Wal-Mart gets 70% of products from China

You probably know that Wal-Mart has some ugly business practices, but did you know that they get 70% of their products from communist China?  This is bad on so many levels -- not only do cheap Chinese products drown out local American economies, but the products are often toxic and made by workers in near slave-labor conditions.

I'm helping Wake Up Wal-Mart this holiday season and they have a new ad detailing the relationship between Wal-Mart and China:

When these cheap Chinese products come flowing in, it hurts local economies and local towns. China is also one of the worst polluters and they have a really bad reputation of persecuting their own citizens.

I know Wal-Mart isn't the only company that imports from China, but as the country's biggest retailer, I think they deserve the most criticism.

What do you think?  Does Wal-Mart have a responsibility to do better?

•  Don't all our corporations

  have a responsibility to do better by their employees, their customers, their communities and their nation than currently?  

  We do not reward socially responsible behavior by corporations, the only reward is the bottom line.

  by prodigal on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:41:34 PM PDT

  •  Their only responsibiity is to their.............

    stock holders.

    by duckhunter on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:56:03 PM PDT

    •  Walmart is not the single sinner

      Both of my Apple computers were manufactured and shipped from China after I ordered them from Apple online.  God knows what else I own from China manufacturers, and I haven't been in a Wal-Mart for many years.

      This is not a Walmart problem, much larger than that.

      by Leading Edge Boomer on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:47:16 PM PDT

      •  Absolutely, but as a corporation Wal-Mart, all

        corporations for that matter, owes a duty to their stock-holders to make money.    

        by duckhunter on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 06:06:59 PM PDT

      •  Walmart can make a huge impact...

        And THAT, my friends, is why we put the pressure on them.  Because they account for over 1/10th of ALL imports from China, if we get them to be held accountable, then we start to turn the tide.

        A combination of grassroots agitation, legislative action, and raising the awareness in the general public is key.  While we should do this when and wherever we can, pushing back hard on Walmart is likely to reap the outcome we all eventually want.

        by middleroad on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 07:54:31 AM PDT

•  I don't shop there. Walmart will continue

  to get products from China as long as it's customers continue to want to buy them. I wonder what a public awareness campaign would do? Would the typical Walmart shopper really stop buying there and, heaven forbid, pay higher prices for good sourced in the U.S. For things like toys, maybe, if the child safety angle is emphasized. But for other things, I have my doubts.

  by Gary Norton on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:43:59 PM PDT

  •  Not in many areas of rural MO and Arkansas.......

    Wal-Mart may be the only pharmacy, optomotrist (spelling?)or even medical clinic, auto-parts store, grocery, etc. for some miles. There are people who shop at Wal-Mart because they essentially have no choice, all there is further down the high-way is another Wal-Mart.    

    by duckhunter on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:06:17 PM PDT

•  Isn't

  "Communist" China a little too Cold War?

  by Daaaaave on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:45:07 PM PDT

  •  especially since

    The country's economic system has a lot more to do with capitalism than with communism. But I guess "rampantly capitalist China" doesn't sound as nostalgic.

    by Delirium on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:46:57 PM PDT

    •  Fascist China?

      It may be more technically correct, but

      1. It just doesn't have the impact

      2. They still say they are "Socialism with Chinese characteristics"

      So how about "slave China"?

      Somehow we have to make the right understand that they are still out to get us.

      by Danjuma on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:57:25 PM PDT

      •  I don't think much besides 'capitalist' is needed

        Their economic system is pretty similar to the ones the US and UK had in the 19th century (rampant, expansionist, industrial capitalism with weak safety and environmental standards), only with a more authoritarian government.

        by Delirium on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:08:07 PM PDT

        •  It is very different that 19th c. US

          For example, the state sector is much larger, and the enforcement of contracts is much weaker. The former is important for those who still consider China to be socialist (and there are more of those than you might think) and the latter is a problem for foreign investors.

          by Danjuma on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:39:54 PM PDT

    •  maybe not cold war communism

      but they are a totally corrupt, unfree society. why anyone wants to buddy up with them is beyond me.
      totally insane, they are NOT our friends. not now never have been.

      red china suits me just fine. they have earned the moniker...

      by johnfire on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:37:24 PM PDT

      •  Well...

        why anyone wants to buddy up with them is beyond me.

        Their GDP is 12% this year compared to the US's anemic 2%.

        Even Democrats are allowed to get ahead by investing logically.

        by Pluto on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:14:12 PM PDT

    •  And especially since...

      They are currently the second largest foreign holder of US public debt...only Japan owns more of us.

      by Sharon Jumper on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 05:04:19 PM PDT

  •  China?

    You think it'd be better to just say "China"?  Whichever one would have more of an impact I'm all for.  

    by JDalton on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:48:10 PM PDT

    •  Taiwan

      is still technically the Republic of China, so it's ambiguous.

      I'm not opposed to reminding erstwhile McCarthyites that the leopard hasn't changed its spots.

      by Danjuma on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:58:44 PM PDT

      •  It seems that conservatives tend use Red China...

        Much scarier sounding I believe....

        by duckhunter on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:08:48 PM PDT

        •  Do they?

          I guess I should check them out more, but it's too creepy.

          I thought they were friends with China now.

          I don't think it would be bad to use Red China, especially if they won't.

          by Danjuma on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:41:02 PM PDT

  •  It still had impact a few years ago

    in conservative/reflexive-patriotic areas a few years ago.

    Imagine leaving, very carefully, small fliers under products on WalMart shelves; those fliers pointing out the connection between WalMart's sources and the export of American job to Communist China (even Godless Communist China).  Only work for awhile, until security was tightened, but still might knock a few customers out of their rut.

    by wondering if on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:59:02 PM PDT

•  Wal-mart has its issues

  But you have to realize that we have borrowed most of the cost of the Iraq war from China. Despite the claims of the old guard, they are not a communist country any more. They are a capitalist society, and if we don't stop what we are doing, their highly capitalistic approach will bury us.

  I'm actually sick of Wal-mart bashing by people who benefit from its methods. There are many studies on how bad off our "middle class" would be if they hadn't kept prices down during the Bush administration. Wal-mart has some good points (a state-of-the-art distribution system) and some terrible points (using and abusing part timers).

  But throwing stones at that corporation doesn't solve the problem. We need to examine why we've given away our economy to China, not why an American company has benefited from our stupidity.

  by MrMichaelMT on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:48:17 PM PDT

  •  Yes, But...

    Wal-Mart is by far the No. 1 employer and retailer

    by JDalton on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:51:28 PM PDT

  •  Uh

    Don't you think the benefitee may have had something to with the how and why of our economy being given away?

    A hint: they're called lobbyists and bundled contributors.

    by pletzs on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:52:52 PM PDT

    •  No, it's the war...

      ...and the fact that those who profit the most (Carlyle and other international groups) are not really Americans. Perle and Cheney moved their money into Euros long ago. The International Oil Companies that would get the keys to ANWR wouldn't be selling that oil in the US--it's closer to China from there.

      Those who are giving away our economy (at least some of them) have US passports, but do not have America's interests at heart.

      by MrMichaelMT on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 04:23:15 AM PDT

•  I Remember When

  Before Sam Walton died Wal Mart proudly sold goods made in the US.

  by Cali Techie on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:48:43 PM PDT

  •  Not exactly true.................................

    Sam Walton's Buy American Campaign would have been more aptly called buy American when its cheaper or when you can put the screws to the American manufacturer to undercut foreign competition to stay afloat.  

    by duckhunter on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:24:33 PM PDT

    •  You're right but still

      The majority of the products in Wal Mart stores were made in the US and often by union labor. Walton squeezed US manufacturers, but not nearly to the degree his heirs have, which is now why they're all using child labor in third world countries to make their products.

      I didn't say Sam Walton wasn't evil and greedy. He's just not as evil as his kids.

      by Cali Techie on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 10:12:04 PM PDT

•  I'm always curious why there are

  so many China-bashing diaries when an equal amount of money flows out of this country for oil

  In one case, the money goes to makes a hard working person's miserably life just a tad less miserable.

  In the other, it goes to make someone's obscenely wealthy lifestyle just a tad bit more luxurious.

  Yet, what are we always complaining about?

  by Roadbed Guy on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:50:07 PM PDT

  •  It effects everyone!

    Wal-Mart has a very real and negative effect on local economies.  

    by JDalton on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:52:35 PM PDT

    •  And the drain of oil $$'s doesn't?

      What do you propose?

      Going back to the days of Mom & Pop stores, when Mom & Pop were more often than not flaming right wing nutcases, sponging labor off their relatives and neighborhood kids?

      Sure, that's Wal-Mart does, more or less, so I'm not against Wal-Mart bashing per se.  I just don't get the China connection so much.

      by Roadbed Guy on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:23:08 PM PDT

  •  Ease of knowledge

    Hard products are labeled with country-of-origin stickers.  Gasoline isn't.

    by silence on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:53:07 PM PDT

  •  Why do you assume

    that "China bashers" are equally Saudi bashers or Dubai bashers. I've read a lot of those kind of diaries here.

    by Danjuma on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:00:26 PM PDT

    •  Sure, but the Arabs are bashed for

      different reasons.

      Rarely for killing small town America specifically . . .

      by Roadbed Guy on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:24:15 PM PDT

      •  Your point?

        is what? That we should start bashing OPEC for exporting slave labor made goods to Wal-Mart, or that we should bash China for oil price gouging? I know there are thought police who insist that any criticism of foreign governments is racist, so please don't go there. The government of China is evil, maybe not as evil as Burma or Equatorial Guinea or North Korea, but evil.

        by Danjuma on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:44:39 PM PDT

        •  I don't think I understood your point

          You asked why I assumed that "China bashers" were equally Saudi bashers or Dubai bashers.

          My point was exactly that the "China bashers" were NOT Saudi or Dubai bashers (sure, there are such diaries, but they're written by a different crowd than those who generally decry the effects of cheap Chinese labor on the US economy).

          My original point was just if the drain of X dollars from the US economy is bad, and X dollars goes both to China and the Oil Producers (which actually aren't Dubai and the Saudis so much), why done China bear the brunt of the blame.

          Methinks it would be much more advantageous to keep the oil $$s at home and use them to create high paying jobs developing renewable, sustainable, and domestic energy supplies. Let the Chinese keep the assembly line jobs, which are really pretty shitty in any event - Massachusetts showed that when those jobs leave, they can be replaced with something better.  Why can't South Carolina (or who ever's always whining about losing their jobs) do likewise? That's make a lot more sense to me than trying to ineffectively slow the race to the bottom.

          by Roadbed Guy on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:59:32 PM PDT

          •  One difference

            is that more of our oil comes from Venezuela and Nigeria, both of which, for all their problems, are democracies with freedom of speech, the right to organize labor unions, and other things we liberals support. China doesn't have that stuff.

            Let the Chinese keep the assembly line jobs

            OK, but make them allow their workers to organize and bargain collectively about their wages and conditions. After all, if American corporations can organize production in China, why can't American unions organize their workforce? Otherwise, there are laws against importing slave produced goods. Workers who aren't free, and who in some cases aren't even paid, are slaves, and there is good reason to keep such goods out.

            by Danjuma on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:18:41 PM PDT

            •  If nothing else

              I gotta say you have an interesting perspective on Venezuela and Nigeria, Nigeria?

              by Roadbed Guy on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 06:16:45 PM PDT

              •  I don't say they're perfect

                Hell, I don't say anyone's perfect. But if you think Nigeria or Venezuela are worse than China, you may not even realize that Nigeria and Venezuela have free presses and real elections with opposition parties but China doesn't. You don't hear as much about pollution and oppression in China because the Chinese leadership don't let as much news out.

                by Danjuma on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 06:24:53 PM PDT

                •  You are fucking with me, right?

                  I seriously don't know anyone can say with a straight face (I'm sure you are chuckling aplenty) that China is worse than Nigeria.

                  About pollution, a two second search will pull up tons of papers on how 750,000 die from pollution in China each year.  On a per population basis that's a bit worse than the USA, but not hugely so.

                  That's hardly a secret.  The funny (not in a haha way) thing is that these studies, sponsored by the Chinese government - were also 'edited' by the Chinese government  - basically exactly in the way our government edits its scientists' reports.  Nonetheless, I have no overwhelming urge to more to the freedom of Nigeria . . .

                  by Roadbed Guy on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 06:38:58 PM PDT

                  •  I'm serious

                    I'll give you that crime is worse in Nigeria than China, but not pollution, and the political situations don't even compare for the amount of repression. Even when there was military government in Nigeria there was far more criticism in the press than one finds in China, and the Internet is not censored.

                    Pollution in Nigeria is confined to a corner of the country and is well reported, not only nationally but also internationally. Pollution in China is not just all over the country, it is even affecting Japan. You yourself imply that the problem is minimized by Chinese censorship. Do you really think that the censorship in China is "basically exactly" the same as the political pressure scientists face in the US when they write about global warming? You have lost all credibility. Then you become completely incoherent at the end.

                    Get some sleep, or take your tranquilizers, or whatever medication the doctors have you on. Don't come back until you can disagree with people without abusing them by calling them racist, or misrepresenting facts, or talking about things you know nothing about. I'm serious.

                    by Danjuma on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 12:07:58 AM PDT

                    •  OK, I'll bite once again

                      even though you are spewing nonsense that is increasingly bizarre.

                      On one hand, you claim Nigeria is "free" - I submit that "democratic" is NOT equal to free, when freedom and democracy equals Sharia Law being adopted:

                      The governor of a northern Nigerian state which enforces Sharia law has defended Islamic punishments after they were criticised by the federal government.

                      In an interview with the BBC, Governor Ahmed Sani of Zamfara said no non-Muslim had the right to determine Sharia's legitimacy.
                       
                      He said that the punishments - which included stoning, amputation and flogging - were legal under the constitution and his administration had no plans to change its justice system.

                      link

                      Yes, free to be stoned and mutilated if one's religous beliefs are incorrect.  That is a bizarre definition of freedom if there ever was one.

                      But fair enough, I've never been to Nigeria, maybe you are correct that it's a veritable paradise.  However, I have been to China several times, and while they do have problems/challenges, it is not the living hell hole that you depict.

                      For example, the World Health Organization reports 6 million deaths due to pollution world-wide each year.  At that rate, China should be experiencing about twice the number they are (which is not to say they're in the clear, just that they are better than the global standard).  And from what I've seen government scientists in China are subject to the exactly the type of censorship they are here - if the topic goes against the agenda of the ruling junta, their results are suppressed. If not, they are perfectly free to disseminate their results.

                      by Roadbed Guy on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 02:47:40 AM PDT

                      •  OK, at least you are not incoherent this time

                        but you still don't know what you are talking about. Apostacy has never been a crime under Sharia law in Nigeria. Sharia criminal law was in effect in Northern Nigeria under British colonialism. It was confined to personal and family law with independence, but recently some states have put criminal laws under sharia again. Your description "stoned and mutilated if one's religous beliefs are incorrect" has nothing to do with the actual, real situation. Here's the New York Times' latest description, and I should point out that many object to their description of the former situation.

                        I have been to Nigeria many times, and I would never describe it as a "veritable paradise". I would advise you, if you wish to be taken seriously, not to erect straw men and attribute statements to others that they have not made. I have not described China as a "living hell hole" because I have too many friends and relatives from there. I do know that the Nigerian press, even under Abacha, was more critical of the government than the Chinese press, outside Taiwan, has ever been of the Chinese government. Personally, if had to choose between that freedom and a democracy that did not allow dissent, would choose freedom over democracy.

                        You're right about one thing. Freedom and democracy are two different things. Nigeria has both. China has neither. But you're wrong about something else. Only government scientists are subject to the kind of pressure you attribute to the government here, and the government does not edit scientific journals. In China, on the other hand, every scientist is subject to such pressure and suppression of results.

                        by Danjuma on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 04:42:50 AM PDT

                        •  You really are on a different planet

                          do I need to find the links that describe the consequences for women who reject the religious sexual mores imposed Sharia law?  Or are stories about what happen to women caught in adultery just fabricated? who knows?

                          But this is just batshit crazy:

                          In China, on the other hand, every scientist is subject to such pressure and suppression of results.

                          I'll share it with my colleagues from China when they come in later this morning and we'll all have a good chuckle . . .

                          by Roadbed Guy on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 04:49:09 AM PDT

                          •  You're still not rational

                            I am not defending sharia law, although I will point out that it is democratic and that people in Nigeria not only criticize their government, they choose that government. Very different from the Chinese situation.

                            You don't know any Nigerians, but you want to lecture me about their situation. I work with Chinese, and know the limits of their criticism of their government. I know that your Chinese colleagues, like mine, will be limited regarding their criticism of the government. I feel sorry for them, but I respect their situation. You don't even seem to realize that your Chinese colleagues have to bite their tongue before they criticize their government.

                            There is no point in continuing this conversation if you will not educate yourself, but are only interested in blindly defending the Chinese government against any criticism. No wonder you don't recognize that Chinese face limits on their freedom of speech!

                            by Danjuma on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 11:15:49 PM PDT

    •  One group of

      non-white furriners being bashed for daring to compete with God's Chosen People is much the same as the next, from the bashers' point of view.

      The hysteria over the word "Dubai" on this site is yet another example of the racism endemic to labor movements, and it's hard to believe that the China-bashing is much different.

      by jxg on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:34:22 PM PDT

      •  Oh, dear

        I guess I had better not make any criticism of China, unless I'm colored. < /snark>

        Seriously, who on this board thinks Americans are God's chosen people? A lot of Kossacks don't even believe in God. China is no more exempt from criticism for union busting than Walmart is. Stop assuming that everyone's primary motivation for everything is racism. And if you think the labor movement is inherently racist, maybe you should read up on the Knights of Labor, the IWW, the CIO, the UMW and other unions that never had any color bar.

        by Danjuma on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:40:32 PM PDT

  •  I'm scared shit-less that my tooth-brush may be..

    poisoning me and I don't even know it.  Yeah oil is a dirty business, we know that it is and therefore it is not recommended that children play with it.

    by duckhunter on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:29:06 PM PDT

    •  So it's all perception?

      Pollution from hydrocarbons (coal as much as anything, actually, but anyways) IS killing many Americans.

      Your toothpaste probably less so.  

      But you do have a good point - and relatedly, why is the Canadian border closed to keep out mad cow meat after one or two incidents (not that the Canadians don't deserve it, sending us Celine Dion and all) but we keep importing Chinese shit after how many incidents . . . ?

      Yup, like someone else pointed out, I suppose it's hard to cut them off when they're financing the Iraq war . . . (made necessary to buy the oil - so the oil/China issue is really two sides of the same coin?)

      by Roadbed Guy on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:50:12 PM PDT

      •  Heh...

        Can you imagine what a mall in America would look like without Chinese-touched products?

        Like a grocery store in 1950s Russia.

        by Pluto on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:17:34 PM PDT

  •  both someone's obscenely wealthy lifestyle

    Those sweatshops and other advantages taken from those in China are most certainly padding Wal-Street pockets but aren't as exposed as oil's are.

    And, worse those who are benefitting the most are also not improving but rather contributing to and even causing miserably lives.

    One does not cancel the other out.

    by CSI Bentonville on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 06:52:56 PM PDT

•  Surprise! I thought it was more like 99.99%.

  Who knew? China-Mart sells 30% American made products - wait for the ad campaign bragging about this from the goons at Wal-Mart.

  by skrymir on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:51:10 PM PDT

  •  Well not 30%

    most of the clothes sold at Walmart come from south asia and central america.

    by prodigal on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:52:27 PM PDT

•  Doesn't 70% of US shop at Wal-Mart?

  So, who is really to blame?  1)The consumers who continually demand the lowest prices and the widest assortment, 2) the corporation meeting those needs, 3) the shareholders who demand a decent return on their investment or 4) the suppliers who must meet the demand of the consumer?

  Its the consumer who drives it all.  You have to blame them.

  Otherwise, dont stop with wal-mart.  Add K-Mart, Sears, Target and any other big box retailer around.

  by dcrolg on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:52:14 PM PDT

  •  There was a review

    of Robert Reich's last book on this subject here several months ago.  Sorry I can't find the link, it's been awhile, but he basically said that it is us, the consumers, that drove large companies towards globalization with our incessant demands for more, more, more - cheaper, cheaper, cheaper.

    Once upon a time (when Sam Walton was still alive and running the company), WalMart proudly sold made-in-America products almost exclusively.  After Mr. Walton's departure, his children and other minions changed the business model to that of a loss leader (always the lowest prices.  always.).  Doing so necessitated going overseas for manufactured consumer goods.

    by jarhead5536 on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:11:11 PM PDT

    •  And it has spiraled onward, thusly, eh?

      I'm afraid its here forever.
      thx for your reply.

      by dcrolg on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 07:39:18 PM PDT

•  LOL -- "communist" China

  Egad, that is such a Freeper title. China is always preceded by the adjective "communist" or "red."

  What's that about, anyway?

  by Pluto on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:55:46 PM PDT

  •  Communist China Today

    

    by Pluto on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:23:01 PM PDT

    •  Touche!

      

      by Sharon Jumper on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 05:02:38 PM PDT

      •  Heh, Sharon

        I just remembered you were there. Well, you ought to know.

        Cheers.

        by Pluto on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 07:47:03 PM PDT

•  Breaking News--China is capitalist

  ...and has been a one party capitalist state with lots of millionaires for quite some time.

  Where have you been, dear diarist?

  
  

  by skywriter on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:00:08 PM PDT

  •   Breaking news!

    China is still run by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

    They still consider themselves to be building Socialism [sic, read "Communism"] albeit with "Chinese characteristics." If you don't believe me, just ask them yourself.

    by Danjuma on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:04:55 PM PDT

    •  Jeesh, you say potato...

      I'm making money from investing with those communists. A lot more than the NYSE pays.

      by Pluto on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:14:51 PM PDT

      •  Republican Party calls itself Party of Lincoln

        anyone believe them?

        
        

        by skywriter on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:41:00 PM PDT

        •  Sure

          They remember that Lincoln once proposed deporting blacks.

          What China is doing has a lot in common with the state capitalist period of the USSR, better known as the New Economic Policy (NEP).

          by Danjuma on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:48:40 PM PDT

    •  Communist China is like

      compassionate conservative.  It is not what it seems.  The CCP is an elite group, not open to membership by just anyone.  You have to have connections.  Most young educated Chinese do not seek to join. Those who do are not interested in getting into the Party because of any political ideology. They want to use the connections to further their careers and get rich.

      Deng proclaimed it was ok to be rich and opened the floodgates of capitalism.  All big business and industry leaders are connected to the Party. The old system of "guanxi" is still in place.  Payoffs, bribes, connections, returning favors.  It is corruption and greed such as is epitomized in good old USA by the republican party.  Perhaps we should start calling it Republican China  

      by stoneboat on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:40:28 PM PDT

  •  capitalistic dictatorship

    Bush's dream state.

    by zootwoman on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 05:07:58 PM PDT

•  asdf

  Wal-Mart gets 70% of products from communist China

  as opposed to the  non-communist China?

  Lou Dobbs will be on soon.

  Oh, and Wallmart really do suck but cut the crappy foreigner hate linkage.

  by stevej on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:03:25 PM PDT

  •  Non Communist China

    is Taiwan.

    Come on people, there are international legal realities. Just because Bush doesn't understand them doesn't mean we can't.

    by Danjuma on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:05:58 PM PDT

•  See my sig line

  for how I feel about this.

  by Radiowalla on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:05:32 PM PDT

•  Walmart is simply adhering to the old adage

  better dead than red ink.

  by Bouwerie Boy on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:10:06 PM PDT

•  if it were not for groceries

  it might be in the high 90s

  by mollyd on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:13:54 PM PDT

  •  Might be surprised how much Chinese groceries

    Anything from canned Mandarin oranges and other to garlic (which has decimated U.S. growers) to processed tomatoes to a huge percentage of those "organic" foods Wal-Mart stocks not to mention much of the produce and oh the juice!

    Lots of basic ingredients such as tomato puree, grains, soybeans, and the huge percentage of apple juice which is what is the base of all those juices in the stores. All coming from China. All undercutting the often much superior items produced here.

    Hard to tell if it counts though for the percentages. Wal-Mart itself would not count products made in China by those suppliers with headquarters elsewhere such as Mattel, or even the bicycle manufacturer with the U.S. address Wal-Mart essentially created then contracted with so as to have a middle-man in between for Wal-Mart's dangerous crap (can't get sued for damages that way).

    by CSI Bentonville on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 06:47:53 PM PDT

•  Wake-Up Wal-Mart is a great organization

  Why Wal-Mart? There's a lot of different ways you can answer that question. You can talk about the negative impact they have on their workers. You can talk about the terrible effects they have on the community or the nation.

  But maybe this is the best way to understand:

  You're talking about a company with the economic power of Standard Oil and the values of Big Tobacco.

  -- Chris Kofinis, Wake-Up Wal-Mart.
  video source from Change to Win

  by mbair on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:28:05 PM PDT

•  That's why they need to fly

  such big American flag over their mega stores.

  To cover up the fact that they are a communist front organization.

  by greendem on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:28:41 PM PDT

•  Repeating Myself

  That's why it's called the Great Wall-Mart.

  by Limelite on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:29:06 PM PDT

•  I dont buy anything at wal mart

  nothing. I refuse to shop there.

  alot of the goods sold there are cheaper versions of the real product that use substandard materials. very common for their electric goods.

  I will never shop there again if i can possibly avoid it, neither should anyone else.

  by johnfire on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:35:50 PM PDT

•  I Haven't Been Inside A Wal Mart

  for nearly 10 years now. The problem however is no matter where else I shop, all I find are foreign made products.

  by post rational on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:43:21 PM PDT

•  Anyone Remember Walmart's "Made in America"

  advertising slogan.

  What, was it 5 or 6 years ago? Was it before that?

  by ROGNM on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:54:57 PM PDT

  •  It was about 15-20 years ago.

    Also, wasn't much of their "Made in the USA" primarily made in other countries, with a very minor part (like the tag) being made in the US?

    by msanthrope on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:34:00 PM PDT

    •  time flies (when you're having fun?)

      by ROGNM on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 06:53:11 AM PDT

•  Wal-mart isn't alone -- or even the worst

  While I agree that Wal-mart is a problem, and I have personally been on a Wal-mart boycott for more than 10 years, I am surprised that we don't hear more about this in connection with other retailers.

  Specifically, Home Shopping Network not only requires its vendors to use Chinese manufacturers, it "sets up" the deals. My family business has a product that was selected for a feature for HSN. But even though we had promoted our product as "Made in the USA," we were informed that we would have to deal with "their" manufacturers (in China). As it turns out, part of their money comes from acting as a broker bringing in new clients for Chinese companies. When we declined their generous offer, we were dropped from their schedule.

  by carolita on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:27:33 PM PDT

•  Isn't that about average for a retail store?

  Everything comes from China, and if it doesn't, it comes from India or Honduras. Basically, nothing is manufactured in the US today, so there is a chicken and egg conundrum.

  by msanthrope on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:31:49 PM PDT

  •  we don;t even make thread anymore.

    or fabric....where does our cotton sheeting come from?

    Pakistan's share of the US import market jumped from 30 per cent up to 40.23 per cent while China's stake in the US has grown from 17.72 percent to 26.67 per cent, both in volume terms.

    http://www.emergingtextiles.com/...

    In 1985 485 American shoe factories shuttered. I wonder how we will dress ourselves if the east west trading corridor is ever interrupted?

    by zootwoman on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 05:12:46 PM PDT

•  Oh yeah?

  Well I get zero percent of my products from Wal-Mart.

  by blue guitar on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:41:07 PM PDT