- 1
- 2
Retail Politics
Yes, politics matters. But in the end, the macroeconomic climate matters a lot more. Wal-Mart's success ultimately depends on whether the lower-income and middle-income customers on whom it depends are doing well or getting eaten up by stagnant incomes and rising costs for health care and gas. Here, again, the last two decades offer a pretty good contrast. In the 1990s, when a Democrat was in the White House, the rising economic tide lifted all boats (though not all boats equally), and Wal-Mart benefited. In this decade, the rising tide lifted only the yachts. The Bush years have been something of an economic disaster for people on the lower rungs of the income ladders. Census data show that household income in 2006 was below its 1999 peak and that the uninsured rate has steadily risen throughout the decade. Layer on soaring energy prices in the past couple of years, and you've got trouble. It's not all the fault of Bush or congressional Republicans, of course. But it's pretty clear that the dominant fiscal and economic policies of the past eight years—massive tax cuts for the wealthy, economic royalism, hostility to labor, and neglect on health care—haven't made things better for Wal-Mart customers.
Instead of asking whether a particular candidate or political party will be favorable to Wal-Mart's labor-relations policies, the executives in Bentonville, Ark., should be asking whether the candidate or party will be good for Wal-Mart's customers.
© 2008
- 1
- 2
Loading Menu
Member Comments
Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 08/08/2008 10:32:49 AM
Comment: WE VOTED TWO FROM OUR FAMILY BUSINESS..............................IN THE VOTING WITH NLRB OFFICIALS PRESENT FOR MATTERS OF POLICING ANY TRANSGRESSIONS...........................EVEN THOUGH I WAS A (PAID UP) DUES PAYING MEMBER......................THE TEAMSTERS CHALLENGED MY VOTE, BECAUSE I AM FAMILY AND WOULD BE BIASED....................................THE CONFRONTATION AFTER THE FIRST VOTE (FAILED TO VOTE THEM OUT BY 1 VOTE) WHEN I STOPPED PAYING MY DUES WAS AS THEY SAY ON THE COMMERICAL................."PRICELESS"!......................THE SECOND VOTE WAS DEFINATIVELY A BOOT TO THOSE WORTHLESS FOOLS!
Posted By: raddave @ 08/08/2008 5:00:37 AM
Comment: The decline of unions is because of Union busting practices of large corperations. Also, most union jobs were in the manufacturing industies which have also declined in the past years.
Posted By: raddave @ 08/08/2008 4:57:16 AM
Comment: Toyota makes alot of money because they manufacture and sell cars worldwide. Toyota lost money in the U.S. last quarter. Unlike the U.S. manufacurers, Toyota still turned a profit worldwide. Most of the rest of the world is not very interested in bying American cars because of the quality of product that is produced by the "big three" is less than other autos. American autos are not available in some countries, such as China, because they do not meet the mileage standards in these countries.