Walmart Coming to Merrimack?? (Manchester, Nashua: insurance, condo, houses)

[Valerie C]

I remember quite a few years back, when the Wal-Mart in Plaistow opened... there were American flags all over, and "MADE IN THE USA" label was proudly displayed on clothing and other items. That is so not the case now!

I want to share an interesting excerpt from Notre Dam online:

<QUOTE>
"Long unemployment spells, even in economic recoveries, are caused by the constant threat of outsourcing and offshoring. Low-paid workers hope for low prices, but the search for low prices transforms communities into "everyday-low-price economies." Wal-Mart's trek across America requires thousands of community hearings to get zoning rules changed for its big-box retail. These political debates have left a trail of sophisticated analysis of the chain's effect on towns and cities, mainly because of its policies of low wages and benefits. A February 2004 Congressional Report documented that a California Wal-Mart left a community's taxpayers paying for free and reduced school lunches and health insurance for children of Wal-Mart families as well as Section 8 housing assistance. In other words, Wal-Mart's low wages causes welfare payments to increase.

According to Purdue University's Richard Fineberg, Wal-Mart drives away local grocery and retail stores while obtaining tens of thousands of dollars of tax abatements and building assistance, leaving less money for health care and education."
<END QUOTE>

I have been told by an employee of a Wal-Mart in NH that the phone numbers and information for various state programs, such as NH Healthy Kids, Section 8 info, etc. are available to workers in the break room/area. This isn't "company sactioned" but the information just happens to be available? Hmmm....

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by Valerie C

I remember quite a few years back, when the Wal-Mart in Plaistow opened... there were American flags all over, and "MADE IN THE USA" label was proudly displayed on clothing and other items. That is so not the case now!

I want to share an interesting excerpt from Notre Dam online:

<QUOTE>
"Long unemployment spells, even in economic recoveries, are caused by the constant threat of outsourcing and offshoring. Low-paid workers hope for low prices, but the search for low prices transforms communities into "everyday-low-price economies." Wal-Mart's trek across America requires thousands of community hearings to get zoning rules changed for its big-box retail. These political debates have left a trail of sophisticated analysis of the chain's effect on towns and cities, mainly because of its policies of low wages and benefits. A February 2004 Congressional Report documented that a California Wal-Mart left a community's taxpayers paying for free and reduced school lunches and health insurance for children of Wal-Mart families as well as Section 8 housing assistance. In other words, Wal-Mart's low wages causes welfare payments to increase.

According to Purdue University's Richard Fineberg, Wal-Mart drives away local grocery and retail stores while obtaining tens of thousands of dollars of tax abatements and building assistance, leaving less money for health care and education."
<END QUOTE>

I have been told by an employee of a Wal-Mart in NH that the phone numbers and information for various state programs, such as NH Healthy Kids, Section 8 info, etc. are available to workers in the break room/area. This isn't "company sactioned" but the information just happens to be available? Hmmm....

Yes I have seen several news stories on tv about this. Walmarts across the country do this. I have read that in some stores in more urban areas they have hr people that give them all info that they need for welfare, food stamps, etc. Also, Walmart is a large employer of illegal aliens-there have been numerous raids of illegal through out the country in Walmarts.

[GregW]

Somehow it is considered sinfully wrong to support individuals with public welfare but just fine to subsidize a very wealthy company with billionaire stockholders.

IMHO this is exactly what is wrong with our economy, culture and government. We have our priorities skewed to the “have and have mores” instead of toward the beginning businesses, kids just getting out of school and people trying to work their way out of poverty.

[Katlakat]

I personally am against Wal Mart in general. The things I have purchased there are cheap, made cheaply, and fall apart. I'd pay the extra money for real wooden, hand crafted, furniture, even if I had to save up just to get one made. By the time I buy my 4th computer desk, I could have already purchased a sturdy hand made one like they built in the "old days." But in the current stage of life, I simply can afford convenience over craftsmanship, and wal mart offers that. After I sell all off most of my things for the move-I won't be going down the road again should I help it.

I worked at wal mart in arkansas in my early 20's. It was one of the most horrible places I've worked. Who puts a newly pregnant woman who has applied for a cashier job, in the paint and hardware department? I'll tell you, absolute morons. Not only was I vomiting each night, my managers just laughed when I asked to be assigned for the job I applied for. Off with the smock, and out the door I went.

Now I work in our only town's grocery store. A gentleman, elderly, came in to browse our deli meat selections. He grumbled about the lack of selection. I told him our new store was being built right now, and we will have a bigger counter. He grumbles again because we have no bologna. He pipes up, "I'll be glad when that Super Wal Mart gets built behind your store. They won't run out of bologna!" And wanders off.

This is the thing: We ordered bologna for that same man last month. And we kept it. We sold half of it on sale because the man never came in for it. The other half went bad, so we had to take a $24.00 loss. Now those losses cut into the bonus check of an already under paid manager (which happens to be my mum in law).

So after reading in Mother Earth News about pre packaged meats from Wal Mart and how the gasses they are pumped with show a good color, the meat is already spoiled before it hits the shelves-I got to thinking. We already don't have enough people in our town and even the surrounding towns to support what we can't sell. What in the HELL is Wal Mart going to prove? The only people going to buy their food will be mostly well fare recipients and retired people. Everyone else already shops in the city almost one hour drive away.

I bought food from our local Super Wal Mart three times in Texas. The frozen food was freezer burnt, and the meats (before I ever read that article) made my husband violently sick on one occasion, and I followed him on the second.

I'm back to fresh produce by locally owned farmer's markets, organic when I can afford them, and my husband works in the meat department in our community store and only brings home his picks of meat.

I hope Wal Mart doesn't kill our local mom and pop grocery store-litterally all of the employees are related somehow by marriage and such It would be a shame. But these people have been without change for so long, they actually welcome it. They can't see what it will do to the already depleting town. Two mom and pop stores have closed this year along with two neighboring car lots, and super wal mart is not even here yet.

Just my 2cents worth. I'm sick of everything being made in China too. I love this magazine because it shows you how to do a lot of things yourself, using natural resources for a better environment.

[Katlakat]

Oh and might I add: I knew nothing about hardware, which the local men who needed sound advice and guidance upon purchasing-did not find one bit funny at my nervous jokes. I had NO business in that department, and they did not care one bit that I could be costing them sales.

Oh well, live and learn, and then tell them to stick that smiley face where the sun don't shine LOL

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by GregW

Somehow it is considered sinfully wrong to support individuals with public welfare but just fine to subsidize a very wealthy company with billionaire stockholders.

I think that both are wrong. I have problems with both. I think it is outrageous that a lot of our tax $$ goes for corporate welfare.



IMHO this is exactly what is wrong with our economy, culture and government. We have our priorities skewed to the “have and have mores” instead of toward the beginning businesses, kids just getting out of school and people trying to work their way out of poverty.

What about the working middle class? We pay most of the taxes in this country. The very rich get richer on the backs of the working middle class. The working middle class pays for the entitlements of welfare, etc. with their tax $$. Why does the government have to lift people out of poverty? Get 2 or three jobs if that is what it takes to make ends meet. If all public assistance was cut off tomorrow, a large percentage of people would go out and get a job or two. My father grew up dirt poor. His family never received any government assistance. He worked 3 jobs while going to college. I am not saying this to say he is great however I am sure many many people here have done the same thing or know people who have. Why is this never the answer? Always the government(taxpayer) has to pay. This country was a great country and survived almost 200 years before LBJ totally revised the welfare system so now it is not temporary- it is a generational thing. This is wrong.

I agree that starting businesses get the shaft. Especially here in NH, business taxes are high and it is especially hard on small businesses.

[remember-voltaire]

also ban starbucks

cannot for the life of me understand why someone wants to pay nearly 5$ for a coffee and then you have to put the cream and suger in yourself

these starbucks are popping up everywhere, it's becoming like a fashion statement to be seen holding their cup in public or being seen in them.


remember we were working I think it was concord mass , we were quite dirty but wanted a coffee to warm us up and there were no other places to go.

anyway we walked in there and my God I think the yuppies got a right shock seeing working men with dirty clothes go into their beloved starbucks .

They didn't even have normal coffee we had to get some weird sounding flavoured drink which I have no idea what the name was now, then when my mate asked to have cream and suger in it the kid serving nearly fainted then says we don't do that here you go and do that yourself over there.

[averagenyjoe]

A Verti soy carmel machiato anyone?

[averagenyjoe]

[quote=averagenyjoe;1252052]A Verti soy carmel machiato anyone?

I've only heard some of what they have because my boss just loves the place and brings these things to work all the time. The first time I heard someone rattle off a name of one of those coffees I shook my head back & forth uncontrollably saying " dooooo WHHHHAAAAAAT ????????????

Dont you know your supposed to have an interpreter when speaking in tongues?

[Katlakat]

LOL joe, no joke. Personally, the caramel machiatto or whatever it was, was pretty yummy. Until you're in the ladies room between customers every hour-its not worth the price. IMHO And I don't even want to know what goes in it.