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I tried to read the linked article. Its author considers Walmart to be a wonder of the world, which uplifts the poor and "is the most successful social welfare

I tried to read the linked article. Its author considers Walmart to be a wonder of the world, which uplifts the poor and "is the most successful social welfare system ever implemented, saving billions and billions of dollars for everyday Americans without costing taxpayers a dime". Prior to this mind-boggling statement, Zack presents his bona fides regarding his knowledge of Amazon; I'm sure he's pretty clever, and doubly so regarding Amazon. But his lack of insight when it comes to Walmart, let alone the factual inaccuracy of his statements regarding the way Walmart takes advantage of its employees' crushing poverty [0] is fucking insanity. Walmart absolutely does cost taxpayers. It disturbs me that someone so incapable of grokking the consequences of these so-called Wonders of the World should be so well-positioned to benefit from them. On the other hand, I suppose that it is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it. [1] [0] https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/19/walmart-and-mcdonalds-among-top-employers-of-medicaid-and-food-stamp-beneficiaries.html https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/19/walmart-and-mcdonalds-among-... [1] --Upton Sinclair

mooreds 5y ago
I interviewed with Zack once. Whip smart and driven. Definitely has a point of view that I don't always agree with (check out his twitter: https://twitter.com/zackkanter/ https://twitter.com/zackkanter/ ). I think Walmart has done a ton of damage (The Walmart Effect being a great book about it: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/294987/the-wal-mart-effect-by-charles-fishman/ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/294987/the-wal-mart... ). But Walmart has done some good things too, in terms of material prosperity and supply chain revolutions (my understanding is that the wonder of the bar code being fully rolled out is due to Walmart). Anyway, I don't want to defend all of Zack's positions (trust me, I don't) but I still find his analysis provocative.
aaron695 5y ago
> Walmart takes advantage of its employees' crushing poverty If there was no Walmart they would be what, rich Wall Street brokers? All you made is a political statement. I'm not sure I understand Zach's point, is it the mechanical jobs that allow the lower IQs continuous work or the supply of cheap goods that make people lives better? Certainly the second matters and is why the world is getting better. A cheap couch matters, but if you don't get that, think of it as good cheap clothing and good cheap electronics help keep the poor in the functioning world.

mooreds 5y ago

I interviewed with Zack once. Whip smart and driven. Definitely has a point of view that I don't always agree with (check out his twitter: https://twitter.com/zackkanter/ https://twitter.com/zackkanter/ ). I think Walmart has done a ton of damage (The Walmart Effect being a great book about it: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/294987/the-wal-mart-effect-by-charles-fishman/ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/294987/the-wal-mart... ). But Walmart has done some good things too, in terms of material prosperity and supply chain revolutions (my understanding is that the wonder of the bar code being fully rolled out is due to Walmart). Anyway, I don't want to defend all of Zack's positions (trust me, I don't) but I still find his analysis provocative.

aaron695 5y ago

> Walmart takes advantage of its employees' crushing poverty If there was no Walmart they would be what, rich Wall Street brokers? All you made is a political statement. I'm not sure I understand Zach's point, is it the mechanical jobs that allow the lower IQs continuous work or the supply of cheap goods that make people lives better? Certainly the second matters and is why the world is getting better. A cheap couch matters, but if you don't get that, think of it as good cheap clothing and good cheap electronics help keep the poor in the functioning world.