10-09-2005 22:08									#1
	But, but...Walmart is EVIL! Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Look at what private company is doing the heavy lifting after Katrina:

Follow the link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...5090501598.html

quote: While state and federal officials have come under harsh criticism for their handling of the storm’s aftermath, Wal-Mart is being held up as a model for logistical efficiency and nimble disaster planning, which have allowed it to quickly deliver staples such as water, fuel and toilet paper to thousands of evacuees. In Brookhaven, Miss., for example, where Wal-Mart operates a vast distribution center, the company had 45 trucks full of goods loaded and ready for delivery before Katrina made landfall. To keep operating near capacity, Wal-Mart secured a special line at a nearby gas station to ensure that its employees could make it to work. Wal-Mart has much to gain though its conspicuous largesse -- it has hundreds of stores in Gulf Coast states and an image problem across the country -- but even those who have criticized the company in the past are impressed.

So, anyone in favour here for more government?

	10-09-2005 22:09									#2
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We should contract FEMA out to Walmart, clearly.

	10-09-2005 22:13									#3
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YES!

EDIT: D'oh. Rest of my reply:

This plus $17 million in cash given plus millions given that are collected at Wal Marts across the US

Yesterday I went in Wal Mart to buy something. They had DVDs for $1, so I figured, "hey, I MUST get that," and it was Groucho Marx. I'm going to watch it later today to see if it's any good...the back of the DVD case said "It one of TV's most popular game show." but for $1, hey, isn't that cheaper than it costs to even just make a DVD and a case for it?

No running screaming kids, no messes in the aisles, everything nice and clean and shiny, and the cashier made nice small talk.

	10-09-2005 22:15									#4
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* DinoDoc waits for the cognative dissonance to cause some heads here to explode

	10-09-2005 22:17									#5
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If cognitive dissonance could have that effect half of the OT would be dead by now.

	10-09-2005 22:18									#6
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quote: Originally posted by Kuciwalker If cognitive dissonance could have that effect half of the OT would be dead by now.

Nope, it's just that some people can live without their heads.

	10-09-2005 22:33									#7
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"The trouble with liberals is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so."

- Ronald Reagan

	10-09-2005 22:43									#8
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"[omfg i want to suck off Ronald Reagan]"

-Winston

	10-09-2005 22:45									#9
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Well done to Walmart for helping some people in a very small way.

	10-09-2005 22:46									#10
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quote: While state and federal officials have come under harsh criticism for their handling of the storm’s aftermath, Wal-Mart is being held up as a model for logistical efficiency and nimble disaster planning, which have allowed it to quickly deliver staples such as water, fuel and toilet paper to thousands of evacuees.

	10-09-2005 23:00									#11
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quote: Originally posted by Sandman Well done to Walmart for helping some people in a very small way.

"very small way"? You should have tried following the link and reading the article...

quote: Clinton, who is leading a hurricane relief fundraising effort with Bush, said he hoped Wal-Mart's plan to allow relocating employees to take jobs at Wal-Marts across the country "will give some guidance to our members of Congress." The praise comes at a time when the chain faces a series of lawsuits over allegations of wage-and-hour-law violations and gender discrimination. But the chain's huge scale is suddenly an advantage in providing disaster relief. The same sophisticated supply chain that has turned the company into a widely feared competitor is now viewed as exactly what the waterlogged Gulf Coast needs. The Bentonville, Ark., company is rushing to set up mini-Wal-Marts in storm-ravaged areas, handing out clothing, diapers, baby wipes, toothbrushes and food. With police escorts, it delivered two truckloads of ice and water into New Orleans. It is shipping 150 Internet-ready computers to shelters caring for evacuees. [

	10-09-2005 23:09									#12
	Re: But, but...Walmart is EVIL! Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

I can't remember Wal-Mart was ever criticised for being inefficient.

Brillant PR campaign nevertheless.

	10-09-2005 23:09									#13
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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.

	10-09-2005 23:10									#14
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quote: Thousands, eh? What's that, half a percent of the affected area?

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

	10-09-2005 23:11									#15
	Re: Re: But, but...Walmart is EVIL! Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by Urban Ranger I can't remember Wal-Mart was ever criticised for being inefficient. Brillant PR campaign nevertheless.

If good works motivated by social expectations don't count, 99.9% of charity is bogus.

	10-09-2005 23:30									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Kuciwalker quote: 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.

	10-09-2005 23:43									#17
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quote: Brillant PR campaign nevertheless.

"PR campaign"

-1/10

	11-09-2005 00:14									#18
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quote: 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?

	11-09-2005 00:50									#19
	Re: But, but...Walmart is EVIL! Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: 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.

	11-09-2005 00:54									#20
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And yet this efficient planning was the result of market forces, Aggie.

	11-09-2005 01:20									#21
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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.

	11-09-2005 01:27									#22
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More government

More Wal Mart

	11-09-2005 01:30									#23
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quote: 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?

	11-09-2005 01:57									#24
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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.

	11-09-2005 02:06									#25
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quote: 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

	11-09-2005 02:11									#26
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quote: 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.

	11-09-2005 02:17									#27
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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.

	11-09-2005 02:19									#28
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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.

	11-09-2005 02:21									#29
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Thank you Mr. Obvious.

	11-09-2005 02:22									#30
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

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