Wal-mart plans to build 8 stores in the Bay Area

Sure Wal-Mart has some problems, but let's be honest about this. The best thing that can possibly happen for the poor is cheaper shopping. Saving 10% on groceries, clothes, and entertainment is the same as a 10% increase in income. The best part is that Wal-Mart's lower prices will force others to lower their prices as well.

Sure, they suck. But why are we as "progressives" so anti-poor. It'd be great if everyone could afford to shop at little organic boutiques that are community-owned, but that's just not the way things are these days.

yeah....and the best way to keep them poor is to keep offering them non-union low paying jobs........

The reason that walmart's prices are relatively low is that in addition to screwing over their workers in this country, they buy goods from poorer countries where people get paid about 10 cents an hour. I don't think that the best way to help America's (relatively) poor is by helping companies really screw over the extremely global poor.

Please! 8 WM stores, which hire about 250 apiece, means 2000 new jobs. If YOU don't want to work there, fine, then don't. What arrogance to assume that people who are looking for work should not have a chance at these jobs. Not to mention the sales tax that returns money to the community. In El Cerrito, the new Plaza opened, employes hundreds of people and pumps almost 5 million a year into El Cerrito's bank account. The result - newly paved roads, clean, upgraded parks, new pools for kids, etc. Sometimes you have to get over your lockstep ideology and deal with reality..

If Wal-Mart builds these stores, you are right, many jobs will be created because of this business. But there is more to the picture than just employment numbers. Do you realize a typical Wal-Mart employee make $8/hr? This is $16,000 a year IF they worked full-time. Of course the business pratices of Wal-Mart if to hire people part-time as to not have to provide them full benefits. Where does If Wal-Mart builds these stores, you are right; many jobs will be created because of this business. But there is more to the picture than just employment numbers. Do you realize a typical Wal-Mart employee make $8/hr? This is $16,000 a year IF they worked full-time. Of course the business practices of Wal-Mart if to hire people part-time as to not have to provide them full benefits. Where do Wal-Mart's profits go? Wal-Mart’s profits go right back to Arkansas. Who profits? Not the local economy. The result of Wal-Mart’s employment practices is underemployed workers living in poverty. Is that really what the Bay Area needs more of? Support the community, shop local.

Wal-Mart's profits go? Back to Arkansas. Who profits? Not the local economy. Underemployed workers living in poverty. Is that really what the Bay Area needs more of? Support the community, shop local.

You gotta love free enterprise. You cannot stop WalMart you fools - they could BUY San Fran and put anything they want where they want.

quit yer bitchin' and let's go shopping at WalMart. going against it will be as successful as going against the entropy of the universe

captialism rules!

that's what privitizing education gets ya!