Walmart putting it to the people again

cowboydoc · Nov 21, 2002

I agree that most companies are cutting back but like Mosey said it's because of shrinking profits. Walmart is making record profits. That's not right. They are the largest US employer at over 600k employees and the largest world employer at over 1 million employees.

On a larger note I really think we are going to see national health care. I don't see how we can't go to it. Costs are spiraling out of control and I don't see any end in sight for it. Companies are cutting employees to the bare bones with coverage and costs continue to rise with less benefits. I am a doctor and I even think the costs are ridiculous. I just don't think healthcare is the place for greed. Too many people are going without care and of those that do have care they don't even get the proper treatment.

cowboydoc · Nov 21, 2002

Mosey,
It was in one of the physicians newspapers that I get that the public doesn't have access to. I would gladly post the article but can't without permission from the paper and Muhammad has asked me not to post magazine articles without that.

Gatorboy · Nov 21, 2002

Aren't businesses in business to MAKE MONEY? Geesh.

TerryinMD · Nov 21, 2002

I agree with a couple of points in the thread.

The biggest problem with health care is the health care providers. They are large insurance companies with profit in mind. Pure and simple. Nothing wrong with profit, but enough is enough....

The health care providers are driving up the cost which is passed along to the companies buying the health care plans. And in turn, those costs are passed along to the employees. To provide some kind of coverage, the companies provide less services to keep the cost down for the employees.

Let's add another issue.... medications. The costs are getting out of hand. I have high blood pressure and have been placed on medicine. Luckily, the original medication is now available in a generic form so my cost has been reduce by half. However, it is still around $1.50 per pill. I went to see my doctor yesterday to find a way to get off the medication. The typical... lose weight and exercise. I knew that, just needed some advise on the right way to approach the problem and a reasonable time line. Easy and attainable!! I have been laid off and of course am cost conscience. My doctor gave me a prescription provider in Canada which should save approximately 50% of the cost of the same medication purchased in the states. And it is legal. Cool.... so, guess what I'm going to do.

Now, what's my point. I basically agree with CBD in that we are going to be forced into some sort of social/national health care system. This is not good in my book. Look at other national programs and they have been horrible. Alas, we may have to go that route just to save our healthcare system. But, at what cost. In my mind, you can just look at the mega-healthcare companies and point the finger at them.... I believe that they will put themselves out of the healthcare business by their greed and misunderstanding of what people need....

Enough... my blood pressure is rising!!! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

PitbullMidwest · Nov 21, 2002

As others have said Wal Mart is without excuse for their actions. They recently expanded their distribution center in my area another 100,000 sq feet and opened more Super WalMarts too.

Mosey pointed out that other companies are doing the same thing. JI Case/CaseIH/CNH (who ever they are this week) just anounced that they would no longer honor their contracts that provided retired workers paid health care for life. This effects workers who retired as far back as 1983. Suddenly they will have to come up with $500/ month if they wish to keep their "benefits".

Corporate greed, pure and simple.

cowboydoc · Nov 21, 2002

I agree they are in business to make money Gator but at what cost? When the infrastructure breaks down and all the profits are going to a select few at the top there is no trickle down economics going on. Walmart pays paltry wages, now they are cutting benefits, and all the money goes to the top. Great make money but in order to make money everyone has to contribute as well. If a worker making minimum wage now has to pay a $30 copay every time they go in plus have a high deductible then they have just priced that person out of healthcare. It's what they call phantom benefits. Yes they have healthcare but they can't afford to pay it.

WVBill · Nov 21, 2002

"Walmart is making record profits"

How do we know any more? Enron "was making big profits" too, as was Worldcom, as was (a bunch of companies) too. All to drive up their stock price. ..That is until someone started asking questions.

Not trying to defend WallMart, just pointing out the difficulty of getting clear pictures any more....

TresCrows · Nov 21, 2002

"Aren't businesses in business to MAKE MONEY? Geesh."
Yes, but what is missing is something our ancestors had--honor and a sense of fairness. Well, probably not mine being as they wuz card players and mule skinners and theives.
I hate Walley World, McDonalds and the like and feel ashamed when I patronize them, I just feel kinda dirty but then it might have been the minefield of dirty diapers I had to zigzag through. Saying that still Walmart and McDonalds are symptoms not causes of our illness.
If a woman slaps a child in a parking lot the government takes the kid away cuz she just trashy low life common folks apparently but if Whacko Jacko (alleged pedophile) hangs a kid over a railing with a towel wrapped over it's head and the kid kicking and sceaming what happens? See what I mean about honor and fairness--it is gone everywhere (TBN a rare exception). J

Gary_in_Indiana · Nov 21, 2002

"Nothing wrong with profit, but enough is enough...."

And who would be the one to determine what that magic number might be? You? How about letting the owners, who put their money on the line every day, make that decision about their business?

No one employed by Wal-Mart is forced to work there. I get so sick and tired of hearing what everyone thinks someone else ought to do with their money and their business. If you want those employees to have better benefits go start a competing company and offer those benefits and the employees will come work for you.

Well, enough of my ranting here. My apologies if this logic offends anyone.

Gary_in_Indiana · Nov 21, 2002

"Corporate greed, pure and simple."

Here's a dose of logic that won't go down well. Do you have any idea who owns "corporate America" today? I'm guessing you have the Hollywood image of fat cats smoking big cigars in the drawing room sipping brandy and plotting their next evil move.

The two groups that own more stock than any others in the US are widows and pension funds. So, when you want to diminish corporate profits you're taking money away from widows and retirees.

All of a sudden those knee-jerk answers don't seem quite so simple, do they?