But, but...Walmart is EVIL!

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

Thousands, eh? What's that, half a percent of the affected area?

Yeah, who cares about the people who were in the superdome, anyway?

Precisely. Not that Wal-Mart got them anything in time.

[mrmitchell]

Brillant PR campaign nevertheless.

"PR campaign"

-1/10

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Precisely. Not that Wal-Mart got them anything in time.

But it's not a problem, since hey, they're a fraction of a % of the people effected.

And since when is getting them stuff in time Walmart's job? Hell, since when do they have helicopters and stuff for airlifting supplies in?

[Agathon]

Re: But, but...Walmart is EVIL!

Originally posted by CapTVK

So, anyone in favour here for more government?

You might have thought a bit about this before you spoke. The reason Wal Mart is so efficient is that it runs a huge computer system, including IIRC a private satellite network to organize itself. This enables Wal Mart to organize its stock and plan extremely efficiently due to the superority of its information over other stores.

Many socialists have argued for a long time that this form of organization is what will eventually eliminate or reduce our dependence on blind market forces. I've long seen Wal Mart as a sign of how planning can be made to work efficiently. It really doesn't matter who does it.

[Kuciwalker]

And yet this efficient planning was the result of market forces, Aggie.

[Last Conformist]

Problem is, nobody could hold Wal-Mart to account if they didn't help. Relying solely on the calculations of corporate PR strategists for disaster relief isn't a good idea.

Now, it seems the response had been more efficient if the state had contracted out the logistics to the likes of Wal-Mart, but that shouldn't make any government-basher happy.

[mrmitchell]

More government

More Wal Mart

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
And yet this efficient planning was the result of market forces, Aggie.

And according to Marx the communist revolution will be the result of market forces.

Your point?

[Kuciwalker]

The government isn't subject to market forces [nearly as much]. So, like LC said, maybe we ought to contract out logistics and such to people like Walmart.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by Sandman
Thousands, eh? What's that, half a percent of the affected area?

There are those who would claim that this proves that charity works better than government. Even though compared to the federal effort, it's miniscule.

Ya know

I been through Half as dozen Hurricanes, fortunately not one as devasting as Katrina

I had to work several weeks helping restore roadways to Topsail Island working in excess of 100 hours per week with limited food and thanks to Red Cross meal wagons..

We were without power for over a week and not the biggest headache but my point is everyone whom helped I am grateful because I wasnt at home I had to work to help gety the community back on its feet.

I agree it is miniscule to what is needed but what is wrong with applauding Wal-Marts efforts?

Whats wrong with acknowledging what they did?

So what if they get some sort of benefit out of it?

These people need help and need it now and much more of it.

I just wish people would use same energy in helping as they do criticizing efforts such as this.

Thanks you Mr. Sam Walton for establishing this chain and its standards showing through even though clouds have been in place...

Gramps

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Grandpa Troll
Thanks you Mr. Sam Walton for establishing this chain and its standards showing through even though clouds have been in place...

Gramps

Wal-mart is destroying America, Gramps. I'm not gonna say bad things about them helping people out in a crisis, but how many other communities has Wal-Mart destroyed across the country? I can tell you one, Oberlin, OH, home of Rubbermaid.

Keep your head down, just in case Ophelia blows your way.

[Kidlicious]

Wal-mart's efforts are small compared to the overall effort, but that doesn't diminish what they did. I hope they see that their efforts pay off in the long run. But contracting out all the relief efforts is just stupid. How do you put a price on disaster relief? You don't, you just spend whatever you have to.

[Kuciwalker]

I don't think you understand how contracting works...

Instead of chucking money at FEMA, you chuck it at Walmart's Disaster Relief Division or whatever.

[Kidlicious]

Thank you Mr. Obvious.

[Kuciwalker]

If you did understand what I was saying, then you wouldn't have made your post. Because the situation is the same in either.