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If Wal-Mart comes to your town, kill it October 2002 By Jim Hightower Bullying people from your town to China Corporations rule. No other institution comes close to matching the power that the 500 biggest corporations have amassed over us. The clout of all 535 members of Congress is nothing compared to the individual and collective power of these predatory behemoths that now roam the globe, working their will over all competing interests. The aloof and pampered executives who run today's autocratic and secretive corporate states have effectively become our sovereigns. From who gets health care to who pays taxes, from what's on the news to what's in our food, they have usurped the people's democratic authority and now make these broad social decisions in private, based solely on the interests of their corporations. Their attitude was forged back in 1882, when the villainous old robber baron William Henry Vanderbilt spat out: “The public be damned! I'm working for my stockholders.” The media and politicians won't discuss this, for obvious reasons, but we must if we're actually to be a self-governing people. That's why the Lowdown is launching this occasional series of corporate profiles. And why not start with the biggest and one of the worst actors? The beast from Bentonville Wal-Mart is now the world's biggest corporation, having passed Exxon/Mobil for the top slot. It hauls off a stunning $220 billion a year from We the People (more in revenues than the entire GDP of Israel and Ireland combined). Wal-Mart cultivates an aw-shucks, we're-just-folks-from-Arkansas image of neighborly small-town shopkeepers trying to sell stuff cheaply to you and yours. Behind its soft homespun ads, however, is what one union leader calls “this devouring beast” of a corporation that ruthlessly stomps on workers, neighborhoods, competitors, and suppliers. Despite its claim that it slashes profits to the bone in order to deliver “Always Low Prices,” Wal-Mart banks about $7 billion a year in profits, ranking it among the most profitable entities on the planet. Of the 10 richest people in the world, five are Waltons -- the ruling family of the Wal-Mart empire. S. Robson Walton is ranked by London's “Rich List 2001” as the wealthiest human on the planet, having sacked up more than $65 billion (£45.3 billion) in personal wealth and topping Bill Gates as No. 1. Wal-Mart and the Waltons got to the top the old-fashioned way -- by roughing people up. The corporate ethos emanating from the Bentonville headquarters dictates two guiding principles for all managers: extract the very last penny possible from human toil, and squeeze the last dime from every supplier. With more than one million employees (three times more than General Motors), this far-flung retailer is the country's largest private employer, and it intends to remake the image of the American workplace in its image -- which is not pretty. Yes, there is the happy-faced “greeter” who welcomes shoppers into every store, and employees (or “associates,” as the company grandiosely calls them) gather just before opening each morning for a pep rally, where they are all required to join in the Wal-Mart cheer: “Gimme a W!” shouts the cheerleader; “W!” the dutiful employees respond. “Gimme an A!” And so on. Behind this manufactured cheerfulness, however, is the fact that the average employee makes only $1

Saturday Nov 9th, 2002 3:15 PM

If Wal-Mart comes to your town, kill it

That's why cp's comment appears to be a non sequitor.

Thursday Nov 7th, 2002 8:27 AM

As soon as someone from the editorial committee notices one of his posts, it will be removed immediately.

Thursday Nov 7th, 2002 8:23 AM

Smashy is not allowed to post here.

well, smashy, I guess you'd better watch out for where you park your car in the parking lot by the campers, if you have that attitude.

Thursday Nov 7th, 2002 7:12 AM

yes, I really like the Walmart parking lot thing, except a lot of the cool locations don't allow it. For instance, Coos Bay Oregon won't let you stay in the parking lot. I think it's too close to Arcata.

Wednesday Nov 6th, 2002 6:29 PM

Sam Wal or whatever his name is, had these Ten Commandments of operating his store, he said that no Wal Mart shall be opened in a town that never wanted one, that they would never be in business on Sundays, et cetera. The second he died and his kids took over, look at what happened. The best thing about this chain is that you can sleep in your car in their parking lot, and I hear they're easy to steal from. DOWN WITH THE 'MART!!

Wednesday Nov 6th, 2002 5:04 PM

boycott walmart sams clubs worldwide racists, homophobic employees, hitler style managers who use threats on employees if you voice your opinion you are fired. they pour hazzard chemicals down the drain that goes into the bay and creeks killing wildlife and endangering the public. age discrimination the managers lock the doors and will not let you out till they say so and make you work off the clock during that time. THIS FROM THE WORLDS LARGEST EMPLOYER??? THIS MUST STOP NOW! let walmart and sams club know you wont tolerate these acts in your towns BOYCOTT NOW

BOYCOTT walmart sams clubs worldwide numerous violations

BOYCOTT walmart sams clubs worldwide

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