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Would you shop at Wal-Mart if it was owned and operated by the government? (Original Post) moondust Apr 2013 OP
probably. PDJane Apr 2013 #1
Probably about as much as I do now - once every two months. el_bryanto Apr 2013 #2
Probably about as much as I do now -- Never. n/t RebelOne Apr 2013 #32
If it still sold slave labor goods, then no. Luminous Animal Apr 2013 #3
+1. Not to mention vast volumes of product that is destined for the landfill within a year... antigone382 Apr 2013 #33
It couldn't be worse than how it's being run right now ...empty shelves ...long lines n/t L0oniX Apr 2013 #4
Let me ask you: would you eat dog meat if it were eggplant? eomer Apr 2013 #5
If it had the same business practices... 99Forever Apr 2013 #6
Suppose it was run differently. moondust Apr 2013 #7
Then it wouldn't Walmart. 99Forever Apr 2013 #10
There used to be a GOCO called GEM Peregrine Apr 2013 #8
Where would the profits go--into the programs WE the people need Lex Apr 2013 #9
Yes. moondust Apr 2013 #14
Yeh, they could sell only American made, and call it US-Mart! US, as in Zorra Apr 2013 #11
if their employees were unionized as federal public employees... mike_c Apr 2013 #12
I spent a good deal of my childhood being hauled to military BXs LeftInTX Apr 2013 #13
I would shop at Walmart if they quit importing goods from China and treating workers like crap. Initech Apr 2013 #15
It wouldn't be Walmart anymore. idwiyo Apr 2013 #16
Well being a military brat and married to a retired military man I'd say hell yes I would. southernyankeebelle Apr 2013 #17
i would/would not shop there for the same reasons as with Walmart JI7 Apr 2013 #18
No. Big box stores shouldn't be run by the government, but they should be better Cleita Apr 2013 #19
You are kind of asking..... NCTraveler Apr 2013 #20
Heavens, no. I went into one - once. DollarBillHines Apr 2013 #21
Kind of the US version of ГУМ (GUM). MineralMan Apr 2013 #22
Yes, that. moondust Apr 2013 #24
It's still in operation, but now is privately-owned. MineralMan Apr 2013 #25
Gosudarstvennyi Universal'nyi Magazin lanlady Apr 2013 #26
Sure, but retail stores are exactly the kind of thing that should be private. Markets are not, Egalitarian Thug Apr 2013 #23
Would I vacation in Newark if it was Paris? Bluenorthwest Apr 2013 #27
Sorry. moondust Apr 2013 #28
Yes, I shop at Wal Mart for some things. For groceries I shop at King Soopers. Autumn Apr 2013 #29
It's already owned and operated by the government - the Chinese Government leveymg Apr 2013 #30
sure, if prices were kept low due to lack of profit motive librechik Apr 2013 #31

el_bryanto

(11,804 posts)
2. Probably about as much as I do now - once every two months.
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 03:34 PM
Apr 2013

They have the best selection of cool-aid where i happen to live - so go in, buy 20-30 packets and leave.

Bryant

antigone382

(3,682 posts)
33. +1. Not to mention vast volumes of product that is destined for the landfill within a year...
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 05:47 PM
Apr 2013

...as roughly 90% of U.S. purchases are. We cannot produce all of this sustainably.

moondust

(19,917 posts)
7. Suppose it was run differently.
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:03 PM
Apr 2013

Because it doesn't have to play the Wall Street game, let's say the profits would not go into giant CEO salaries and bonuses and advertising but would instead go into employee salaries and benefits. And maybe try to sell more stuff Made in USA.

99Forever

(14,524 posts)
10. Then it wouldn't Walmart.
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:07 PM
Apr 2013

My beef with Walmart is about their business practices and the disastrous effect it had on everyday Americans, not who owns them. They aren't the only shitty corporation that has kicked us in the teeth, just the largest.

Peregrine

(992 posts)
8. There used to be a GOCO called GEM
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:05 PM
Apr 2013

"Government Employee Market." It was a membership store where you had to be a government employee and you paid a small annual fee. Prices on goods were pretty reasonable.

Lex

(34,108 posts)
9. Where would the profits go--into the programs WE the people need
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:06 PM
Apr 2013

and to infrastructure, education, public health, etc?

moondust

(19,917 posts)
14. Yes.
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:20 PM
Apr 2013

Employee salaries and benefits, public good, whatever. It would not go to private investors.

Zorra

(27,670 posts)
11. Yeh, they could sell only American made, and call it US-Mart! US, as in
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:13 PM
Apr 2013

United States, and us, as in you and me. US-Mart.

mike_c

(36,214 posts)
12. if their employees were unionized as federal public employees...
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:17 PM
Apr 2013

...with a living wage and decent benefits, then I might. Not that interested in buying cheap crap though, so they'd have to offer something I need/want to buy. Other than that, my biggest impediment to shopping at Walmart is the way they treat their employees.

LeftInTX

(24,554 posts)
13. I spent a good deal of my childhood being hauled to military BXs
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:17 PM
Apr 2013

It was always a treat to go shopping off base. They didn't have "cool stuff" on base either.

But now that I'm old and "uncool", I would shop there.

 

southernyankeebelle

(11,304 posts)
17. Well being a military brat and married to a retired military man I'd say hell yes I would.
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:27 PM
Apr 2013

You can get alot of good deals. Especially if you go to the commissary and buy bulk canned veggies. Some good buys. But I don't go as much now because we don't live near a base. I do go around the holidays and can find some great deals.

JI7

(89,177 posts)
18. i would/would not shop there for the same reasons as with Walmart
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:27 PM
Apr 2013

how they treat employees, whether they have what i want, whether i have other choices etc.

most people who shop are walmart do so becuase of lack of choices now. even the poor are avoiding them if they can go somewhere else because they actually end up spending more because of crappy products.

places like target offer a better shopping experience if you want to go to that type of store.

walmart just looks like crap also. there is nothing appealing about it. it looks depressing. and the don't seem to have some basic products i usually buy anyways.

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
19. No. Big box stores shouldn't be run by the government, but they should be better
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:28 PM
Apr 2013

regulated, keeping them smaller and more competitive with mom and pop stores. I would like to see a state bank to compete with the private ones though.

DollarBillHines

(1,922 posts)
21. Heavens, no. I went into one - once.
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:38 PM
Apr 2013

I found that place to be depressing and dehumanizing. Today, I feel truly sorry for those among who have no choice but to shop at WM.

For those who actively choose WM over local businesses, I have only contempt.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
22. Kind of the US version of ГУМ (GUM).
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:42 PM
Apr 2013

Properly spelled as ГУМ. Pronounced Goom. Note: Your browser may not support Cyrillic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUM_(department_store)

Not a great idea, I think.

moondust

(19,917 posts)
24. Yes, that.
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:54 PM
Apr 2013

Only the GUM was stuck behind the Iron Curtain with little access to goods and services outside the Eastern Bloc, a fact which surely contributed to the demise of the USSR. Russians were starved for consumer goods, i.e. Levis, etc.

A government-run big box store in the U.S. obviously wouldn't have that problem, though there may be some others.

(Cyrillic intact.)

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
25. It's still in operation, but now is privately-owned.
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:55 PM
Apr 2013

A pretty spectacular, but very pricey shopping experience, I understand. I've not been to Moscow, more's the pity.

 

Egalitarian Thug

(12,448 posts)
23. Sure, but retail stores are exactly the kind of thing that should be private. Markets are not,
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 04:44 PM
Apr 2013

in and of themselves, evil. There is a place for private enterprise and it does produce some very beneficial results.

moondust

(19,917 posts)
28. Sorry.
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 05:28 PM
Apr 2013

Your reply makes no sense.

But it was an interesting attempt at summary dismissal. That you, Mr. Duke?

Autumn

(44,762 posts)
29. Yes, I shop at Wal Mart for some things. For groceries I shop at King Soopers.
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 05:36 PM
Apr 2013

And often stop in at our small local market.

leveymg

(36,418 posts)
30. It's already owned and operated by the government - the Chinese Government
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 05:45 PM
Apr 2013

and a group of American front men and cut-outs for passbacks of political slush and influence money, most of which goes to the GOP.

The answer remains, No.

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