Would Jesus Shop At Wal-Mart?
From the Associated Press:
“A new television ad by the union-backed group WakeUpWalMart.com features a pastor asking, “Would Jesus shop at Wal-Mart ? Should you?”
Accompanying the ad, is a letter to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Chief Executive Officer Lee Scott that was signed by more than 130 clergy members. The letter asks Wal-Mart to provide a “higher standard for its employees and their families,” which the letter says would reflect “the best of Christian values.”
Jesus of Nazareth wouldn’t shop at such an evil retail outlet, but Jesus of Juarez is probably working there earning substandard wages
The Jesus Christ who cleared the temple of money changers would clear Wal-Mart of all the DVD players,TV’s and designer jeans made by slave labor in China.
Wal-Mart should change its name to China-Mart — most of its merchandise comes from the communist country.
That $24.99 DVD player you bought at Wal-Mart comes at a hefty price: No health coverage for most Wal-Mart employees and abused children in Chinese sweat shops.
Those evangelicals who condemn “godless communists” are propping up a totalitarian state by shopping at Wal-Mart.
Would Jesus Shop at Wal-Mart? Hell no, he would support small mom and pop stores in the community and stay way from the retail colossus.
The more pertinent question is: Should you shop at Wal-Mart? What’s more important, making a stand in favor of exploited workers by eschewing Wal-Mart, or getting a great deal on a TV set? You probably have four or five TV’s already, take your business to a retailer that doesn’t mistreat its employees.
I write a weekly column for a small town newspaper in Virginia, and I also write for several Web sites. Please leave a comment or send me an email at: rreyes4966@aol.com | More from Robert Paul Reyes
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December 15th, 2006 at 4:10 am
Very good points, Robert. I’m not sure that they mistreat their employees any worse than the average store, though.
If Wal-Mart weren’t so convenient, I’d stop going there!
December 15th, 2006 at 5:46 am
You forgot flogging. They flog people.
Simple answer – don’t shop there. Go spend more somewhere else.
December 15th, 2006 at 6:39 am
Squiggy said,
“Simple answer – don’t shop there. Go spend more somewhere else.”
I think this is the only time I’ve agreed with Squiggy.
I might spend more someplace else, but I would have a clear conscience.
December 15th, 2006 at 7:58 am
First off.. I have worked at the local Walmart. I would still be there, if it wasn’t for the fact that I’m too old to stay on my feet for 8 hours a day. Working in retail at any store requires long hours on your feet. Members of my family have worked at other retailers, like Target, and Macey’s. From personal, “hands on” experience, I’d say that Walmart treats their employees no worse than other retailers, and in most cases better. They have good benefits, a decent wage structure that allows for both regular raises and advancement. Also, unlike every other business in the country, especially the high tech Corporations, Walmart does not practice age discrimination in it’s hiring policies. Having been there and done that, I can tell you that the left’s tired mantra, concerning bad treatment of employees is totally, and completely wrong. If anything, the entired retail industry needs to be reformed. Not just Walmart.
However, I also live in a small town in the middle of nowhere on the plains of eastern Colorado, and I can tell you that Walmart’s predatory marketing strategies have killed every local, family owned business in this town, as well as in several smaller towns nearby. Walmart is the “only” place within 100 miles to buy anything, unless you want to drive two hours to Denver.
Also, you cannot buy anything at Walmart that is made in the USA. Although, that is not unique to Walmart. All the other big retailers don’t buy their goods from the US either.
On balance, Walmart has been a good thing for my town. It has supplied good jobs with benefits that were not there before. And, even though, it has pushed some old family businesses out, Walmart has brought a much better selection of goods to our town, which the little “mom and pop” stores never could, and employs more people than the old stores ever did. Oh, and Walmart treats it’s employes much, much better than the little scrooges who ran the small businesses in town before.
For working class, middle America, Walmart has been a benefit, and the left needs to their inconsistant, inaccurate, and “flat wrong” noses out of it.
December 15th, 2006 at 9:31 am
I worked at Wal-Mart twice in my life as a cashier. I made more money working there than any other jobs I had at the time. Wal-Mart treats its employees more fairly than most other businesses. And honestly, if I had to work at Wal-Mart, I think I would prefer being an hourly worker over a manager. If anyone is a slave to Wal-Mart, it is the store managers. If you don’t believe me, find out who they are and then see how often you notice that they are at the store when you go shop.
December 15th, 2006 at 9:48 am
Like all businesses Wal-Mart doesn’t offer benefits to temporrary or part time workers. Like all retail chains Wal-Mart has a lot of part-time and temprorary workers. Wal-Mart does treat their full-time staff verry fairly and they agressively guard their stores against the union thuggery of the AFL-CIO. That is why they are the target of this union funded hit piece.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:25 am
Instead of blaming Wallmart for the country’s ills, why don’t you put the blame where the blame is due: The people.
If people want to by more expensive, made-in-America goods, they certainly can…but obviusly, by Wallmart’s success, they do NOT want to spend more money and they don’t give a rip where the product is made. This is like complaining that flying coach sucks, and blaming the airline for having a crappy coach seat – while the bottom line and truth of the matter is that you were too cheap to buy a business class or first class ticket.
December 16th, 2006 at 4:38 am
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December 16th, 2006 at 4:59 am
I wish more liberals would buy their goods at more expensive outlets, pay double the price for “fair trade” goods, and dump their money into socially conscious vendors. It’ll give them less cash to screw around with the political process.