Heinz Endowments aids Wal-Mart fight

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/pittsburgh/s_187791.html

A group that has stymied plans to build a $28 million Wal-Mart Supercenter in Kilbuck now has a powerful name in its corner.

The Heinz Endowments has given $36,000 to Communities First!, a group of about 300 residents opposed to the discount giant's plans to build on the former Dixmont State Hospital site in Kilbuck. The grant makes up nearly two-thirds of the $56,000 Communities First! has raised so far.

<snip>

Among Wal-Mart's critics is Teresa Heinz Kerry, chairman of the Heinz Endowments and wife of Sen. John Kerry, the likely Democratic presidential nominee. She came under fire last month when she criticized the retailer, saying its stores "destroy communities."

Heinz Kerry once owned between $1 million and $5 million in Wal-Mart stock. Neither she nor her husband now owns stock in the corporation, Kerry campaign spokeswoman Christine Anderson said Friday.

[Florida_Geek]

1. Walmart under Sam was a different company

IMHO, it is now just greedy.

[rfkrocks]

6. your right

these kids have destroyed walmart and have turned into the great monster of american business-gobbling up supermarkets and stores galore while selling crap and treating employees like dirt-time for citizens to spend their money elsewhere

[ultramega]

8. Not true.

Palast has in his book Sam telling 8 of his dock workers that if they tried to start a union they would be fired on the spot. Wal-mart has always been about making people feel like they are part of "the American Way" a fake ideology, the way we never were, that if it ever exised at all, certainly was stamped out by the Reagan years. It's that whole fake fifties mentality, and it's a facade. I think Sam Walton knew people hungered for that us vs. them feeling, so he made it part of his brand. But it was never real.

[alittlelark]

11. I think you are right,

we like to say that Sam Walton would be' turning over in his grave', but I think he was just much more careful with his image than his raised-rich greedy kids are. By the way, :hi:

[aquart]

2. Interesting lady.

Not a cookie baker. Never been to Stepford.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

3. I'd rather elect Teresa Heinz Kerry than her husband. n/t

[DBoon]

7. Rodham/Heinz is the perfect presidential ticket!

n/t

[havocmom]

9. that'd get neocon panties in a knot

and get the nation back on course . But first, we need to work a electing congress critters who would get in the game too.

And never, never underestimate the importance of local office holders. We need to take back the school boards in America too. There are way too many districts catering to the far right fundies on issues which should not be considered in public schools. I fear they are working very hard to raise a generation of Hitler Youths. Stop the indoctrination: pay attention to school board candidates even if you don't have kids in school.

[frank frankly]

4. good

great, actually!

[wryter2000]

5. That's my first lady eom

eom

[arikara]

10. I like her more all the time

I'm still not so sure about John Kerry though. He says the right things but that skull and bones thing just gives me shivers up the spine.