Having tossed his hat towards, if not in, the ring, Obama is inevitably coming under intense scrutiny, as are those around him. Recent reports show that his mother’s ties to Wal-Mart may prove troubling for the man who, along with all Democrats, would like to bring down, not only one of the largest employers in America, but a company that makes common goods affordable to everyone. In addition, it’s apparent that her “aw, shucks,” I’m just one of you economically attitude is full of a few hundred thousand dollars in holes. Read about it here.
As an aside, have you ever wondered if the animus towards Wal-Mart goes beyond union pandering? Wal-Mart allows everyone to have TVs, and cool sneakers, and video cameras, and trendy items in their homes, etc. That is, with Wal-Mart, you don’t need to be rich to have a home rich in America’s luxury items. No Wal-Mart, no luxury items, creating a dramatic divide between the halves and have nots — and bringing America closer to the yawning class divide that preceded the French and Russian Revolutions, and much further away from the “we’ve all got TVs” camaraderie of modern America. (By the way, I’m really not advancing a conspiracy theory here. I’m just toying around with what happens if the Dems do bring down Wal-Mart.)
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Hi Bookworm, I shop at Wal-Mart and at Sam’s (which is a Wal-Mart club) but not exclusively. I shop there to save money. When I save more money elsewher, I shop elsewhere. I did, however oppose (as in, show up at the City Council Meeting with a No Wal-Mart sign and speech in hand) a Wal-mart that was to be built in a given location in Winston-Salem. It was in an area that is mostly residential but zoned for light business and only five miles (as the crow flies, and I’m no crow) from an existing Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart deserves it fair share of the markey, but not everyone’s share. And as you know, I am a Democrat. BTW, Wal-Mart attorneys withdrew their application for a permit to build at that location. When they applied for a permit to build elsewhere in the city, I did not attend the meeting. What I really hate about shopping at Wal-Mart is the screaming kids. I don’t encounter this phenomenon at grocery stores. Mybe I’m just too old for this.
I’ll agree with everything in your post, except for screaming children bit because (a) I’ve never been to a Wal-Marts, since my community has effectively blocked Wal-Mart from coming in and (b) I’ve been the guilty parent, in the past, of some of those store screamers.
One method to classwarfare, institutional or not, is that if you can create a sense of dissatisfaction amongst the populace, you can gain power. Creating a problem, and then solving that problem yourself because you created the problem in the first place, is an age old technique to gain support and good reputation.
Right you are ymarsakar. Being from NC, I was fairly amused at John Edwards and John Kerry talking about two Americas, the poor working people and the “evil rich”. John Edwards—$63 million John Kerry—-$773 million
Which group are they? Yes, Edwards told the story of his poor ole dad working at the textile mill, but he failed to mention his own work. Other than to brag about suing insurance companies and driving up all of our health insurance rates. Fomenting class jealousy has always been a tactic of the Democrats.
Edwards also used his connections to get a PS3. From Walmart I believe. Interesting for such a class conscious individual.
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That’s the Chicago way! Once you demonstrate that you have “clout”, all kinds of side-opportunities fall into your lap from the Illinois “machine” (which is bi-partisan, by the way). They take care of their own but just don’t forget “who brung you to the dance”. I recall reading that Rahm Emanuel “earned” $40-million in his first year in the investment banking industry after leaving the Clinton Administration – a record earning for someone with no prior experience in the industry. What incredibly talented individuals they are.