Kerry assails Wal-Mart Kerry assails Wal-Mart over health policies

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry pitched his health insurance plan to a small business Friday while blasting the nation's largest private employer for its "disgraceful" treatment of employees.

The Massachusetts senator was explaining his plan to workers at Russound when one asked how he could help part-time employees of large retail chains who are ineligible for benefits.

Linda Mariotti didn't mention a particular chain, but Kerry did, accusing Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of luring workers in with the promise of health insurance then urging them to enroll in government health programs for the poor.

"They advertise Medicaid for their workers rather than provide them absolutely with the help. I think it's disgraceful, and I think we need a president who's prepared to help shed light," Kerry said. "I think Wal-Mart's health care practices are unconscionable, and the way they treat employees is not fair."

Wal-Mart and other companies that employ such practices should be punished by losing some of their tax deductions, Kerry said.

"They throw a lot of money around, they get a lot of things happening, but it ain't necessarily good for the community," he said. "We need to stand up and demand they behave corporately responsibly."
http://www.theunionleader.com/prez_show.html?article=27479

FYI, Wal-Mart is the world's largest corporation, according to Fortune Magazine (http://www.fortune.com/fortune/information/Presscenter/0,,07072003GA,00.html)

[blm]

1. GOOD! I hate those mo-fos.....

I've been calling them about their policies and promotion of rightwing religious books for almost 3 years now.

[northernsoul]

2. THANK YOU, Senator Kerry!

I'm convinced that the next wave of the labor movement will need to be born amongst the people getting screwed by the "Big Box" retailers.

More power to Kerry for telling the truth!

[CWebster]

3. So....what was Kerry's position on trade again?

Walmart ain't nothing more than an outlet for cheap Chinese trinkets. Walmart hailing from Arkansas-where Ms Hillary sat on the board, and when Clinton pursued trade with China, Walmart came roaring into every smalltown America and destroyed local economies. Cuba should count it's blessings that it hasn't got trade with the US, after all, we are searching for slave labor and someone else's land to pollute, so we can throw a bone or two to keep the masses happy and still reap in the profits.

And Senator Kerry believes that imposing some humane standards on third world sweatshops ain't good for the US economy. Hey, it might cut into profits.

Kerry speaks out of both sides of his mouth.

[George_Bonanza]

4. Kerry

"Third, we must be more realistic about expectations for short- and long-term progress. Concluding a WTO agreement with China was a short-term goal. Promoting human rights and change in China is a long-term objective, and success or failure is not simply a function of our bilateral relationship.

We must realize that China’s fractious history and desire to maintain power has embedded in its leaders a deep-rooted fear of too much rapid change and a resistance to anything that might undermine stability and cohesion. Due to this tendency, our ability to influence China varies—a point that policymakers in both the executive branch and the Congress must understand and convey more clearly to the U.S. public. For this reason, a pragmatic U.S. approach to China must include multilateral efforts.

Finally, we must be prepared to hold China accountable for its actions. When proliferation agreements or human rights are violated, we must invoke the enforcement mechanisms within international institutions such as the Geneva Human Rights Commission, the International Labor Organization, or soon the WTO, as well as enforce our own domestic laws." - John Kerry

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. Kerry on trade

(2) STRONG ENFORCEABLE TRADE THAT WORKS FOR AMERICA. The Bush Administration has not cracked down on countries that are avoiding trade laws or manipulating currency. President Bush has supported cutting funds for trade enforcement, despite the fact that we need more enforcement of trade laws to stop the manufacturing job drain. Some Democrats pretend that we can close our doors to the global economy. John Kerry believes we need strong leadership to assure that the global economy works for America.

• Assure Trading Partners Play by the Rules. Some nations have consistently violated agreements by the World Trade Organization. They have taken unfair actions to block U.S auto companies from selling in their markets. Many products from China are counterfeit or don’t meet industry standards. While this Administration has not used the remedies available under the World Trade Organization to crack down on these violations and help U.S industries, John Kerry would.

• Stop Countries from Manipulating Currency. China, Japan and other nations have purposely kept their currency undervalued relative to the U.S. dollar to promote exports in the United States and undermine U.S. products abroad. John Kerry believes we must use the full force of the World Trade Organization to take on countries that are manipulating their currency to undermine U.S. exports.

• Enforce and Strengthen Intellectual Property Protections. In the 21st economy, the U.S. relies more heavily on international partnerships and joint ventures. Intellectual property protections are essential in this environment so that companies can share their technology without losing control of it.

• Break Down Barriers in Key Export Markets. This Administration has done little to open key export markets in places like Japan and Korea. Some countries use non-tariff barriers, such as making it difficult to access finance or have obscure investment requirements, to undermine U.S. exports. For example, auto exports to Japan are still essentially blocked by complicated rules. John Kerry would use all the available tools, including Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, WTO remedies, and diplomatic measures to open these markets.

• Review Existing Trade Agreements. John Kerry will also order an immediate 120 day review of all existing trade agreements to ensure that our trade partners are living up to their labor and environment obligations and that trade agreements are enforceable and are balanced for America’s workers. He will consider necessary steps if they are not. And John Kerry will not sign any new trade agreements until the review is complete and its recommendations put in place. He believes all new trade agreements must have strong labor and environmental standards.
http://www.johnkerry.com/news/releases/pr_2003_0922b.html



Protect a Clean Environment in Trade Agreements: John Kerry believes that free trade agreements should include provisions to protect the labor and environmental standards so that international agreements do not undermine our clean air and water. He would negotiate agreements that grow the economy and create jobs but do not open a backdoor attack on our environmental standards.
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/environment_position.html


As President, I’ll take on the countries that are manipulating their currency to undermine American exports. These countries are supposed to be playing by the same rules as we do and they’ll feel the full force of our trade laws if they don’t. I will open markets in key export areas for manufacturing – like Japan and China. I will make sure that if we have to lower our tariffs, our competitors have to do the same. We don’t need idle talk – we need action – and we need it now.

I’ll order an immediate 120 day review of all existing trade agreements to ensure our trading partners are living up to their labor and environmental obligations – to make sure these agreements are enforceable and to put us on a level playing field. And I will not sign any new trade agreements until the review is done and its recommendations are in place.

And I will appoint a U.S. Trade Representative who is an American patriot and who will put American jobs first.

But here’s what I won’t do, I won’t pander and claim that America can retreat from the global economy. We can’t. Unfortunately, some in my party – like Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt – are telling people just that. Anyone who tells voters they’re going to build a fence high enough to keep out foreign competition isn’t offering an economic strategy – he’s selling a bill of goods.

Governor Dean has said repeatedly that America should not trade with countries that haven’t reached our own environmental and labor standards. I will assure strong labor and environmental standards, but his approach would mean we couldn’t sell a single car anywhere in the developing world. One hundred years ago this month, Henry Ford sold his first car overseas – to a businessman in South Africa. And it wouldn’t make much sense if America could trade with Africa in 1903, but not in 2003. Those markets mean American jobs.

The unfortunate thing is that Howard Dean knows that what he’s proposing is just not possible and that it would send our economy into a tailspin. Manufacturing workers are right to be worried about their jobs and it is wrong to play on their fears instead of offering them hope for a brighter future. Anger and attacks are all well and good, but when it comes to our jobs we need a President who can build a barn and not just kick it down. Give American workers a level playing field and they can beat workers anywhere else in the world everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. As President, I’m going to give them that chance.
http://www.johnkerry.com/news/speeches/spc_2003_0922.html

[sfecap]

6. Think he'll go to the shareholders meeting...

...and give 'em hell?

After all, he and Teresa are stockholders in Wal Mart.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. I think he'll be more effective giving 'em hell from the White House

[sfecap]

9. Good point. LOL.

'Course he'll only be there as a guest of President Dean. :-)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. Time will tell

and I think DU is getting more ABB every day...

[polpilot]

11. Kerry: Owned by the Walmarts of the World. Pontificating Kerry, supporter

of the internationalists, $$$ supplied by migrant tomato pickers, offended by the plight of Wal-mart workers. Truly a man of greatness, immune to monied interests. Kerry, The Great Defender of Democracy.

I'm 'captivated'.

Dean '04...The New Democratic Leader of The NEW Democratic Party.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. Your attacks are getting less coherent.

Come on, put some more thought into it.

[polpilot]

13. One's lack of understanding hardly indicates 'incoherence'.

Dean '04...The New Democratic Leader of The NEW Democratic Party.

[Pez]

15. obviously that isn't a problem...

...if he's railing walmart.

could you give me a link where you get all his stock holding information?

[tokenlib]

8. We need Wal-Mart brought up more and more.

Wal-Mart is now the largest private employer in the country. As such it is capable of setting trends in employee benefits and treatment that can extend much too far.

Wal-Mart need to be put under vigilent scrutiny.

Any attempts to improve the health care situation in the country are doomed to failure unless irresponsible corporations like Walmart are force to behave responsibly.

[burr]

14. finally..Kerry has my attention.

if he is willing to propose the elimination of all tax deductions to huge, abusive companies that don't need them, I might reconsider my views of Kerry. Most of these companies suck the life out of locally owned businesses and give little back to the economy in return, so why do we give them special tax treatment?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. I don't know if this is enough for you

as you said "elimination of all tax deductions to huge, abusive companies" -- and I'm not sure any President could do that. But you might want to take a look at Kerry's positions on corporate loopholes:

CLOSE CORPORATE LOOPHOLES


Restore Investor Confidence With Strong Enforcement by the Securities and Exchange Commission: John Kerry will fund strong budgets and assure strong enforcement by the SEC.

Stop Corporations From Keeping Bank Accounts in Countries like Bermuda to Avoid Paying Taxes. John Kerry believes that American companies should not be allowed to set up virtual headquarters in foreign countries that are hardly more than mailboxes just to avoid paying U.S. taxes.

Assure Corporations Account for Disparities on the Books. A recent Joint Committee on Taxation report found that Enron claimed a $2.3 billion in profit between 1996 and 1999 in reports to its investors, while reporting a $3 billion tax loss to the IRS. John Kerry believes corporations should have to account these kinds of disparities.

Stop Giving Government Contracts to Corporations Breaking the Rules. The Federal government should not give lucrative contracts to companies that have a record of accounting fraud – like WorldCom – or are moving offshore.

End Unfair Protections for CEOs. Executives should not be walking away with millions of dollars in salaries and benefits while their workers are laid off their companies are defaulting on loans. Kerry would tighten the laws that allow corporations to take advantage of tax deductions for performance based executive pay – even when executives do nothing to improve productivity.
http://www.johnkerry.com/news/releases/pr_2003_0915b.html

[George_Bonanza]

17. Glad to hear it