I just watched this video discussing the book The Wal-Mart Effect, and found it interesting that the disparaging comments ultimately did not revolve around how greedy the corporation is, or how unethical their labor laws are. The focus was actually on the unequivocal power over the free market that Wal-Mart exerts.
A friend of mine who is often concerned about the government's intervention with the economy recently quoted George Orwell to me, saying, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." The thing is, it appears that power can be exerted from anywhere, from outside the free market, and from the inside. Personally, I'd find it more satisfying to point fingers at that sinister yellow smiley face than anyone else. But, I'm still too sane to start doing that.
July 28, 2009
The Wal-Mart Effect
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5 comments:
Haha, sorry, I was a bit bored and saw this post. Thought I'd leave my thoughts all the same though.
That is a pretty interesting perspective I hadn't really considered before. I think the relation to the automobile history is probably spot on. Who used to care about regulating things like speed limits, safety belts and emissions? Now there is a whole sector of government regulation spending its time policing the use of and controlling the supply chains of that industry.
Makes you wonder what is in store for today's mega-marts and super corporations and how those impacts of regulations will effect everyone from the supply chain to the consumer when they start to roll around. In all sectors of business, not just retail. It's not necessarily bad, but it has most certainly been an area where we as a society have been more than willing to look the other way on for a long time. Mostly because we like cheap goods.
I think it's a pretty fair statement to say that pretty much every major business operates more or less on the same principles of cutting costs and improving the bottom line without noticeably crossing the line. If a company can exert too much control by playing by the rules, what is and what should be the position of the society it operates under supposed to be? And what happens if those regulations further hurt the competition they are trying to protect and promote? What if doing nothing does the same?
Just rhetorical questions, I'm not really looking for an answer. Society will likely have to face and own up to them in the not so distant future.
Here is my opinion on the matter . . . I hate Wal-Mart!
The new background is wonderfully awesome.
Well put Amanda. And as for John, you should know that this is officially the first time a comment has been longer than my post. That deserves a prize!
I just wanted to comment that according to the Answer Tips feature, that quote is NOT from George Orwell. So, it serves to help put the record straight already.
Wahoo! That's the first time I got a prize for that. Usually when I go off on a semi intelligible tangent on someone's blog... ah, I better just stop myself here...
I second the nice blog though. Makes me wish I would spend more time in creative pursuits and not just ranting. ;)
I miss your rants and raves! I love reading your work and wonder what has it gone? But then again you are student teaching, right? This is crazy and leaves no time for blogging, believe me I know.
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