I read an article today that Wal Mart is capping wages and adding more part-timers to their staff. I think this just enhances my distaste for all things Wal Mart. A wage cap in idea is not a bad thing, but if they put the cap too low then it becomes ludicrous. It sounds like they want to keep wages low, so will have an unrealistic cap. There is nothing wrong with part-time employees. For some people that is the preferred/ideal job. However, part-timers usually make less than a full-time equivelant. They pay more for benefits, or are not even elligible for them. So to say that as a company you are going to cap your wages and employ more part-timers you are really saying you hate America, especially the middle-class. One distasteful quote from the article is “Wall Street, which has put pressure on Wal-Mart to raise its stock price, has endorsed the strategy, with analysts praising the new approach to managing its workers.” Frankly, Wall Street should just shut the **** up. Wall Street exists to make rich people richer at the expense of the working-poor. If someone wants to do what is best for the country they should take whatever advice so-called business and finance experts say and do the opposite. All Wall Street cares about is increasing short-term profits, not helping the average American. I am so sick of the capitalist propoganda that is driving our existence.
In somewhat related news, Apple computer is looking to make a deal with Wal Mart. This makes me loose whatever respect I may have had for Apple. They are a very innovative company. But at what price? As far as I’m concerned making a deal with Wal Mart is akin to making a deal with the devil. First you hear about their child labor issues which they refute. Then they are making a deal with the most evil of corporations. It makes me sick.
Disclaimer: I recognize the hypocrisy of hating Wal Mart and shopping there. I hate Wal Mart and everything it stands for. However, until I find a pot of gold in my backyard I really have no choice but to shop there sometimes. I don’t like buying cheap crap from a company that exploits its workers, however sometimes that’s what I can afford. Yes it bothers me. Ideally I will reach the point where I can never set foot in a Wal Mart again, but that hasn’t happened yet.
