Critics not sold on Wal-Mart ;U.S. Rep. Brown's forum weighs whether

[Algorem]

giant is good, bad for U.S.

http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business/1127208885165580.xml&coll=2

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Alison Grant
Plain Dealer Reporter

A congressional forum on Wal-Mart's business model examined whether its everyday low prices are costing the country too much.

The nearly two-hour hearing Monday at Cleveland Marshall College of Law, organized by U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Avon, was based on the idea that Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s sheer size and its practice of squeezing suppliers and employees to lower costs makes it a formidable influence on the American economy.

Older corporate kings such as General Motors, Boeing, IBM and General Electric made things, paid well and invested in America, Brown said. Wal-Mart's innovation is mastery of the global supply chain.
It doesn't pay particularly well, and it encourages the decline of U.S. manufacturing and the movement of jobs overseas, he said. Wal-Mart, which was not invited to the hearing, called it a rehash of claims that it has already addressed.

Brown's office said it didn't invite the company so it could keep the focus on small businesses and workers, but it plans to invite Wal-Mart to any future forums...

[tomreedtoon]

1. Now it's the Wal-Mart College of Law!

Just purchased. This hearing has now become a training session on how to intimidate unions and deny workers raises. Remember, tomorrow belongs...er, depends on us!