This is an old story--see the comment below this summary of the original debate, if you like.
On Sep 13, 2007, at 10:47 PM, b_s-wilk wrote: > OT WARNING!! > > -Walmart makes deals with communities not to pay local taxes in return > for bringing jobs to the area. This is a problem with local / state governments willing to offer tax incentives in an attempt to beggar their neighbor - any business that left such on the table when they know it is available would be violating their fiduciary duty to their shareholders. > > -Walmart underpays employees, sometimes making them work without pay, > and employees often need gov't assistance, i.e. food stamps, subsidized > housing. That is paid by local taxpayers, not Walmart. If employees are made to work off the clock...that is a criminal or civil offense...That some of its employees are otherwise in need of government assistance puts those employees squarely in the mainstream of american society - we have structured our society such that a significant minority, if not a majority, have become dependent on government for day to day needs. > -Walmart either doesn't pay health benefits, or pays so little that > employees have to pay the difference themselves, which they can't afford > on Walmart wages, or get Medicaid, paid by local taxpayers, not Walmart. Does Walmart have some inherent obligation to pay healthcare? There Might be a business case to do so...but that does not translate into an obligation. COMMENT: `Are there no prisons?'' asked Scrooge. ``Plenty of prisons,'' said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. ``And the Union workhouses?'' demanded Scrooge. ``Are they still in operation?'' ``They are. Still,'' returned the gentleman, `` I wish I could say they were not.'' ``The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?'' said Scrooge. ``Both very busy, sir.'' ``Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,'' said Scrooge. ``I'm very glad to hear it.'' ``Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,'' returned the gentleman, ``a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?'' ``Nothing!'' Scrooge replied. ``You wish to be anonymous?'' ``I wish to be left alone,'' said Scrooge. ``Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there.'' ``Many can't go there; and many would rather die.'' ``If they would rather die,'' said Scrooge, ``they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides -- excuse me -- I don't know that.'' ``But you might know it,'' observed the gentleman. ``It's not my business,'' Scrooge returned. ``It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people's. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen!'' *************************************************** ************************************************************************ * ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <== * ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <== * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress * Need more help? Send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************************************************ * List archive at www.mail-archive.com/computerguys-l@listserv.aol.com/ * RSS at www.mail-archive.com/computerguys-l@listserv.aol.com/maillist.xml * Messages bearing the header "X-No-Archive: yes" will not be archived ************************************************************************
