Did you need another reason to hate WalMart? Action Alert

[uppityperson]

WalMart action alert: USA's largest importer blocking port security.


http://blog.wakeupwalmart.com/

March 2, 2007
Wal-Mart: Profits First, America's Security Second

One of the greatest dangers we face in America is a nuclear weapon in the hands of terrorists being shipped through an American port. But, did you know, we only inspect about 5% of the cargo containers coming into America.

That is why the U.S. House of Representatives passed a 9/11 bill to strengthen America's port security by scanning 100% of the cargo containers being shipped into the U.S. from abroad.

But, yesterday, Wal-Mart's special interest lobbyists defeated the 100% scanning portion of the 9/11 bill in the U.S. Senate.

Why?

Because, even though 1 Wal-Mart container arrives at a U.S. port every 45 seconds, Wal-Mart fears that inspecting 100% of these containers might slow down its imports from countries like China which could hurt Wal-Mart's profits.

Are Wal-Mart's profits really worth the cost of leaving America vulnerable to another terrorist attack?

Please write your U.S. Senator today and tell him/her to put America's security first and support 100% scanning of all cargo containers as passed by the U.S. House.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17428747

Democratic presidential rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama joined seven U.S. senators Friday to urge Wal-Mart, the nation's largest importer, to drop opposition to a bill that would require scanning of all U.S.-bound cargo containers for possible terrorist nuclear bombs.

Nine senators, 21 members of the House of Representatives and a group of relatives of 9/11 victims signed letters to Wal-Mart Chief Executive Lee Scott as part of a campaign by WakeUpWalMart.com, a union-funded group critical of the retailer.

WakeUpWalMart.com said it was "mind-boggling" that Wal-Mart would oppose strengthening port safety and accused the retailer of putting profits before national security....
(clip)

WakeUpWalMart.com urged the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer to drop its opposition by Monday and lobby for the provision. It said Wal-Mart and The Retail Industry Leaders Association, known as RILA, have been running an "aggressive lobbying campaign" to thwart the scanning measure.
(more@link)

[mconvente]

1. and around we go again...

Another great example of "ALWAYS corporate greed - ALWAYS!"

[Selatius]

2. The more money you have, the more you can influence how government operates

This is standard operating procedure for our election system. It gets worse during election season where politicians must actively pursue revenue for their campaigns.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Well, that answers the question "Who's in charge here?"

If our supposed politicial leaders have to write letters "urging" corporations to stop opposing a bill...

Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?

Oh, well, "democracy" is a nice, but unworkable, ideal.

[cui bono]

4. Yep, it certainly is working backwards right now.

Although I wouldn't give up on the idea. If we got rid of lobbying and had some real campaign finance reform it would be a good start to getting back on track. of course it would only be a start, there's so much more that has gone wrong. *sigh*

[uppityperson]

5. Thanks to another poster for posting this on LBN last night.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2753633
Even though it was posted as laughing at Obama and Clinton, it is important.

[progressoid]

6. Dammit, I want my cheap socks. And I want them NOW!

[uppityperson]

7. nucular socks!

[robinlynne]

8. fuck walmart. let them pay for the security too, and raise their prices and

go out of business.

[MattSh]

9. Of course, the only REAL way to stop terrorism is to.....

STOP PISSING PEOPLE OFF.

Thank you.....

Inspecting every damn Mall-Wart trinket can never stop terrorism.

[DaveJ]

10. What a joke. Who besides Wal-Mart would support this?

Even more conclusive evidence multi-billion dollar publicly owned corporations need to renovate their business practices.

[indepat]

11. Scanning only one cargo container in twenty is the 'puke's way of keeping us safe

[dkofos]

12. I think I will go to walmart today and hand out union

organizing materials. How long before security tells me to leave??

[GreenZoneLT]

13. Not that I like Wal-Mart, but 100 percent scanning is a bad idea

The percentage of false positives on radiation scans is very large, and you're talking BILLIONS for a dubious benefit. We'd be much smarter to spend the money on intelligence and diplomatic efforts to track and neutralize bomb-grade material in the former Soviet republics. Somebody has paperwork for every ounce; it just takes money to track it down.

There's a military adage that Homeland Security needs to absorb into its culture -- he who tries to defend everything defends nothing. Scanning every container is a high-cost, low-gain security measure on a par with putting metal detectors in rural schools.

[KharmaTrain]

14. Will Lou Doobies Report On This???

Or has he? I'm curious.