Here’s a sign that carries with it some interesting questions.
Is it good for society that we are driving down costs by moving our purchases to Mega-Stores like Walmart that source their products and services all over the world — and that tend to push their operating costs onto local communities where they can (in terms of demanding lower taxes, encouraging employees to apply for social services, denying many employees decent health insurance)?
Or should we be willing to spend more if it means that the extra money goes into the local economy in the form of higher local wages and payments to farmers and other, less-distant producers?
What do you think?
(Picture from crooks and liars via Groovy Green)
I think it is sad to say, but we are all pretty much dependent upon the big stores for much of our shopping needs.
Quit your whining. If I want to shop at Walmart and save some money, I’ll do so — and if the employees that work there get crappy benefits then let them ALL GO FIND BETTER JOBS… (Hmm - or would that require them to actually Work Hard?)
This is why you get toys with lead in the paint — push only for the lowest price and divorce yourself from the maker and seller.
Looks shopped. I can tell by some of the pixels and having seen quite a few shops in my time.
Joan, contrary to what you might think…it’s not always possible to just “go find better jobs”. That’s especially true if you live in one of the many small towns with a Walmart in it. Your comment just shows that your either a teenager or a young adult with virtually no life experience…or you have the mentality of one. You should do society a favor and WORK HARDER at educating yourself about how the rest of the world works outside of your delusion.
bitching and moaning, what americans do best. what you people want a cookie?
I guess you get what you ask for? [PIC]…
[…]Should we be willing to spend more if it means that the extra money goes into the local economy in the form of higher local wages and payments to farmers and other, less-distant producers? Or should we all just shop at Walmart?What do you think?[….
education department can put up signs like that … ???
hmmmm …
i already shop locally, or spend more for things… if quality is what i want, or uniqueness (in clothes, as example), or if the cost of driving to the sale exceeds in time or money what i would save, and also, wal mart and target, home depot, they give me a headache sometimes, the overwhelming amount of stuff, the lighting, the layout, the asthetics…. sometimes it is more costly to have something cheap than it is not to have it at all
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You’ve got to be kidding me.
First…that isn’t a legitimate sign. There is no way that the department of Education would put up such a sign and anyone who honestly thinks they would is delusional.
Second…while I’m all about supporting the local economy and eliminating lead based paints (very funny by the way), what you’re describing is a CULTURE CHANGE. Forcing people to adhere to rules that dictate how we are going to live and treat each other is nonsense. It takes time to change the hearts and minds of a civilization just as it took time for the American people (myself included) to become spoiled with our own greatness. Yes, there are basic standards that must be adhered to (such as do not murder), but how we treat one another? Who we buy from? Come on.
Third…and this is probably my biggest problem with anything that has been said, while I agree that ‘finding a new job’ isn’t as easy as suggested, there has to be a level of self reliance and self responsibility when it comes to planning our own futures. I’m all about helping someone who a-wants help and b-is willing to work to get better, but what I refuse to do is spend my time and hard earned money helping someone who doesn’t deserve it. And the idea of taxing my ass even more to support said people pisses me off. I’ll gladly give. I contributed 13% of my salary last year to local charities. But, I think it’s ludicrous to DEMAND that money from me because people can’t or won’t take care of themselves. Granted we’re not talking about handicapped/disabled/etc. But, then again, we’ve labeled everything so extremely these days that EVERYTHING falls under a disability.
It’s like the idea of increasing the income tax on the rich. If I spent 10 years, work my ass off, and become a millionaire from nothing, why should I be taxed anymore than Joe Shmoe who didn’t put the time, energy, and probably economic investment to get where I am? I’m sorry but that isn’t any more fair than over taxing the poor. The solution, is to eliminate income tax and spread a broad based sales tax. There for anyone, regardless of income level, will be paying the same sales percentage. Those who can afford things and want more will pay more. Those who can’t won’t pay. but, ultimately, the choice is each individual person’s to make.
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Bob - I understand your frustration - it doesn’t make sense to punish the successful for their success. But a flat sales tax on all goods needs some qualifiers.
For example - what about food? Is food to be part of that tax? Yes, the poor will have more cash in their pockets (or so flat-tax proponents claim….having dealt with many large, corporate employers, however, you can more realistically expect all non-degree jobs to drop instantly to minimum wage), but will the difference in income make up for the sudden increase in the cost of basic necessities?
And what about “luxury” items? Are they to be taxed more aggressively, to make up for the need to eliminate sales tax on things like food? Well, then, how is THAT fair to the rich? Which government bureaucrat decides what is a luxury item? How much is that bureaucrat getting paid - and how much are we getting taxed to pay him?
The solution isn’t JUST about taxes. Nor is it JUST about “finding a new job” (Joan clearly lives in a magic land of freely available jobs for people just out of high school or just back into the workforce after years as a SAHM or SAHD…) You’re right, it requires a culture change. They do happen, y’know. And it’s time we made another one. Those who suggest otherwise - who think that we can continue the culture of consumer spending, consumer debt, labor outsourcing, overpopulation, and doomsday government - are the ones who need to wake up. The problems in the culture can mostly be attributed to a lack of consciousness - we shop at Wal-Mart because we don’t really know any better. Our taxes are mismanaged because we don’t really know anything about our current government structure. Don’t expect this change to happen overnight - it’ll take a while for us to realize that what we have now is broken.
What exactly do unions have to do with small, local shops?
Are mom and pop unionized? What the hell?
Maybe it should read:
“Here stood a local shop
They chose not to compete, and were beaten
by someone with a better idea.”
Remember, Wal-Mart didn’t just appear, it was a local shop itself at one time.
Uh, is it just me or did anyone else get that the sign isn’t from a state/government education department, but that the people who posted the sign are trying to EDUCATE the public, and therefore calling themselves the education department?
Oh no democratic, capitalism, in action, in the USA. Who would have guessed?
Anonymous comments in blogs have replaced discussions at the old general store/cafe/local spot. Get outside and support your local businesses.
That sign looks photo shopped. It can’t be real. Also, those big chain stores bully their way into smaller communities, knocking off the local mom & pop stores with their cheap imported goods. Eventually the only jobs available for the former local shop owners are at the big ol super chain store..the one that caused their family business to close down. Welcome to life in America.
This is a good argument to be having. Capitalism works because of competition. The problem today is that most of the industy that we built over the last hundred years in this country does not stand up well to competition… cars, retailers, etc… What we have been slow to realize is that this new economy is here to stay and we better learn to compete or we will not survive.
The local economy is dead. The global economy is the only thing that matters. Small businesses will die to make room for more effecient operations. This may cause some economic hardships in the near term, but in the long run living standards will improve. It is inevitable.
anyone remember that the mom and pops did what they could to screw you over as well? business is business. And if you are stuck working at wal mart, it is not too outrageuos to think that you did something wrong along the way. not my problem if you fucked up your life.
see the episode of South Park about this topic and you will understand how ridiculous it is to chase away big business..
this sign is written with so much right-wing action, i’d right it was a boxing match
the family guy episode was good, too
You don’t know what you are talking about when you chose cheap stuff rather than quality products.
You undervalue the Chinese dragon.
You’ll find yourself being a servant of the monster.
On this site stood:
A small store, open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM so you can’t go to it unless you take time off work. Closed on weekends so you can’t go when it’s convenienent for you. Cash only please.
A surly, underpaid counter person with even less hope of benefits than one at a big corporation. Who is fired every year during the slow season and replaced with another interchangable untrained high school kid. Or, alternatively, the bitter owner’s child who doesn’t want to be here.
Enjoy their limited selection of things that the owner likes, because he doesn’t feel the need to expand to better suit his customers.
Where else you going to shop anyway? We’re the only one in this town and if we want to stay open only during hours that the unemployed can shop, treat you badly, and generally not care because we’re the only show, we will! Not like you have an alternative that’s more convenient or anything…
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