There has been a lot of talk during the U.S election about “sharing the wealth.” I’m sure some Americans wonder if this means that Big Government will reach into their pockets and hand their hard-earned money over to welfare bums.
It seems to me (up here in Canada!) that the term “Share the wealth” has become an idea that people either embrace or fear. Did you know, that over the last twenty-five years, 60 percent of American households have lost real income despite working longer and harder? All the gains in income went to the top 5 percent. (from this excellent essay.)
I know many Americans treasure their right to earn money – and for others to fail at it. It’s the capitalist way. But when so many people are plainly struggling to make ends meet, well, the concentration of great wealth in the hands of so few seems greedy and short-sighted, doesn’t it? Sorry to put it so plainly, but there it is.
This leads me to the reason behind this post. I’d like to ask you to stop shopping at Wal-Mart, at least over the holiday season, which, as we all know, begins today in the U.S . :)
Mark and I haven’t shopped at Wal-Mart for a few years now. Did you know that the owners, the Walton family, who collectively control over 39% of the company, and are worth approximately $19.2 billion each, for a combined total of $81.8 billion (as of March 2008)? (Wiki)
They’re billionaires, BILLIONAIRES, while the regular folks who work at their stores, helping them make their billions, earn poverty-level wages, you know, to help keep prices down.
I know there are some people out there, rolling their eyes and mumbling things like “bleeding heart liberal” and clicking the “close window” button on their browsers, but I can’t help the way I feel about this issue.
Other reasons not to shop at Wal-Mart:
- Wal-Mart’s quest for the lowest price means the goods are outsourced to places where working conditions are often sub-par. In 2004 alone, Wal-Mart purchased $18 billion worth of Chinese goods. Oh, and Bye bye American manufacturing jobs! (from here)
- Wal-Mart crushes efforts to unionize
- Many of their employees cannot afford proper health insurance
- I haven’t even touched on food and toy safety, or wage violations.
Check out these fact-sheets if you want to get informed.
I know that some of you shop at Wal-Mart and don’t think anything of it. It’s just another store, right? What do you think about all this? But before you tell me, first, inform yourselves. Click through the few links I’ve listed above and then tell me if you’re still willing to give the Waltons your hard-earned money.
