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# Posted 11:07 PM by Ariel David Adesnik

WAL-MART BASHING: I was surprised to see Kevin Drum join the chorus. He reacted fiercely to a recent column by Sebastian Mallaby that lashed out at Democrats for scapegoating Wal-Mart even though its low prices actually make life more affordable for its customers, including the working class and poor.

I was also surprised that Kevin, with his passion for facts and figures, didn't try to dismantle Mallaby's evidence, but instead proclaimed that since Bush has screwed the unions and the working class, it's OK to make Wal-Mart a target.

Mallaby cited two studies to support his position. One, by Jason Furman (a John Kerry economic adviser), says that Wal-Mart offers health benefits comparable to other employers. The other, by a pair of researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research, says that big box-stores reduce the average family's food bill by 25% and save American consumers around $200 billion per year.

Unfortunately, I haven't had time to read the papers yet, but if you have, please weigh in below and tell me what you think of their arguments.

UPDATE: Last December, Kevin linked to the same paper by Jason Furman that Mallaby cites. In the same post, Kevin also linked to three other liberal arguments in favor of Wal-Mart. Kevin offered no criticism then, but also no praise.

(15) opinions -- Add your opinion

Comments:

Am I the only to think that Kevin seems increasingly unconcerned about making arguments for whatever position he wants to take?

Furthermore, it is hard for me to imagine, from my vantage point in the heartland (Wisconsin), how WalMart-bashing is going to be a vote-winning strategy. Sometimes it just looks like the Dems will do anything to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

# posted by

Anonymous : 11:52 PM

Zogby claims that 85% of weekly Wal-Mart shoppers voted for Bush in 2004. I find that completely unbelievable. There are a lot of Wal-Marts in black areas of the South, for example. And a lot of Hispanics shop at Wal-Mart. 85%? No way. However, if that statistic is true, then it makes perfect sense for Democrats to go after Wal-Mart. What do they have to lose? If they were to force Wal-Mart to unionize, offer better health care, and consequently higher prices, then the only people who would seem to suffer would be cultural right-wingers in the exurban and rural South and Midwest who vote Republican. Sounds like a good strategy then. We are talking politics, after all.

# posted by

Anonymous : 11:59 PM

Leftists hates any institution/power structure they don't control. Ever notice how the MSM gave Abu Ghraib more attention than all recent soldiers who have won medals combined, times a hundred. Since you don't comprehend or acknowledge that basic fact it's no surprise that you are surprised Kevin Drum is joining the "chorus."

# posted by

Anonymous : 12:35 AM

No, I don't comprehend or acknowledge that basic "fact".

If one believes that morality and ethics are an integral component of American foreign policy, then the significance of Abu Ghraib is clear.

What happened to our detainees there and elsewhere is a challenge to all that America stands for.

# posted by

Ariel David Adesnik : 10:10 AM

"If one believes that morality and ethics are an integral component of American foreign policy, then the significance of Abu Ghraib is clear."

Yes it is. And my point clearly went over your head which is quite disturbing actually. Try reading again very carefully.

# posted by

Anonymous : 10:24 AM

Actually, your point didn't go over anyone's head. You didn't make a point.

I looked on stripes.com and didn't see any articles on medals. Is stripes.com part of the Liberal MSM? None on RedState either. Damn, those Liberals are everywhere.

# posted by

Anonymous : 10:57 AM

As for WalMart bashing - what else are the Dems offering progressives domestic policy wise? Dean's talking points this cycle are just classic Clintonian triangulation. You know, what he was supposed to put an end to.

This about bringing out the base to win an election, and Kevin Drum choose group solidarity over intellectual honesty. That's interesting, but is it surprising?

# posted by

Anonymous : 11:25 AM

From a customer's perspective, the UK could definitely use a few big box stores to break up the cozy conspiracy of high prices that seems to dominate everywhere here. Why should identical objects on amazon.co.uk cost twice what they do on amazon.com or amazon.ca?

# posted by

Anonymous : 11:38 AM

Milan,
Could it be shipping costs? Many of those books are probably coming from North America.

# posted by

Anonymous : 12:07 PM

Randy:

As I recall Costco principals are Democrat supporters.

Is Walmart so different from Costco. How many employees does Costco have.

How about some facts and figures relating to Costco.

Additionally, Costco' profit margin is the membership fee it charges.

# posted by

Anonymous : 5:21 PM

"I love the smell of hyperbole in the morning. It smells of desperation."

An appropriate description of the Left's bizarre animosity towards Wal-Mart.

# posted by

Anonymous : 9:48 PM

Let's keep the temperature down, OK?

Instead, let's celebrate great savings that both liberals and conservatives can enjoy at Wal-Mart and Costco. ;)

# posted by

Ariel David Adesnik : 10:53 PM

Thanks Randy. It's important to remember that Costco's business model resembles Sam's Club, not Wal-Mart. The comparison to Wal-Mart is Target and K-Mart, not Costco. Interesting that the Democratic head of Costco doesn't believe in paying himself so much, especially when he thinks the company has performed poorly. Accountability in the CEO's office? Impossible.

# posted by

Anonymous : 11:07 PM

"... Ever notice how the MSM gave Abu Ghraib more attention than all recent soldiers who have won medals combined, times a hundred. ..."

I thought this crap sounded familiar. This is from Rumsfeld's American Legion speech on Tuesday where he says that war critics are like Nazi appeasers. Rumsfeld's crap was:

"When a database search of America’s leading newspapers turns up 10 times as many mentions of one of the soldiers at Abu Ghraib who was punished for misconduct, than mentions of Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith, the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in the Global War on Terror."

Plagiarized crap.

There were 3 articles on stripes.com on Smith, including Rumsfeld's own speech. There were 204 articles mentioning Abu Ghraib.

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# posted by

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