-america/#comment-34406 David Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:34:16 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2230#comment-34406 I agree - the few times I have stepped foot inside one reminds me of just how bad an experience shopping there can be. It's one of the ugliest retail experiences to go along with their corporate behavior. I agree – the few times I have stepped foot inside one reminds me of just how bad an experience shopping there can be. It’s one of the ugliest retail experiences to go along with their corporate behavior.

]]> By: Genehttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/09/30/50-of-poll-respondents-chose-wal-mart-as-best-symbol-of-america/#comment-34405 Gene Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:25:08 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2230#comment-34405 The good thing, maybe, is that the losing candidates were Google, Microsoft, the NFL and Goldman Sachs. Kind of reminds me of some elections I've voted in. The good thing, maybe, is that the losing candidates were Google, Microsoft, the NFL and Goldman Sachs. Kind of reminds me of some elections I’ve voted in.

]]> By: Mirandahttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/09/30/50-of-poll-respondents-chose-wal-mart-as-best-symbol-of-america/#comment-34404 Miranda Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:22:17 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2230#comment-34404 My husband and I haven't shopped at Wal-Mart in four years. The exception: We went last week, just to see the brand-new version that is supposed to have organic produce and what-not. After shopping there, we were reminded -- on a number of levels -- why we don't shop there. Just ducking in every once in a while is a good reminder of how we don't need it. It's sad that it has become a symbol of America. My husband and I haven’t shopped at Wal-Mart in four years. The exception: We went last week, just to see the brand-new version that is supposed to have organic produce and what-not. After shopping there, we were reminded — on a number of levels — why we don’t shop there. Just ducking in every once in a while is a good reminder of how we don’t need it. It’s sad that it has become a symbol of America.

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