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WalMart: from both sides now
Many of my fellow progressives have a negative image of WalMart, despite having never shopped there or knowing very little about the company. Yes, they do have their downsides and their problems, but there are also positive things that could be said about WalMart.
In an attempt to find out the truth about America's largest retailer, I recently left the comfortable confines of Brentwood and ventured to the far northern San Fernando Valley, specifically a part of Los Angeles - not its own city - oddly called "Panorama City". Inside, the store was a beehive of activity, as lower-wage workers scurried hither and yon fetching and stocking products and helping other lower-wage workers of other companies. While it certainly wasn't Rodeo Drive, it had a certain elegance of its own: those who can afford little are able to buy quality products that they could otherwise not afford.
We progressives sometimes put policy ahead of cold, hard fact. WalMart fills a market that would otherwise go unfilled, and helps those who we claim to try to help. Give them a break, I say.
And, as for SR 3482, the state legislation that would force Wal-Mart Stores to spend more on employee health insurance, a quick scan shows that all across the country, newspaper editorial boards - no great friends of business - are ripping the bills. Perhaps they should visit their local WalMarts and see who they'd be affecting.
Posted by Ariadne to Ariadne at 09:37 PM
The smear campaign against Paula Abdul
Was Paula Abdul drunk on last night's American Idol? Or, is she just the victim of a transnational smear campaign? Qui bono from smearing America's favorite music critic? Let's look at the facts.
First, she's alleged to have said:
"Simon said because one of them ate pizza and the other one ate salad."
Yes. And, so? Perhaps Simon did say that. Perhaps Simon did say some other things, and did some other things as well. Who could be behind this smear campaign? Who indeed.
In fact, let's look at Simon Cowell in a bit more depth. While he's reportedly a "music executive", an in-depth look at his financial reports shows that one of his investors is Chin Ho Minh company from Shanghai. They're a multinational conglomerate, and they even have business operations in the U.S.
What do they do here in the U.S.? Well, they own various manufacturing companies.
And, one of the subsidiaries of one their subsidiaries owns the Luster Lady chain. Those are nail salons. And, recall that Abdul is a frequent critic of that industry, including testifying before the California legislature, doughtily fighting for nail care reform.
Follow the money, follow the money.
