Text 15255, 151 rader
Skriven 2007-06-04 13:35:49 av Mac Breck (1668.babylon5)
     Kommentar till en text av rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated
Ärende: Re: B5 DVD Sets At WalMart.com
======================================
"Andre Lieven" <dg411@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote in message
news:f419iu$qpm$1@theodyn.ncf.ca...
> Jon Schild (jjs@xmission.com) writes:
> > Andre Lieven wrote:
> >> John Duncan Yoyo (john-duncan-yoyo@cox.net) writes:
> >>
> >>>On Sun, 03 Jun 2007 12:19:01 GMT, Amy Guskin
<aisling@fjordstone.com>
> >>>wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>>>On Sun, 3 Jun 2007 00:48:44 -0400, Andre Lieven wrote
> >>>>
> >>>>(in article <f3th7c$okl$1@theodyn.ncf.ca>):
> >>>>
> >>>>>All but Season 4 are listed as being available for $22.88 each,
> >>>>>and their site shows that free shipping to a store near most
> >>>>>US customers is available, or will be available in the next two
> >>>>>months.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Could be worth a look... <<
> >>>>
> >>>>'Course, then you'd be supporting WalMart...
> >>>
> >>>Which is supporting the Chinese government...
> >>
> >> You mean, in the way that the issuers of US bonds do ?
> >>
> >> In any case, the issue of supporting Chinese gov't industries
> >> by shopping, or by not shopping, at one megaretailer in the US
> >> assumes that only that one megaretailer is the problem.
> >>
> >> But, US companies all rushing to offshore homes, and all rushing
> >> to outsource work hardly speak to WalMart alone. Which remains
> >> actually based in the US.
> >
> > Which will continue as long as a large number of US consumers make
> > decisions based on price only.
>
> Well, its unlikely that " price, only "is the sole choice model at
> work here. One example: While I appreciate that I was able to buy
> several pairs of Penman jeans at WalMart for a very good price, I
> also appreciate that said jeans are the most comfortable pairs of
> jeans that I have yet found for myself.
>
> Also, given that it is people nearer to the lower economic levels
> who shop at WalMart, its not likely that they have much wiggle
> room in how much to spend.

Exactly.


> One bit of data thats been coming in
> from the higher gas prices this spring is that WalMart sales are
> down a bit. For many folks, fuelling their cars has taken some
> $$$ from what they would have spent at WalMart.
>
> > Walmart didn't start that trend, they
> > only take advantage of it, as do all other low-end national chains.
>
> Because many people don't want to, or cannot afford to, pay
> boutique prices.
>
> >>>.... well at least until the Burmese government under bids them.
> >>
> >> Indeed. The real issue here is, does one want work and products
> >> made in nations where the pay for doing said work is enough to
> >> live well on, and are people in such lands willing to *pay*
> >> 1st world prices to 3rd world workers ?
> >
> > You think avoiding Walmart will fullfill this implied ambition?
>
> You misunderstand. That was essentially the claim that I was
> responding to, with the view that, while that is the goal, trying
> to achieve it through a simplistic formula of blaming one
> company, albeit a large one, is not likely to find much success.

Likely true.


> Now, if enough people paid enough attention to such issues, and
> made it clear that they would vote for higher minimum wages,
> etc., then that would likely be somewhat more effective.

That will never happen because people are out for themselves, and while
some may talk the talk, most won't walk the walk in daily life.  This is
either because they cannot afford to pay for the US product, are
unwilling spend more than they have to spend to get an acceptable
product, or some combination of those two.  If you have the choice
between spending $0.98 for a washcloth from Bangladesh, a $2.50
washcloth from Brazil or a $5.00 washcloth from the USA, what are you
going to pick?  The $0.98 for a washcloth from Bangladesh was obviously
inferior (thin, loose weave, not much there and looked like it wouldn't
last long.  The $2.50 washcloth from Brazil was much better, thicker,
more substantial, tighter weave, higher threadcount, etc., and was of a
level acceptable to me.  The $5.00 washcloth from the USA obviously
superior to the Brazilian washcloth by at least as great a margin as
Brazilian one had over the one from Bangladesh. Those are Wal-Mart
prices, and I didn't buy any of 'em.  I thought $2.50 was too much for
one washcloth, the USA one was more luxurious than I needed (or felt I
deserved) even if I was willing to spend $5.00 for one washcloth, and
the $0.98 one was like one of mine at home after I'd used it/laundered
it over the course of 20 years.  Luckily, I found some more at home that
I'd forgotten I had, nice, almost new ones from the 1980s.  :-)



> Imagine US Federal Congresscritters who hold a view that WalMart
> employees are just as deserving of a living wage as they are...

I can't.  There are the upper and lower classes, with the middle getting
squeezed out as good jobs get outsourced to 3rd world countries, with
companies or factories move out of the US, and mergers/downsizing take
place..  There is little real empathy for the lower classes among the
upper classes.  Sure congresscritters may feign it, especially at
election time, but it's only feigned so the congresscritters can get
votes from the lower classes.


I couldn't believe it yesterday when I saw a large US flag decal, ~ 12"
wide,  on the passenger side, front door window of a ~2005 Lexus sedan,
but then I thought, maybe it's made in the USA.  Could be, right?  Nope.
See the article below.  It's not a 100% pro-Ford/GM/Chrisler article.
The lines are more blurred now, and this article sorts it out. ;-)  Not
sure what the motivation of that Lexus driver was.

http://www.autoweb.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id_int/612

The article appears slightly out of date (mention of "Pontiac Solstice
roadster, goes into production in Delaware this summer," and no mention
of the Pontiac G5  or Saturn Sky.).  The Pontiac G5 is a redressed Chevy
Cobalt, and I frequently go by the Lordstown, Ohio plant that builds
both.


-- 
Mac Breck (KoshN)
-------------------------------
"Keen Eddie" (2004)
Fiona: Get out.
Eddie: Out of the kitchen?
Fiona: Out of the kitchen, out of the flat, out of London, out of the
world. It's full. Get out.
Eddie: I can't get out of the world. I didn't pull the kind of math
grades you need to qualify for the space program.

"Brimstone" (1998)
Angel: Oh, there's one more thing you should know. Your fate was never
determined until you killed Gilbert Jax. All in all, you've led a good
life, Ezekiel. Have faith. Your work's appreciated.
--- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32
 * Origin: Time Warp of the Future BBS - Home of League 10 (1:14/400)