[Jewelry making - Article 00070] - Re: [Orchid] BlueNile Vs. "wholesale"

[Lee Einer]

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>        Errrgh...I was trying to resist jumping in here, but I can't
>     hold out any longer.   As David Barzilay pointed out, Wal-Mart
>     destroys small retailers (and the small-town culture that they
>     promote) whenever it moves into a town. 

    Taos, New Mexico is also an example. When Walmart moved in 10+ years
    ago, there were over 400 small businesses in town. Today, there are
    roughly two hundred. Yet Walmart boasts of actually BRINGING jobs
    into small towns. They employ people, sure, at near minimum wage,
    and in the process displace far more independent businesses which
    were likely providing an actual living to their proprietors and
    employees. 

    In addition- 

    Walmart is notorious for using the "we bring revenue" and "we bring
    jobs" arguments to con city councils into giving them 20 year tax
    abatements. Those uncollected taxes are taxes that don't repair
    roads, build schools, pay firemen, etc. 

    Of each dollar spent at a Walmart, roughly ten cents stays in the
    community, the rest goes elsewhere. Of each dollar spent at a local,
    independent business, an average of roughly fifty cents stays in the
    community, where it will be spent again, and taxed, and will keep
    the community going. 

    Pay for workers abroad- much of what Walmart sells is made in China.
    Minimum wage in China is 31 cents per hour, and many of Walmart's
    suppliers actually pay less. 

    Human rights abroad- Much of what Walmart sells is produced in
    third-world sweatshops, under unsafe conditions, with unpaid
    overtime, child labor, etc. 

    Pay for workers in the US- Walmart pays little, and offers virtually
    nothing for benefits to its hourly employees. Although there is a
    health plan, employees must wait two years to be eligible, and then
    pay more into it than they can afford. To compensate, Walmart had
    (they may have discontinued after it hit the media) a program
    whereby they provided assistance to their employees with accessing
    food stamps and Medicaid, so your tax dollars subsidize their
    atrocious employment practices. 

    Child labor in the US- Walmart has been cited in at least three
    states for violating child labor laws. Serious violations, as in one
    example where an underage employee was injured while operating a
    chainsaw.  Interestingly enough,  The US Dept of labor fined Walmart
    $135,000 the amount of money they bring in every 18 seconds, and in
    addition agreed that in the future they would give Walmart 15 days
    advance notice before investigating any wage and hour violations. 

    Environment- Walmart has been fined numerous times for gross
    violations of environmental regulations. 

    I am sure I have unintentionally omitted at least some major issue.
    Go here- 

    http://www.walmartwatch.com/wal/ 

    for a more detailed picture. 

Lee Einer
Dos Manos Jewelry
http://www.dosmanosjewelry.com

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