Majority says Wal-Mart bad for America: poll

chuckw951 · 12-01-2005, 11:52 AM

A new Zogby Poll finds that "56 percent of U.S. consumers think Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is bad for America." The poll was funded by "WakeUpWalMart.com, a union-funded group."

So if Americans think that Wal-Mart is bad for America, why do so many people shop there? Why can't I find a parking spot at Walmart on Saturday morning?

Recently I needed to buy a new "Full" mattress for the bed in our guest bedroom. I went to three mattress stores. They all wanted to sell me a $600 mattress set. I like my guests, but not that much. So I went to Sam's Club and bought a similar mattress for $280. While I was there I bought a 15 pound turkey for $10....Safeway was $25 for a similar bird.

Walmart is good for America. Think about the billions consumers save by shopping at Walmart. I can afford to pay full price, but with my recent trip to Sam's Club I kept $335 in my pocket!

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I go there for Porsche and gun supplies. Sunday night I got my Sylvania Silverstars and 2 5 qt. jugs of Mobil 1 there. Where else can I do that on a Sunday night and also pick up a value pack of .45ACP too? Thank you Wal-Mart.

BTW, the news story you cited is from a press release my company sent to the AP for the client. It's not some unbiased report Zogby did on his own.

singpilot · 12-01-2005, 11:59 AM

It's kinda like paying to have news articles posted.

It's the same ratio that thinks Bush is good for America.

It's the same ratio that thinks Bush is bad for America.

You can cut and paste anything you want, and make it say whatever you want. Is why I ALWAYS distrust anyone that cut and pastes from zippy/whippy sources.

Markus33 · 12-01-2005, 12:05 PM

Hmm, a poll funded by wakeupwalmart (edit), a union funded group trying to add members. I wonder if there could be a conflict of interest there?

chuckw951 · 12-01-2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee
BTW, the news story you cited is from a press release my company sent to the AP for the client. It's not some unbiased report Zogby did on his own.

Good point...

I should have said..."a Reuters news report about new Zogby poll commissioned by a union backed anti Walmart group"

Reporters have a perspective on the "debate" and that comes through in these stories.

In Maryland the legislature passed a bill to require that companies with a certain number of employees (read: WAL-MART) must devote 8% of their payroll to health care costs. The governor vetoed the bill. The legislature will attempt to override the veto in January. The media is reporting how Wal-Mart has retained lobbyists to educate legislators about their perspective on the issue. Big deal, everyone has a lobbyist or team of lobbyists....it's guaranteed in the constitution...

Perhaps someday the media will acknowledge that many stories in the papers are driven by public relations professionals with an agenda. Which is very similar to lobbying. So don't believe everything you read

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Oh, and it's not like Reuters did some hard-hitting investigative journalism to get this story. We put it out for the client two hours ago. Reuters is a few floors below our office, though they got this off the AP and just ran it.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=57473

chuckw951 · 12-01-2005, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by singpilot
It's kinda like paying to have news articles posted.

Don't disagree with you. This story is non-news news.

The PR types hatched a plan. Let's take a poll, then pitch the poll results to our contacts in the media. Everyone likes a "down with Wal-Mart" story. Actually any "big evil corporation" story is a good one.

gaijindabe · 12-01-2005, 12:09 PM

Funny - for years Walmart was kind of under the radar. They were away from major metropolitan centers and outside of the stock price they were never talked about. Now the chattering classes are stopping by in their way to the Hamptons and the Berkshires and suddenly everyone has an opinion.

Mulhollanddose · 12-01-2005, 02:07 PM

Polls are more and more about how effective media perception manipulation has been...This is the case with this anti-Walmart labor union media blitz, echoed by the leftist media and the DNC...You hammer, hammer hammer until you get the manipulation you want and then run the brainwashing as a news story...You then, if you are the media, act as if the public that was polled (sometimes selectively for desired effect) spontaneously came to their conclusions without any outside influence whatsoever.

Orwell was right.

Rondinone · 12-01-2005, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mulhollanddose
Polls are more and more about how effective media perception manipulation has been...This is the case with this anti-Walmart labor union media blitz, echoed by the leftist media and the DNC...You hammer, hammer hammer until you get the manipulation you want and then run the brainwashing as a news story...You then, if you are the media, act as if the public that was polled (sometimes selectively for desired effect) spontaneously came to their conclusions without any outside influence whatsoever.

Orwell was right.

Bingo!

Saw a poll today: 43% of America apparently believes we're still in a recession.

Pardon me while I take a swig of Victory gin.

island911 · 12-03-2005, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mulhollanddose
.......You hammer, hammer hammer until you get the manipulation you want and then run the brainwashing as a news story...You then, if you are the media, act as if the public that was polled (sometimes selectively for desired effect) spontaneously came to their conclusions without any outside influence whatsoever.

Orwell was right.

Right on, Mul . . . it's all just more manufacuted consent.

Jims5543 · 12-04-2005, 09:55 AM

The town we bought our house in has a Super Wal Mart and its a big deal there. Its up in North Carolina. I commented to my wife that it HAD to have hurt the local small businesses. I know I have shopped there more than I would ever here in Florida. There were many times we needed things and the Wal mart was the only thing open.

Here in Florida? I go to the local Hardware store 1st and only go to Home Depot if I cannot get what I need there.

Groceries? Local Chain might be more but I am supporting my community.

I honestly despise Wal Mart as much as I despise the Mall, I hate crowds. I avoid both equally and have only used the one in NC because I do not know where all the local places are, yet. As soon as I get more familiar with the local stores they get my business.

gaijindabe · 12-04-2005, 11:23 AM

We have no Walmarts in New York City, but I am familiar with one in up-state Oneonta. Oneonta is a big town on the far side of the Catskills, and had a very traditional Main Street. Things were not going well for years, but a few of the old line stores were still open. Then Walmart opened just out of town in a pretty farm valley. Downtown was crushed and farms being chewed up into box stores and strip malls - and traffic! Unbelievable.

The same old story. But then - people seem to have rediscoved the downtown district. Now there is bars, resturants, coffee joints, boutiques - all kinds of stuff. It is not the Main Street of old but it is doing pretty well, and has not looked so good in years.. Just an observation..