It seems that everywhere in our region of the country Wal-Mart is trying to build their Super Centers. Of course this brings the "Wally World" haters out of the woodwork claiming Wal-Mart is terrible for local economies. They are detrimental to local environments, force "mom and pop shops" out of business, and lower the average wage rate in local areas where they build.
The facts are on the side of the anti-Wallies. The same can be said, though, of all large, one-stop-shopping chain stores. However, other than temporarily boosting local economies by construction of their stores, Wal-Mart by and of itself cannot affect or effect any local economy. I'm not defending Wal-Mart. I personally shop anywhere and everywhere else first, using their brick and mortar megaliths only as a last resort for things I absolutely need.
Let's get real when pointing fingers. No store can stay in business because of itself. Consumers keep them in business. The real culprits in destroying local economies, then, is not the building of large super centers, but the consumers who keep them in business by spending their money there instead of spending it at local boutiques, sports shops, shoe stores, and so on.
Maybe instead of taking on Wal-Mart the "Wally World haters" should adopt a new approach. Educate your neighbors about the harm they're doing to their local economy with their purchases from Wal-Mart, and other such stores. In effect, focus PR efforts where the blame ultimately lies in our retail system - the consumer.
9/30/2004
9/12/2004
Bush: Tasting His Own Poison
Mr. Bush and his cohorts rolled into attack mode against anyone questioning his military service. Sixteen years ago, though, GW Bush was a senior advisor on his father's presidential campaign. During that campaign Sen. Lloyd Bentzen (D-TX) was attacked by the Bush campaign for helping his son get into the Texas National Guard instead of him going to Vietnam.
Previously another Texas Congressman, GHW Bush, had made the exact arrangements for his son, GW Bush, so he could avoid Vietnam. Tells you something about the morals of the Bush Brigade that they can condemn someone else for doing exactly what they had done. And by that time GW was calling himself a "born again christian". Guess he didn't study those parts of the Bible that speak against hypocrisy.
Previously another Texas Congressman, GHW Bush, had made the exact arrangements for his son, GW Bush, so he could avoid Vietnam. Tells you something about the morals of the Bush Brigade that they can condemn someone else for doing exactly what they had done. And by that time GW was calling himself a "born again christian". Guess he didn't study those parts of the Bible that speak against hypocrisy.
8/30/2004
We Can't Afford GB
George Bush's convention speech included many positive sound bites. There were even moments when it sounded like he had changed parties.
Mr. Bush's record, though, is full of occasions in which his actions and policies are contrary to his promises. Look back to his 2000 election promises. You don't have to remember or research them. His 2004 convention speech was just a repeat of his 2000 speech with about 17 Democratic promises added for the "fence riders".
In 2000 he promised to care for the elderly. Instead he has increased medicare costs to the elderly by 17%. He and the Republican congress closed the "drug tunnel" from Canada, increasing the costs of medicines for our aged and infirmed citizens by several billion dollars every year. Even several drug company execs have stated that many of the medicines purchased from Canada were either the same drug or equivalent in effectiveness and safety as those sold in the U.S. I'm sure that made Mr. Rumsfeld and his fellow stock holders at G.D. Searle & Company very happy.
In 2000 Mr. Bush promised education reform through his "No Child Left Behind" program. It sounded good. Congress approved it. The states were required to uphold it. But Mr. Bush never released the money to the states until there were threats of State vs Federal lawsuits. That's why states had to either find more tax dollars, borrow millions, or cut some educational programs for a couple years. Now Mr. Bush is thinking of cutting the funding for NCLB, because the states have proven, in his mind, that they don't need it!
In 2000 Mr. Bush promised major steps toward making the U.S. energy independent. Only after he was elected did he reveal that his approach to securing that independence was to explore oil deposits in our nation's wildlife and wilderness areas. Of course. It would be cheaper for his oil buddies, like Dick Cheney's Haliburton, or the Unocal Corp., where both he and his father had been on the Board of Directors until recently. Since it's public land they wouldn't have to pay royalties to land owners for the oil they removed. They could keep that money in their own pockets.
In 2000 Mr. Bush promised to lower health care costs for Americans. He has done nothing in that regard except to promote legislation mandating a maximum amount anyone could receive from a malpractice lawsuit. Actually it would be a quite minimal amount for the burden many experience of poor medical treatment. This is a main reason insurance companies and doctors support him. That would keep more money in the insurance companies' coffers and lower malpractice premiums doctors now pay. It would do nothing, though, to lower costs or improve benefits to patients.
He also promised a stronger economy in his 2000 campaign. Instead, he and the Republican Congress provided incentives to companies to either move entire operations or at least outsource jobs overseas and to Mexico. Since he took office the U.S. has lost nearly 23 million jobs.
The few jobs gained back this past year are due more to natural market fluctuations than to anything Mr. Bush or the Republicans in Congress have done. Those jobs tend to pay on average over $9,000 less per year than the jobs those people had before. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the Department of Labor and Industry, over 61% of people who now hold minimum wage jobs are over 21 years old; many of them over 30 years old. At that age they aren't "first time job holders" like Mr. Bush claims.
When he took office Mr Bush received a growing and stable economy with a $430 billion surplus. He has since transformed that into a $550 billion deficit - a $980 billion spending spree in only four years that your children and their childrens' children will have to pay for.
Many people say they support George Bush because, "he seems like an honest man". Delude yourself if you want. For those that study the facts, though, GB is anything but honest. We can't afford him for another four years.
Mr. Bush's record, though, is full of occasions in which his actions and policies are contrary to his promises. Look back to his 2000 election promises. You don't have to remember or research them. His 2004 convention speech was just a repeat of his 2000 speech with about 17 Democratic promises added for the "fence riders".
In 2000 he promised to care for the elderly. Instead he has increased medicare costs to the elderly by 17%. He and the Republican congress closed the "drug tunnel" from Canada, increasing the costs of medicines for our aged and infirmed citizens by several billion dollars every year. Even several drug company execs have stated that many of the medicines purchased from Canada were either the same drug or equivalent in effectiveness and safety as those sold in the U.S. I'm sure that made Mr. Rumsfeld and his fellow stock holders at G.D. Searle & Company very happy.
In 2000 Mr. Bush promised education reform through his "No Child Left Behind" program. It sounded good. Congress approved it. The states were required to uphold it. But Mr. Bush never released the money to the states until there were threats of State vs Federal lawsuits. That's why states had to either find more tax dollars, borrow millions, or cut some educational programs for a couple years. Now Mr. Bush is thinking of cutting the funding for NCLB, because the states have proven, in his mind, that they don't need it!
In 2000 Mr. Bush promised major steps toward making the U.S. energy independent. Only after he was elected did he reveal that his approach to securing that independence was to explore oil deposits in our nation's wildlife and wilderness areas. Of course. It would be cheaper for his oil buddies, like Dick Cheney's Haliburton, or the Unocal Corp., where both he and his father had been on the Board of Directors until recently. Since it's public land they wouldn't have to pay royalties to land owners for the oil they removed. They could keep that money in their own pockets.
In 2000 Mr. Bush promised to lower health care costs for Americans. He has done nothing in that regard except to promote legislation mandating a maximum amount anyone could receive from a malpractice lawsuit. Actually it would be a quite minimal amount for the burden many experience of poor medical treatment. This is a main reason insurance companies and doctors support him. That would keep more money in the insurance companies' coffers and lower malpractice premiums doctors now pay. It would do nothing, though, to lower costs or improve benefits to patients.
He also promised a stronger economy in his 2000 campaign. Instead, he and the Republican Congress provided incentives to companies to either move entire operations or at least outsource jobs overseas and to Mexico. Since he took office the U.S. has lost nearly 23 million jobs.
The few jobs gained back this past year are due more to natural market fluctuations than to anything Mr. Bush or the Republicans in Congress have done. Those jobs tend to pay on average over $9,000 less per year than the jobs those people had before. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the Department of Labor and Industry, over 61% of people who now hold minimum wage jobs are over 21 years old; many of them over 30 years old. At that age they aren't "first time job holders" like Mr. Bush claims.
When he took office Mr Bush received a growing and stable economy with a $430 billion surplus. He has since transformed that into a $550 billion deficit - a $980 billion spending spree in only four years that your children and their childrens' children will have to pay for.
Many people say they support George Bush because, "he seems like an honest man". Delude yourself if you want. For those that study the facts, though, GB is anything but honest. We can't afford him for another four years.
8/22/2004
Bush Flip Flops For MidWest Votes
Hoping to gain support among MidWest voters during his visit to Michigan last week Bush stated emphatically that, "We've got to use our resources wisely, like water." He went on to claim, "My position is clear: We're never going to allow diversion of Great Lakes water."1
That's a complete flip-flop from his pre-campaign goal of diverting Great Lakes water to the west and southwest states. In 2003 Bush claimed, "A lot of people don't need the water, but when you head South and West, we do need it." Mr. Bush obvously forgets that his statements are documented.
That's a complete flip-flop from his pre-campaign goal of diverting Great Lakes water to the west and southwest states. In 2003 Bush claimed, "A lot of people don't need the water, but when you head South and West, we do need it." Mr. Bush obvously forgets that his statements are documented.
8/16/2004
Your Vote Says, "I Do"
When you get married everyone who influences your spouse will now have some influence over your life. Similarly, voting for a candidate is like saying, "I want this person, and all who influence them, to represent me."
In three and one-half years Bush's open-door to influence from multi-national corporations has proven detrimental to millions of American families. Bush and the Republican Congress provided incentives for multi-national corporations to outsource jobs overseas. 23 million Americans lost their jobs because of the influence large corporations have with Bush.
Mr. Bush promised less reliance on foreign energy and protection of America's resources. Instead he proposes exploration in our natural resource areas. Exploration and development would be cheaper there for energy corporations, since it would be on public lands.
Bush promised better health care for the elderly, but he and the Republican Congress slammed the door on cheaper medicines in Canada with their latest Medicare legislation.
His idea of holding down health care costs is mandating a maximum on malpractice suits. Doctors, drug and insurance companies, and other health care businesses may continue making exorbitant profits.
The influence over him begins with his key people. VP Cheyney was CEO of Halliburton, one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the oil and gas industries. Rumsfeld was an executive with the worldwide drug company, G.D. Searle & Co. Rice is on the Board of Chevron Corp. Bush and his father are heavily invested in Unocal Corp. Unocal is planning a pipeline through Iraq. Hussein won't allow that. Oh yeah, we dethroned him for unproven claims that he aided terrorists.
When you consider the influence of his close friends and associates, average Americans cannot afford another four years of George Bush. four years of George Bush.
In three and one-half years Bush's open-door to influence from multi-national corporations has proven detrimental to millions of American families. Bush and the Republican Congress provided incentives for multi-national corporations to outsource jobs overseas. 23 million Americans lost their jobs because of the influence large corporations have with Bush.
Mr. Bush promised less reliance on foreign energy and protection of America's resources. Instead he proposes exploration in our natural resource areas. Exploration and development would be cheaper there for energy corporations, since it would be on public lands.
Bush promised better health care for the elderly, but he and the Republican Congress slammed the door on cheaper medicines in Canada with their latest Medicare legislation.
His idea of holding down health care costs is mandating a maximum on malpractice suits. Doctors, drug and insurance companies, and other health care businesses may continue making exorbitant profits.
The influence over him begins with his key people. VP Cheyney was CEO of Halliburton, one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the oil and gas industries. Rumsfeld was an executive with the worldwide drug company, G.D. Searle & Co. Rice is on the Board of Chevron Corp. Bush and his father are heavily invested in Unocal Corp. Unocal is planning a pipeline through Iraq. Hussein won't allow that. Oh yeah, we dethroned him for unproven claims that he aided terrorists.
When you consider the influence of his close friends and associates, average Americans cannot afford another four years of George Bush. four years of George Bush.
8/13/2004
Bush Leak Lets Terrorists Escape
Bush continues to claim that his administration is doing everything to fight terrorism. But his administration's disclosure of the arrest of a suspected terrorist helped other al-Qaeda members escape. The whole story in USA Today.
The White House leaked the secret information to justify raising the terrorist alert level this week, thereby taking attention away from the Democrats and their convention and making it appear as though the Republicans were the ones protecting Americans. In reality their disclosure not only allowed al-Qaeda operatives to escape, but crippled a Pakistani anti-terrorist investigation. The "suspected terrorist" was actually an undercover operative of the Pakistani Intelligence Service working against the terrorist network (More...).
Additionally the Bush administration's leak may have negatively affected a major British anti-terrorism operation. Even our own CIA had also previously used this individual, so the U.S. was no stranger to his efforts and activities. Obviously the Bush White House will use any means or method available to further their own political gain - even if it negatively affects America's security.
The White House leaked the secret information to justify raising the terrorist alert level this week, thereby taking attention away from the Democrats and their convention and making it appear as though the Republicans were the ones protecting Americans. In reality their disclosure not only allowed al-Qaeda operatives to escape, but crippled a Pakistani anti-terrorist investigation. The "suspected terrorist" was actually an undercover operative of the Pakistani Intelligence Service working against the terrorist network (More...).
Additionally the Bush administration's leak may have negatively affected a major British anti-terrorism operation. Even our own CIA had also previously used this individual, so the U.S. was no stranger to his efforts and activities. Obviously the Bush White House will use any means or method available to further their own political gain - even if it negatively affects America's security.
8/12/2004
Bush Flip-Flops Again
Last week, George Bush said he is working to "restore, improve and protect at least 3 million wetland acres over the next five years."1 But according to a new report released today, Bush ignored that promise and has done the opposite by using a key court ruling to encourage a severe degradation of wetlands throughout the country.
[1] "Supporting America's Farmers and Conserving America's Land", The White House, 08/04/04
[1] "Supporting America's Farmers and Conserving America's Land", The White House, 08/04/04
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