Wal-Mart

[rhsunderground]

the subject of wal-mart is a sore one for me. i lived in a town of about 12,500 people for 8 years while i was growing up, and 2 years before i moved to where i currently live a super wal-mart opened up. super wal-mart being the ones that have grocery stores and everything special and are open 24/7. most people thought it was great: jobs, convenience, cheap s***, etc. yet in the 2 years between its opening and my moving away, 9 businesses closed that were in obvious competition with wal-mart, from mom-and pop stores to k-mart (which is still, 3 years later, an empty building). since then even more stores have closed, including 3 grocery stores, leaving only one other grocer in town besides the corporate giant. so, despite its ungodly-huge economic swing and massive employment, is wal-mart still a good thing for the USA, and now the world?


discuss.

[Stephen Philbin]

Big business has always destroyed all that came before it.

[buntine]

Big business has always destroyed all that came before it.

True. And it would be somewhat impossible do prevent that. Imagine the amount of chickens McDonalds slaughter every year.

Regards.

[amazing_andr3]

Whatever happens in a free market economy is the customer's choice. Those businesses have closed because walmart is better. Sounds fair enough to me.

[buntine]

Whatever happens in a free market economy is the customer's choice. Those businesses have closed because walmart is better. Sounds fair enough to me.

It is interesting, though. Alot of the smaller companies do not possess the resources to even begin to compete with the multinational corporations. Wal Mart certainly can offer better deals than most local supermarkets, but I feel there is some ethical ground that is tread on in the process.

Regards.

[MstrBob]

It really does prove, though, that the company with better prices and advertising will win out. I've always been fond of smaller shops, personally, because you would get to know the people. For instance, there was this coffee shop I used to go to, Java Shop, or something like it. Since I'm a coffee addict, I went there regularly and got to know the guy. If I didn't have change, he'd cut me some slack, he'd know what kind of coffee I like and sometimes make some good recommendations. Eventually, he was run out by Starbucks. The thing that can be said for smaller stores is they can be more personable, and I'm one that will actually pay a little more for that. Most of the chains, though, are like go in, get what you want, part with your money, NOW LEAVE!

[hooloovoo24]

I love small businesses, especially for things like clothes, because they often feature unique items made by local artists, designers, etc. But the problem with it is, as was mentioned before, that they don't have the resources to compete with the prices Wal-mart offers.

My town is currently in the process of getting a wal-mart. It's been that way for about three years now, because in the beginning (and even now, when it's almost done), there was a lot of opposition from local businesses. They're scared that something is going to happen which sounds a lot like what did happen in rhs' town. And it probably will.

[sparq]

Its the American way... destroy your competitor, and then spread yourself to the world.

The only thing that would ever destroy wal-mart is something along the lines of all out nuclear war. Large corporations will become a thing of the past, and trading and dealing with your neighbor, or a friend of a friend will become way of life.

But, lets not hope for that. The answer is honestly very simple; people want convenience. If people were SO against wal-mart, they wouldnt shop there. They would spend the extra $0.10 for a box of crackers and goto their local groccery. But, Americans are lazy, we want everything... yesterday, and for dirt cheap, so we can spend our money on our over-inflated mortgage payment and luxury car notes :p

[hooloovoo24]

That's true. Personally, I've accepted the fact that wal-mart is coming and it will probably destroy local businesses. That's just the way things are. But I'm looking forward to seeing whether or not the anti-walmart people are actually going to shop there. I bet they will.

[rhsunderground]

Its the American way... destroy your competitor, and then spread yourself to the world.

The only thing that would ever destroy wal-mart is something along the lines of all out nuclear war. Large corporations will become a thing of the past, and trading and dealing with your neighbor, or a friend of a friend will become way of life.

But, lets not hope for that. The answer is honestly very simple; people want convenience. If people were SO against wal-mart, they wouldnt shop there. They would spend the extra $0.10 for a box of crackers and goto their local groccery. But, Americans are lazy, we want everything... yesterday, and for dirt cheap, so we can spend our money on our over-inflated mortgage payment and luxury car notes :p
i am SO against wal-mart that the ONLY reason i will shop there is if they have something that i cannot find at any other feasable location.


incredible article: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

[qzn]

i worked with a woman who was also a buyer for walmart as her second job
she would be offered prices and was able to say, you dont understand we ARE walmart - you will sell it to us cheaper than your "normal" wholesale prices, and they would comply because they knew the amount of consumption they could create would be large

i remember a place called cub foods that is now out of business here - they always had cheap grocery prices but just vanished one day

walmart is becoming pretty common in my area and we have a neighborhood market and 4 supercenters w/in 10 miles

when it comes to other grocers , they still exist but when they charge 3.79 for a microwave meal that walmart has for 79c they dont fool me into caring whether they learn my name or even say hello to me

the only real problem i have with walmart is that their cashiers are usually retarded and dont like to put in quantity on the register and prefer to scan each item, so the lines are long

they could destroy all the smaller places some say and raise prices but thinking we would be locked into that, isnt happening, when one company does that other small places would pop back up to get back in the game

somehow this reminds me of sears and kmart combining and nike refusing to offer their shoes at a kmart even tho they offered them to sears previously

[theuedimaster]

Theres only one true response to this madness. We Americans must accept that true free-market capitalism is not what we want our country to be, but rather competitive markets that allow everyone to at least.... survive. I see a world wide free market economy, althogh I have supported it much in the past for fairness and such, as dangerous. It will result in the loss and deaths of thousands of unemployed and starving people. Robust big buisness WILL take over on a GLOBAL scale and then the S&IT will start raining down on everyone. The point is, we need there to be free markets on a global scale, something I believe is fair, but we need more guarded and protected domestic markets within countries to help support citizens.

[Mr Initial Man]

Wal-Mart is the perfect example why unrestrained capitalism doesn't work.

[theuedimaster]

Hear hear!

[HostBreak]

It really does prove, though, that the company with better prices and advertising will win out. I've always been fond of smaller shops, personally, because you would get to know the people. For instance, there was this coffee shop I used to go to, Java Shop, or something like it. Since I'm a coffee addict, I went there regularly and got to know the guy. If I didn't have change, he'd cut me some slack, he'd know what kind of coffee I like and sometimes make some good recommendations. Eventually, he was run out by Starbucks. The thing that can be said for smaller stores is they can be more personable, and I'm one that will actually pay a little more for that. Most of the chains, though, are like go in, get what you want, part with your money, NOW LEAVE!
I totally agree with you. I can't explain it why? but I don't like Huge companies ( includes Microsoft as well ) :D

[Daniel T]

Oh my, this is EXACTLY like that episode of South Park where a Wal-Mart opens up and it destroys the town.

I <3 South Park.

[rhsunderground]

Oh my, this is EXACTLY like that episode of South Park where a Wal-Mart opens up and it destroys the town.

I <3 South Park.
i saw the end of that episode. it was beautiful.

[benOgunshola]

No one was forced to shop at wal-mart, it was thier decision

[JPnyc]

Whoa, you mean i had a CHOICE? I didn't have to buy that lousy AC there?

[poiuy]

If you're a female you shouldn't shop there at all. Walmart has been handed the largest class action lawsuit in history for paying women less then men in equal positions.

Not to start another debate but if we can't stop the outsourcing of high paying computer jobs to developing third world countries we may be forced to shop there simply because we can't afford anywhere else.

The only thing I think they can be good for is cheaper pricing on DVD's and video games since the quality will be the same no matter where you go to get them. Other than that their quality stinks on other products. You get the cheap cr@p you pay for.

Actually come to think about I switched to a small mom and pop store for games for my kids since the guy there can actually ANSWER any questions we may have, unlike the minimum wage knuckle-heads at Walmart

[PeOfEo]

There is nothing unethical about big business... it is strictly that business. Competition is fair, there should not be regulations limiting the ability of corporations to compete (I am talking about competition and not a lack of competition which anti-trust laws are in place for).
Laissez Faire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laissez-faire) is the way to go.

[rhsunderground]

i just got done reading "How Wal Mart Is Destroying America and the World" and trust me - stay as far away from wal mart as possible.

[Mausau2000]

OK i am a NZ'r and not knowledgeable about wall-mart
Is it one of them big chain stotres that bring all the cheap rubbish in bulk and sell it for millions ???

[rhsunderground]

yes.

http://walmartwatch.com/

[Bluetagpizza]

Americans usually root for the underdog. But Americans will also do whatever is most convenient. We buy products from the big corporation (because it's cheap) and then give our moral support to the little guy (because it's the least we can do). Then we complain when the little guy finds out he can't live on moral support and moves somewhere else. It's hypocritical. So, if you're going to complain, please, please, please, put your money where your mouth is first before you tell everyone else where or where not to shop.

[rhsunderground]

ok. i haven't shopped at wal mart in months.


and wal mart isn't always the cheapest. often, it's not. not after it's destroyed its local competition, or after it's had its grand opening sales.

[Mr Initial Man]

Here's something you guys should read, and hopefully give him an earful.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhjunior/227309.html

[rhsunderground]

i read it, and if i used livejournal i would give him quite the earful.

[thedigitalnomad]

The only thing that would ever destroy wal-mart is something along the lines of all out nuclear war. Large corporations will become a thing of the past, and trading and dealing with your neighbor, or a friend of a friend will become way of life.

Perhaps I'm cold hearted, but I see absolutely nothing wrong with that. I think this planet is extremely overpopulated by humans, and I don't think that a few billion lives lost would be too heavy a price to pay for a more personable, sociable lifestyle. The rate things are going right now, people are ordering their groceries online and having them delivered, completely eliminating the need to leave the house. There's something very wrong with that.

[poiuy]

Yeah you're right. Let's boycott Wal-mart and the Internet. We need to get out more people!! Starting right now lets stop using the Internet and everyone fly to the Wal-mart headquarters to voice our thoughts.

Before we meet with the execs we'll meet at Starbucks to discus.....nope then we'd be supportting another company taking out the mom and pops.

OK McDonalds -- No OK the Mobil gas station -- NOPE Denny's -- NO! BestBuy -- NO DARN IT!!! We can't win!! We're screwed!!!

Sounds about as crazy as nuking the planet so it won't be usable for many years to come and ending up with a genetically mutated version of the humans and the animals that do survive (if any). But then again ****roaches don't use the internet to deliver their food.

Guess I'll go back to buying stuff from Ebay and Amazon :mad: Darnit still can't win!!!

[theuedimaster]

There is nothing unethical about big business... it is strictly that business. Competition is fair, there should not be regulations limiting the ability of corporations to compete (I am talking about competition and not a lack of competition which anti-trust laws are in place for).
Laissez Faire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laissez-faire) is the way to go.

Oh, we did Laissez-Faire. Then things like Standard Oil came. Look back in history. It does not work primarily because the cycle of competition sometimes DOES stop.

[Sunny G]

Imagine the amount of chickens McDonalds slaughter every year.
And all the cattle for their carcinogenic-fat laden pattys. Don't forget all the seaweed they use in the McNuggets for it's nutritional value and flavor!

[PeOfEo]

Oh, we did Laissez-Faire. Then things like Standard Oil came. Look back in history. It does not work primarily because the cycle of competition sometimes DOES stop.
That was not Laissez Faire... that was bad government laws making trusts possible. In natural conditions competition would never even allow for a trust to form. Laissez Faire and Keynesianism were most visible durring the reagan administration actually, because he embraced supply side economics.

[theuedimaster]

That was not Laissez Faire... that was bad government laws making trusts possible. In natural conditions competition would never even allow for a trust to form. Laissez Faire and Keynesianism were most visible durring the reagan administration actually, because he embraced supply side economics.

Competition is what it is, a competition. There is a winner in the long run. When you win enough battles and get big enough, get prices low enough, you can kill the rest of the competition. Then you "win". There are so many examples of people winning the buisness competition. ATandT, there are so many. Intel would own the proc industry (commercial) if the government didn't support AMD and Intel didn't want to get sued. If I remember correctly, Intel actually gave AMD technology so that they wouldn't have a monopoly.

Coca Cola destroyed ALL COMPETITION. Pepsi only came up because the guys at coke felt that they company was worthless and they had too much ego to buy it. Creative basically has a monopoly on sound cards. The Japanese companies would have a monopoly in the U.S if they didn't support the US companies. Thats right. Our car industry would be zip right now if THEY WEREN't HELPING US. The Japanese could take over our market easily, however, they know that if they do then the US would retaliate against japanese markets. So, japanese companies actually help US companies to make better cars. Japanese companies are actually RAISING their prices because they want people to stop buying their cars.

The fact is, someone will win the competition in the long run. When coordinated big buisness is allowed to exist, it is inevitable. And you're joking right? The 80's had the government as Laissez faire? I don't think so.

The point I'm trying to make is that Big buisnes is not just buisness. Big buisness has many key differences from small buisness, least of not, is range. A national conglomerate can highly endanger competition in relation to the local coffee shop. Competition results in a winner, unless there is regulation.

[theuedimaster]

I must say though, you're quote is amazing, i've always loved it.

"Verily I say unto thee, Geocities is the seed of Beelzebub"

[Ben Rogers]

Americans usually root for the underdog. But Americans will also do whatever is most convenient. We buy products from the big corporation (because it's cheap) and then give our moral support to the little guy (because it's the least we can do). Then we complain when the little guy finds out he can't live on moral support and moves somewhere else. It's hypocritical. So, if you're going to complain, please, please, please, put your money where your mouth is first before you tell everyone else where or where not to shop.So very true. I hate walmart. I really do. But they're cheap, and my parents shop there, and so will I, until I can afford not to. (Note: I don't buy clothes at wal-mart. That's just nasty.)Perhaps I'm cold hearted, but I see absolutely nothing wrong with that. I think this planet is extremely overpopulated by humans, and I don't think that a few billion lives lost would be too heavy a price to pay for a more personable, sociable lifestyle. The rate things are going right now, people are ordering their groceries online and having them delivered, completely eliminating the need to leave the house. There's something very wrong with that.If you're cold hearted, so am I. There definetely needs to be less people. 10 people per square inhabitable mile. Huzzah. And all the cattle for their carcinogenic-fat laden pattys. Don't forget all the seaweed they use in the McNuggets for it's nutritional value and flavor!Anyone else hear that Eddy Murphy (I think) stand-up act where he talked about the welfare burger? does anyone else think that welfare burgers rule so much more than McD's?

[PeOfEo]

I must say though, you're quote is amazing, i've always loved it.

"Verily I say unto thee, Geocities is the seed of Beelzebub"
Heh, thanks! You apple polisher you!

[PeOfEo]

Competition is what it is, a competition. There is a winner in the long run. When you win enough battles and get big enough, get prices low enough, you can kill the rest of the competition. Then you "win". There are so many examples of people winning the buisness competition. ATandT, there are so many. Intel would own the proc industry (commercial) if the government didn't support AMD and Intel didn't want to get sued. If I remember correctly, Intel actually gave AMD technology so that they wouldn't have a monopoly.

Coca Cola destroyed ALL COMPETITION. Pepsi only came up because the guys at coke felt that they company was worthless and they had too much ego to buy it. Creative basically has a monopoly on sound cards. The Japanese companies would have a monopoly in the U.S if they didn't support the US companies. Thats right. Our car industry would be zip right now if THEY WEREN't HELPING US. The Japanese could take over our market easily, however, they know that if they do then the US would retaliate against japanese markets. So, japanese companies actually help US companies to make better cars. Japanese companies are actually RAISING their prices because they want people to stop buying their cars.

The fact is, someone will win the competition in the long run. When coordinated big buisness is allowed to exist, it is inevitable. And you're joking right? The 80's had the government as Laissez faire? I don't think so.

The point I'm trying to make is that Big buisnes is not just buisness. Big buisness has many key differences from small buisness, least of not, is range. A national conglomerate can highly endanger competition in relation to the local coffee shop. Competition results in a winner, unless there is regulation.
But there is still competition. People can move to a non x86 architecture if amd explodes and intel jacks up the prices, people can drink sweet tea instead of coke, there are always alternatives. Unless you have a very inelastic good there is always an alternative and there is always competition. So a monopoly does not mean price control either.

In an ideal industry with no laws governing it though, game theory would prevent a monopoly or collusion from ever happening though, of course this ideal marketplace is only in theory, with absolutly no laws (no deadzones on your graphs) the market will read optimal efficiency, you will have true equilibrium.

Also about the cars, us car companies are not trying to compete is part of the problem. They are trying to make big urban gas whore tanks and sell those in volume so the compact car area has gone into the crapper and that is where the japanese dominate: compact cars and small sedans. We still have them on the full size sedans and big gas guzzlers though.

[theuedimaster]

You're right, a world without laws or limitations, and a cooperative and motivated society, would produce the most efficient system.

[PeOfEo]

:'( we wouldn't have terrorism either, everyone would be friendly.

[Ben Rogers]

Lol, Peo. Religious nutjobs would screw everything up no matter the state of capitalism, don't worry.

[poiuy]

Also about the cars, us car companies are not trying to compete is part of the problem.

In my opinion their is no need to compete just educate. You spend more for an American car up front and less on parts if you break down.

On Imports you pay less up front and you spend up the yin yang if they break down.

Used to be the only difference was American you break down at 200,000 miles and imports at 400,000. Now a days American cars are a lot better.

Wal-mart still has a similar problem to that you can by a cheap particle board computer desk for $60 and it lasts 6 month. You can spend a little more at another store and get a desk that will last 6 years.

Oh yeah and to the cold hearted we are trying to reduce the population. Let us nuke the terrorists and stop people opposing the death penalty and George W. will take care of the population problem :D

[rhsunderground]

In my opinion their is no need to compete just educate. You spend more for an American car up front and less on parts if you break down.

On Imports you pay less up front and you spend up the yin yang if they break down.

Used to be the only difference was American you break down at 200,000 miles and imports at 400,000. Now a days American cars are a lot better.

Wal-mart still has a similar problem to that you can by a cheap particle board computer desk for $60 and it lasts 6 month. You can spend a little more at another store and get a desk that will last 6 years.

Oh yeah and to the cold hearted we are trying to reduce the lation. Let us nuke the terrorists and stop people opposing the death penalty and George W. will take care of the population problem :Din a small town in texas that recently got a new wal mart, a mechanic put a sign in his window that said "wal mart lawn mowers fixed here" :p

[PeOfEo]

But nowadays the parts availabilty for honda and toyota is very good, almost as good as the parts networks of ford and gm. Those cars are also much more expencive than they used to be though, because people think they are something special and they are willing to pay more money because apparently the names toyota and honda communicate some sort of message of reliability. I know american cars are great, I am driving a buick lesabre with the 3800 seriese II engine. It is a 3.8 liter v6. This engine has been tweaked and tweaked for years, they have been using the 3800 seriese since the early 80s, so this engine is pretty fine tuned. I expect my car to keep running for a very long time.

[poiuy]

in a small town in texas that recently got a new wal mart, a mechanic put a sign in his window that said "wal mart lawn mowers fixed here" :p


LOL. You've gotta love it. Now those are the smart kind of people who deserve awards not two bit actors and actresses.

[Ben Rogers]

Oh yeah and to the cold hearted we are trying to reduce the population. Let us nuke the terrorists and stop people opposing the death penalty and George W. will take care of the population problem :DNuke the terrorists? That's pretty vague. A terrorist, IMO, is anyone who brings terror, not just people the media declares as much. Racists, sexists, murderers, rapists, stalkers, etc. 1 nuke per every 100 sq. inhabited mi. of a country should work pretty well. ^_^ Oh, and if we're talking utopia, then Dubya gets thrown out of office, and any other war-mongering twats just get kicked in the teeth. As for death penalty, that's a gray area. Rape should always be death, that's just sick. Murder in cold blood (meaning no good motive) should always be death. For other crimes, prison is a good idea.

[theuedimaster]

My only response is this. Here is a quote from a supreme court justice, Harry A. Blackmun, that was up when the death penalty was decided to be in favor.


From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death. For more than 20 years I have endeavored...to develop...rules that would lend more than the mere appearance of fairness to the death penalty endeavor...Rather than continue to coddle the court's delusion that the desired level of fairness has been achieved...I feel...obligated simply to concede that the death penalty experiment has failed. It is virtually self-evident to me now that no combination of procedural rules or substantive regulations ever can save the death penalty from its inherent constitutional deficiencies... Perhaps one day this court will develop procedural rules or verbal formulas that actually will provide consistency, fairness and reliability in a capital-sentencing scheme. I am not optimistic that such a day will come. I am more optimistic, though, that this court eventually will conclude that the effort to eliminate arbitrariness while preserving fairness 'in the infliction of [death] is so plainly doomed to failure that it and the death penalty must be abandoned altogether.' (Godfrey v. Georgia, 1980) I may not live to see that day, but I have faith that eventually it will arrive. The path the court has chosen lessen us all.


20 years after his decision, he decided that the death penalty experiment had failed. And believe me you highschool boys, this guy knows what he is talking about. The death penalty has done nothing to change the amount of crime in this country. If you want a very good opinion, that could almost be called a proof, read FREAKONOMICS by Steven Levitt, one of the greatest economists and analysts in America.

[theuedimaster]

:'( we wouldn't have terrorism either, everyone would be friendly.

:'( we wouldn't have war either, everyone would be friendly. ;)

[poiuy]

Yep Ben the whole lot of them. I'd add priests who molest, Britney Spears and Wal-Mart execs to your list as well ;)

Off topic but just to add -- to get rid of the Life Sentence people in prison. Buy a remote deserted island in the middle of the Pacific. Give them one lesson on how to deploy a parachute. Load up a C130 full of them. Fly over the island and Geronimo!!

Gets em off our tax system. Their fate lies in their hands. Toss 1 male and 1 female chicken and pigs out to silence the cruel and unusual punishment people.

Eventually they'll probably die or kill each other off. Worst case scenario they'd start their own nation.

Oh yeah and put cameras on the Island so we can see a real episode of Survivor :D

[poiuy]

The death penalty has done nothing to change the amount of crime in this country.

What Death Penalty?? It's hardly ever enforced? 500+ people on death row in Hippy-ville California alone. Of course none of those Hippys will let those people live next to them in their Neighborhood and would probably move away if they built the life sentence jail in their neighborhood. Hypocrites!!!

Everyone knows you'll probably die of old age before you get the chair so how can the Death penalty be judged fairly. Unless you are a man and stand up for your actions like Timothy McVeigh did. I wish more of the "hardcore" criminals would follow that lead. You were man enough to kill someone else be a MAN and take the injection not appeals.

Yes it does work cuz once that sucker is dead we know 100% he/she will never kill another person again.

[theuedimaster]

What Death Penalty?? It's hardly ever enforced? 500+ people on death row in Hippy-ville California alone. Of course none of those Hippys will let those people live next to them in their Neighborhood and would probably move away if they built the life sentence jail in their neighborhood. Hypocrites!!!

Everyone knows you'll probably die of old age before you get the chair so how can the Death penalty be judged fairly. Unless you are a man and stand up for your actions like Timothy McVeigh did. I wish more of the "hardcore" criminals would follow that lead. You were man enough to kill someone else be a MAN and take the injection not appeals.

Yes it does work cuz once that sucker is dead we know 100% he/she will never kill another person again.

Ha, another person who believes men cannot change... I think you should ask yourself what the justice system is for and for what reason punishment is given out and how that relates to our constitution. You'll see that it goes a bit deeper. Oh, and about, hey, those people are ruining our society thing so lets eliminate them? Thats what the Nazi's did. You may argue "no, no, they're not the same thing at all." Well, thats just a matter of perspecitve.

[theuedimaster]

Off topic but just to add -- to get rid of the Life Sentence people in prison. Buy a remote deserted island in the middle of the Pacific. Give them one lesson on how to deploy a parachute. Load up a C130 full of them. Fly over the island and Geronimo!!

Gets em off our tax system. Their fate lies in their hands. Toss 1 male and 1 female chicken and pigs out to silence the cruel and unusual punishment people.

Eventually they'll probably die or kill each other off. Worst case scenario they'd start their own nation.

Oh yeah and put cameras on the Island so we can see a real episode of Survivor :D

Wait, I think the English tried that. Wasn't it called... Australia? ;)

[theuedimaster]

What Death Penalty?? It's hardly ever enforced? 500+ people on death row in Hippy-ville California alone.

Whoop de-friggin do. 500 people out of.... 55 million? Wow, what a great impact is occuring.

[poiuy]

For one 35 millions. 37-39 including illegals.

You can't compare this to the Nazi's.... Where talking about people who DID commit crimes, stood "fair" trials and must face punishment. They not only need to pay for what they did but be used as an example of what will happens to others if they do the same stupid thing.

I'm not talking about stealing a pizza but a human being who took the life of another without justification. I was being sarcastic with my Britney Spears comment

The Nazi's were a mob gone wild lead by a moron. Of course anyone listening to a guy who preached blonde hair and blue eyes were the supreme beings while having dark hair and dark eyes is a a couple cans short of a six pack themselves.

Where did you buy your constitution Wal-mart?? :D

[Ben Rogers]

Yep Ben the whole lot of them. I'd add priests who molest, Britney Spears and Wal-Mart execs to your list as well ;) Priests who molest? IMO, molestation is on par with rape (if they can't say no...), and pop culture will ALWAYS exist in ANY commercialist environment. Let the talentless jerkoffs shine. :rolleyes: Things won't stop sucking unless everything is changed, and that's not going to happen.The Nazi's were a mob gone wild lead by a moron.Actually, Hitler was a genius. Anyone who could so quickly acquire so much power, and control is obviously quite intelligent.Wait, I think the English tried that. Wasn't it called... Australia?ROTFL. Yeah, but, see, Australia's a sort of paradise, so it was a ****e prison. I vote all the worlds criminals get stuck in the asscrack of Northern Canada, or Russia. Just get a nice big moat, plentiful minefields, and drop some raw meat once in a while. There'd be plenty enough lumber...

[poiuy]

Actually, Hitler was a genius. Anyone who could so quickly acquire so much power, and control is obviously quite intelligent.

I don't want to take all credit away BUT a genius? More like the turd that floated to the top of the bowl?

He'd have never gotten his 100,000+ members if the U.S. and Vatican didn't turn a blind eye to what was going on. OH WAIT were getting hell in the U.S. for not doing the same thing in the middle east!!!

A real genius would be someone who could do the same today with the Internet, TV and knowledge that we have today and not back then. Oh shoot I guess that means Castro is a genius. He's managed to keep his people ignorant by blocking those technologies from his people to keep his power for so long OR does that mean his is the big turd leading the other turds like Hitler?

The only credit I give him is for hiding his Parkinson and leading a group the same way FDR did with his Polio and Reagan his old-timers. To bad he couldn't contribute to the world as greatly as FDR and Ronald did.

However to relate this to the forum I guess Wal-mart is the modern day Hitler. Leading the U.S. moron consumers to a losing battle.

[Ben Rogers]

Castro didn't make his people BELEIVE in him. Castro doesn't have followers, he isn't seen as a god, not like hitler was. Hitler was disgusting, horrible, and amazing. He should be seen as such, IMO.

[PeOfEo]

My only response is this. Here is a quote from a supreme court justice, Harry A. Blackmun, that was up when the death penalty was decided to be in favor.



20 years after his decision, he decided that the death penalty experiment had failed. And believe me you highschool boys, this guy knows what he is talking about. The death penalty has done nothing to change the amount of crime in this country. If you want a very good opinion, that could almost be called a proof, read FREAKONOMICS by Steven Levitt, one of the greatest economists and analysts in America.
Maybe not... but if we speed up death row I can see us saving some cash... maybe even if we had all of the inmates dig holes, and then we can line them all up by these holes and then...

[PeOfEo]

Ha, another person who believes men cannot change... I think you should ask yourself what the justice system is for and for what reason punishment is given out and how that relates to our constitution. You'll see that it goes a bit deeper. Oh, and about, hey, those people are ruining our society thing so lets eliminate them? Thats what the Nazi's did. You may argue "no, no, they're not the same thing at all." Well, thats just a matter of perspecitve.
The trouble is prison != rehabilitation. Prison screws people up. But we have to get the bad guys off the streets, rehabilitation might just be a fantasy.

We are in a pickle. Because prison is not a solution, it is a delay, in many cases it just keeps a man off the streets for several years and they he offends again and is back behind bars. But not everyone is a repeat and we shouldn't just exterminate people. I know of no way to actually change the people that are behind bars, but we also need it to not be a fun experience because we still need to deter people from committing crimes.

[PeOfEo]

also my thoughts about some of the walmart is evil posts. I do not feel any company is evil. I may think some companies are harlots, jezebels, sluts... etc *cough* Apple *cough* Sears (I worked there, I have my reasons) *cough* Radio Shack *cough* I could go on and on *cough*

But no company is evil, business does not take place unless both sides benefit, there is a consume surplus and producer surplus.

[rhsunderground]

yes, well let's keep this discussion about wal mart, eh kids? thanks.

[poiuy]

Case and point. A dark haired, darked eyed person preaching that light haired and blue eyed people are supreme. Moron leading morons.

Castro has the power to make everyone (11 mil+) in his country lie down, roll over and beg if he wants them to. People do similar things everyday for their God.

OK I'll give some credit 100,000+ people viewed him as a "god". The ONLY reason history refers to him is only as a deterant (like the death penalty) to what people should NOT do.

He's amazing ONLY because with the knowledge we have today you'd never acomplish that. Heck the KKK only has 20,000+ members

Heck some B movies of today get more that 100,000+ "faith"ful If something can be considered a god by those standard I have only 4 words -- Rocky Horror Picture Show

Oh yeah I apologize to all the real morons out there that I have compared Hitler and Castro to. You guys are a lot smarter!!

[rhsunderground]

cough, cough....

yes, well let's keep this discussion about wal mart, eh kids? thanks.

[poiuy]

I may think some companies are harlots, jezebels, sluts... etc *cough* Apple *cough*

PeOfEo please expand? Windows is Apple and Apple is Windows. Bill Gates STOLE Steve Job's plan, ideas and technology and sold it for cheaper and crapier (full circle) LIKE Wal-mart does now.

Give credit where due. Bill is making more money and soon Apple will sell out everything to him to survive.

[PeOfEo]

Bill Gates is a great man!!! Shut your mouth!! Jk.
Microsoft got to the top not because of theivery, but because of good decisions coupled with some huge windfalls. Heck if you dove into the source code of windows and the source code of BSD you might see some similarities here and there (lots of code will be the same...), but business wise Bill Gates is very shrewd.

I have a good list of reasons for why I do not like apple, lately it has been because the ipod commercials have just gotten fruity... they were cool up until they started using Bono.

Oh yeah, about pc being cheaper then mac, do you think that might have something to do with apple's decision to never adopt the industry wide standards? Their little parts elitism thing they have going on leads to higher prices and thus fewer customers.

[poiuy]

yes, well let's keep this discussion about wal mart, eh kids? thanks.

Another case and point. When you're losing the battle do like Hitler did and commit suicide to change the subject

[poiuy]

Oh yeah, about pc being cheaper then mac, do you think that might have something to do with apple's decision to never adopt the industry wide standards?

Oh I agree Bill Gate's is a "god" (bigger than Hitler :p ! People beleive(sic) in him :p ) Yet tell me what is the industry wide standard?

Open 8 million doors (exploits) into your software as people requested and then spend the rest of your career closing them? I'm refering to him giving people acesss to good thing people wanted and then spending hours/days trying to fix things those problems created.

Don't get me wrong he's a "genius" for jumping into the boat and then trying to figure out how to make it float. If we'd left that up to Steve we'd still have to save our files without any spaces or more than 15 characters.

[Ben Rogers]

Maybe not... but if we speed up death row I can see us saving some cash... maybe even if we had all of the inmates dig holes, and then we can line them all up by these holes and then...Ptsch. Just throw 'em in a big ol' fire. Burning to death is a LOT more threatening then having to spend the rest of your life hanging out with free meals and no taxes.

[poiuy]

Ben, Did the Internet finally contact another planet?? We should report this!!

Sorry rhsunderground for my attacking comments. Got so mad I didn't realize you were trying to moderate.

Get over the Holocaust. They (the Jews **and others**) were innocent. These people in jail aren't. You're right if you can prove they aren't there because of racisim or false pretense then yes -- Just throw 'em in a big ol' fire.

What other purpose can they serve in a "civilized" society???

[poiuy]

Sorry -- back to Wal-Mart. They jumped in the boat and will have to figure out how to keep it a float when people realize their products suck.

Also we should let Wal-mart tax payers support the life sentence people in jail, right????

[Ben Rogers]

Not all of Wal-Marts products suck, really. At least not the ones I go to. They may hurt a lot of things, but they're obviously an excellent business.

[rhsunderground]

well tax payers pay for wal mart as it is: the vast majority of their workers don't work enough hours, nor get paid enough to live even a decent life, having to resort to welfare. and the health care plan at wal mart is a joke as well, so IF they are lucky enough to get health care elsewhere it raises the rates of the rest of us.

[theuedimaster]

Walmart has great marketing and buisness strategy to have reached the top of their market. Now, however, because of their immense size, and resulting insanely low prices that no one can compete with, plus its range and power to influence vendors (like microsoft) it is destined to stay on top *unfairly*. Of course it is only *unfair* if you believe there should always be competition. Personally I think they are a company that put its place in history and earned its right to get on top. The problem with Wal-mart though, is that yes, they've gotten bigger, they've had huge increases in profits, but wages and quality have remained the same. My opinion is that when a company becomes bigger and more wealthy, it should pass to employees and customers also. The execs shouldn't reap it all up.

[theuedimaster]

Get over the Holocaust. They (the Jews **and others**) were innocent. These people in jail aren't. You're right if you can prove they aren't there because of racisim or false pretense then yes -- Just throw 'em in a big ol' fire.


To the german's, the Jews weren't innocent at all. They were ripping the lifestyle and wealth from their country and leaving germans in the dust. Put into poverty and famine, the Germans looked upon their Jewish brothers as KILLERS of their people and society. Just as bad as muderers here at home.

You mentioned before that killing is unjustly. No one should have the right to take away life. Why should the government? Do you really think fear of the death penalty, remember only 500 of 55 mil people in Cali are on death row. Its not a deterrent in reality. Remember, to people who kill death is nothing. I'd rather have them sit in prison and repent. Or teach them and counsel them to understand their wrongs etc. Just eliminating people and throwing them in prison is turning away from our responsiblity to society. We must educate and make sure that people change. Citizens must take care of other citizens. And just to connect this RHS, we citizens must take care of our Wal-mart brothers. Hail the proletariat!

[PeOfEo]

Oh I agree Bill Gate's is a "god" (bigger than Hitler :p ! People beleive(sic) in him :p ) Yet tell me what is the industry wide standard?

Open 8 million doors (exploits) into your software as people requested and then spend the rest of your career closing them? I'm refering to him giving people acesss to good thing people wanted and then spending hours/days trying to fix things those problems created.

Don't get me wrong he's a "genius" for jumping into the boat and then trying to figure out how to make it float. If we'd left that up to Steve we'd still have to save our files without any spaces or more than 15 characters.
The industry wide standards have nothing to do with gates. ATX is a good example of what I am talking about. Mac decided to go off and use their own stuff, I mean they are the only personal machine that is using ppc (they are now moving to x86 but will still find a way to be incompatible with everyone else), they have a different type of ram. Just about everything on them will fail when used with any other type of system, except for maybe the video card. Because you can only by the parts from apple because they never adopted any kind of standard and no one else can really make parts for a mac upgrading is crap and their systems are way more expencive than they need to be.

Also, windows servers are just as secure as linux servers: the server admin know how to use their systmes and set them up properly. The common pc user does not know a thing about security and leaves those doors open.

[PeOfEo]

well tax payers pay for wal mart as it is: the vast majority of their workers don't work enough hours, nor get paid enough to live even a decent life, having to resort to welfare. and the health care plan at wal mart is a joke as well, so IF they are lucky enough to get health care elsewhere it raises the rates of the rest of us.
But they are not forcing people to work there. That is just the job a lot of people settle for.

[poiuy]

You mentioned before that killing is unjustly. No one should have the right to take away life. Why should the government?

Sorry got some sleep and just got back from Wal-mart. ;) I was dabbling the other day with VB and wanted to learn more about it. Wouldn't you know it they didn't have anything on the subject :D

Based on that logic it is wrong for me to hold someone against their will so why have jails?? Where will they get re-hab? Let's let them kill and we just pat them on the back and say everything will be alright??? What message is that sending?

You should come out here and lobby against the death penalty. You'd do exactly what they do. Give false numbers and skew them to fit your view. They do that everyday here against the Governator

35+ million in CA 37-39 including illegals(some probably still working for Wal-mart even after they got busted)

Subtract kids and elderly 22 mil. Of that roughly 2% are in the prison. SO 500+ people out of 440,000 IS a detrant to the people out there who do bad things.

If we break down the prison population into murders vs. people who stole a pizza I'd bet you get 500+ Death penalty people out of 800 murders. Deterant YET???

[rhsunderground]

well, this thread is done. sorry kids.