CORPORATE AMERICA

As you read I was over SOGS's house last night. Something was mentioned about boycotting Wal-mart. I of course pipe in and the conversation gets heated. However this isn't unheard of when the BRADY BUNCH is around. Once one of the 6 get an idea in their head that's it for anyone who disagrees. They all rally around that idea. The boycott is over (from what I remember) Wal-mart having shady business practices that effect their employees.

For some reason most people in the BRADY BUNCH clan really don't think I have a good understanding of the world. I work and live in Corporate America. I've been laid off by Corporate America. Wal-mart is the leader of Corporate America. My argument was that if you are going to Boycott Wal-mart then you have to boycott all of Corporate America. Much easier said than done considering most everything we purchase or the services that we use are brought to us by Corporate America. Not to mention that most of us are employed by Corporate America. After all I have tried to work for the small business but they could not offer me the benefits that I so need in order to protect my family. Yes medical, dental, 401K with matching, disability, life insurance....These are all things that I need in order to maintain a healthy life for my family. Considering I had been a single parent for so long. Not to mention the one time in many years that I worked for the small business (after being laid off from Corporate America) that did not provide dependent medical benefits I incurred over $20K in medical expenses. And of course after having to file Bankruptcy I went back to Corporate America to insure this didn't happen again. My wages may be slightly less but the benefits are worth it.
We know that Wal-mart is the #1 leader in Corporate America. They have sent many jobs across seas in order to provide the consumer lower prices. Why is this....The consumer asked for this. We all want something for as little as possible. Yes I am guilty of that. However, Wal-mart is only one of thousands of Corporations that practice these business standards. Every corporation that I have worked for has done the same thing. I know that a few of the BRADY BUNCH clan were saying that the corporations they work for don't practice these standards. I challenge them to look a little deeper. In this day and age there is no possible way they can't and still compete with the rest of Corporate America.
Let's also look at the fact that Wal-mart is the largest employer in American. However the BRADY BUNCH clan claims they don't pay their employees standard wages. Do we really think that employees of a non-unionized BRAND X retail store is paying or offering more benefits than Wal-mart.? Here is my point of view on this. If you choose to work for a retail store such as Wal-mart but you feel you are paid to little move to a unionized retail store. They do exist. I've worked some of the worst paying jobs before. However, I was able to move through a chain in order to get to a more competitive wage. Now that I think about it I don't know anyone that works for Wal-mart. Why is that? Are maybe my friends a little smarter than that? I do know people that work for unionized retail stores. Again we have choices.
This brings us back to boycotting Wal-mart. Yes this is the BRADY BUNCH and COOLeen's choice. And I fully respect that. Hopefully they respect my opinion. Which in a recap is if you are going to boycott Wal-mart you must boycott Corporate America. I am a true believer in employee rights. I also believe that the best defense against Corporate America is entrepreneurship. Way to go SOGS and SISTER in staring their catering business. I know personally they treat their employees well. Now we have to get the rest of us on board. In the meantime I will not give up my right to shop lower prices. Especially in a time where I feel lucky to have not only one job but two. A job that provides me with decent benefits. And the choice to look else where if I choose to do so. Of course once I do become an Entrepreneur I will then be all about employer rights because it’s all about me.