6 ms·

How is this a Walmart problem though? This is a totally natural result of free-market competition. When two competing pizza restaurants can no longer squeeze a

How is this a Walmart problem though? This is a totally natural result of free-market competition. When two competing pizza restaurants can no longer squeeze a lower price by reducing quality or working staff harder, they move the production offshore to countries with lower costs (usually looks like slavery). If we want to stop this natural phenomenon we would need new trade agreements to provide a financial incentive to keep the production within USA. I'm not a fan of Walmart but this is not at all a fair criticism of their business practices.

jressey 9y ago
Human society's categorization of Capitalism as "natural" is probably the reason most responsible for keeping us back from a better world. When you do that, greed is no longer considered a vice but a virtue.
- beingmyself2 9y ago
  Are you implying that communism is the way forward? I think a lot of murdered people would like to have a word with you, but that wasn't real communism right? If not, please explain your "way forward" that solves the problems that capitalism doesn't while still retaining the same incentives that appeal to basic human psychology. I'm sincerely interested.
  - cjslep 9y ago
    This is an unnecessary strawman. Additionally, any political/economic system is going to have its fair share of blood on its hands. Capitalism included. I think the person you replied to was opting for evaluating these and other systems in a different light. Judging by your extreme overreaction, I think you missed this important point. Edit to add: Also, as feedback, the degree of sincerity you claim to have of your interest is undermined by the rest of your response. It would not surprise me if no one took the risk to have a more productive conversation, so please do not take silence as validation.
  - TeMPOraL 9y ago
    Capitalism isn't a package deal. There's plenty you can do to rein it in, without awakening the spirit of Comrade Stalin.
jgalt212 9y ago
It's a monopoly or concentration of power problem, not a problem with capitalism per se.
- beingmyself2 9y ago
  It's not a monopoly though, this is simply the inevitable conclusion to any price competition: suppliers will be pressed to cut costs in ways that lose American jobs. Having a minimum wage means other countries can undercut our labor and pass some of the savings on to the retailers, who then compete more efficiently vs those who do not put pressure on suppliers. There are many legitimate reasons to criticize Walmart, this one is not one of those.
Nokinside 9y ago
It's not Walmart's problem, it's market failure and problem for others. Natural result of free-market competition is sometimes market failure.
- WalterSear 9y ago
  The natural result of free-market competition is the ultimately the sale of the market. Usually piece by piece, as we are seeing here, and in congress.

jressey 9y ago

Human society's categorization of Capitalism as "natural" is probably the reason most responsible for keeping us back from a better world. When you do that, greed is no longer considered a vice but a virtue.

beingmyself2 9y ago
Are you implying that communism is the way forward? I think a lot of murdered people would like to have a word with you, but that wasn't real communism right? If not, please explain your "way forward" that solves the problems that capitalism doesn't while still retaining the same incentives that appeal to basic human psychology. I'm sincerely interested.
- cjslep 9y ago
  This is an unnecessary strawman. Additionally, any political/economic system is going to have its fair share of blood on its hands. Capitalism included. I think the person you replied to was opting for evaluating these and other systems in a different light. Judging by your extreme overreaction, I think you missed this important point. Edit to add: Also, as feedback, the degree of sincerity you claim to have of your interest is undermined by the rest of your response. It would not surprise me if no one took the risk to have a more productive conversation, so please do not take silence as validation.
- TeMPOraL 9y ago
  Capitalism isn't a package deal. There's plenty you can do to rein it in, without awakening the spirit of Comrade Stalin.

jgalt212 9y ago

It's a monopoly or concentration of power problem, not a problem with capitalism per se.

beingmyself2 9y ago
It's not a monopoly though, this is simply the inevitable conclusion to any price competition: suppliers will be pressed to cut costs in ways that lose American jobs. Having a minimum wage means other countries can undercut our labor and pass some of the savings on to the retailers, who then compete more efficiently vs those who do not put pressure on suppliers. There are many legitimate reasons to criticize Walmart, this one is not one of those.

Nokinside 9y ago

It's not Walmart's problem, it's market failure and problem for others. Natural result of free-market competition is sometimes market failure.

WalterSear 9y ago
The natural result of free-market competition is the ultimately the sale of the market. Usually piece by piece, as we are seeing here, and in congress.