Democrats Vs. Wal-Mart

[globalvillage]

Has anyone read this George Will column? It was accompanied in the Post-Gazette today by a photo of Wal-Mart shopping carts with the caption "John Kerry doesn't shop here."

snip
Which vexes liberals such as John Kerry. (He and his helpmate last shopped at Wal-Mart when?) In 2004 he tested what has become one of the Democrats' 2006 themes: Wal-Mart is, he said, "disgraceful" and symbolic of "what's wrong with America." By now Democrats have succeeded, to their embarrassment (if they are susceptible to that), in making the basic numbers familiar:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/13/AR2006091301573_pf.html

WTF, BTW does "helpmate" mean? (I corrected the spelling to what appears in the PG print edition, which is not posted online).

I'm considering a LTTE.

[StoryTeller]

1. Helpmate

I'm afraid I can supply a definition for you, GV.

"Helpmate" is a distortion of a phrase from the King James Bible describing the first woman-- "a help meet for him"--which modern Bible translation phrase something like, "a helper suitable for him."

Never mind that "help meet" AND "helper suitable" are both incredibly inaccurate and inadequate translations--I'll spare you that particular academic rant. But somewhere along the line, "help meet" became "helpmate" which became a rather odd term for "wife."

What a stupid word choice. They ought to have just said "wife" or used her name, for crying out loud.

[globalvillage]

2. That is exactly my point.

It's an archaic term and totally unsuitable.

[karynnj]

4. That explains it - in my paper he used helpmeet

which I had never seen. I think he's trying - and failing- to be clever. I agree, wife, would work quite well. For some reasons the Republicans have a problem with the fact that a very wealthy, brilliant, beautiful Republican widow, who they wanted to run for the PA Senate seat, fell in love and married not only a Democrat, but one they've hated for years.

The other point is that whether John and Teresa ever shop at Wal Mart was not his issue, that they don't pay health benefits for most of their employees and other problem were the issue.

[wisteria]

3. I don't care for his term for THK or the way he drags Senator Kerry

into this. He is definite out to promote WalMart whom I personally dislike for the way they do business. You should write to G. Will or better yet address something to the editors that more will read. Walmart has so many customers because in many places where they set up shop, it is the only place to shop. Walmart has put many smaller business's out of business. They are able to create more jobs because they are constantly building in rual areas and more or less monopolizing the towns. They offer disproportionately, more part time jobs that full time and those part time jobs offer no benefits- especially health care. If Walmart's employees don't get health coverage from Walmart where do you think they get coverage from. They certainly can't afford private insurance. Walmart is getting richer by forcing the American taxpayer to pay for health care and the other needs of their part time employees. there product lines consist over whelming ly of imported goods bought at steep discounts, the profits of which are kept from the customer and the many part-time employees. Any way, Walmart deserves the criticism. And Will is wrong to assume that those people in Kansas are so stuck on their Walmart's with the jobs and pricing they offer, that they do not have concerns about Walmart's takeovers in Small towns.

[globalvillage]

5. How's this?

I have to cut about 20 words.

In a recent opinion column/Wal-Mart ad (Democrats vs. Wal-Mart, Sept. 18), George Will misleads the reader to the far fetched conclusion that what attracts 25,000 people to apply for 325 jobs at Wal-Mart is the appeal of a $14,000/year job with lousy benefits.
He further concludes that one unsuccessful applicant “should not brood”, as 24,674 others were similarly dismissed.
People are fighting for these jobs not because it’s what they want, but because it’s what there is (or isn’t in this case).
People are competing for these jobs because Wal-Mart’s policy of buying cheap goods from foreign sweatshops has taken jobs these people might have had and sent them overseas; because our trade policies are so lopsided we have allowed a 700 billion dollar trade deficit.
What is driving consumers to look for the “made in China” smiley face and not the “made in the USA” label? Could it have anything to do with the fact that people are paying for their essential goods with wages from a $9/hr. Wal-Mart job?
And who do you suppose is paying for the healthcare and other benefits that the ultra wealthy Walton family can’t see fit to supply to their hard working employees? Why, we are, Mr. Will.
No, I wouldn’t guess Sen. Kerry shops at Wal-Mart. Nor do I.
Democrats don’t believe in rewarding companies that take jobs from Americans and send them overseas for the purpose of making the Walton family fortune greater than the GDP of Singapore. What we believe in is fair wages, equitable trade practices, and a citizenry who manages at least a little better than the generation before

[wisteria]

6. That is great! Send it to will and the paper with a few changes.

it covers everything.

[Island Blue]

7. That was excellent GV!

I hope they print it.

[globalvillage]

10. I still need to make a couple revisions.

And cut about 20 words. Any suggestions?

[ray of light]

8. 9 dollar an hour? In some states it's still 5.15/hour

though to be competitive in some areas it is above minimum wage.

[globalvillage]

9. I looked it up, that's the average

I think I'll revise it to state the starting wage locally if I can find it.
Thanks, good advice.

[MonteLukast]

11. I'll bet he does shop at...

Costco. And Whole Foods, most assuredly, what with Teresa's dedication to organic andlocally grown foods.
Come to think of it, maybe that's one reason why she stays so strong, beautiful and mentally sharp. She eats the right (and tastiest) foods.