Wal-Mart
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[[File:Dictimation.jpg|right|thumb|250px|It looks like it's too nice a day to spend inside some big crappy shop.]] | [[File:Dictimation.jpg|right|thumb|250px|It looks like it's too nice a day to spend inside some big crappy shop.]] | ||
| − | '''Wal-Mart''' <s>is the official [[Chinese]] import outlet in the [[United States]]</s> is a major department store chain that has become the largest and one of the most successful retailers in the world. Since 1989 it has been the largest retailer in the United States, surpassing K-mart. Wal-Mart is known for building stores bigger than some shopping malls that sell more things than some shopping malls. Because of its status as one of the most prominent companies in the world, Wal-Mart has become a significant symbol of [[corporate]] America. | + | '''Wal-Mart''' <s>is the official [[Chinese]] import outlet in the [[United States]]</s> is a major department store chain that has become the largest and one of the most successful retailers in the world. Since 1989 it has been the largest retailer in the United States, surpassing K-mart. Wal-Mart is known for building stores bigger than some shopping malls that sell more things than some shopping malls. Because of its status as one of the most prominent companies in the world, Wal-Mart has become a significant symbol of [[corporate]] America. Since 1999 it has also owned Asda, a major supermarket chain in the [[United Kingdom]]. |
As of 2003, Wal-Mart was the biggest employer in the USA (aside from the federal [[government]]).<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2003-11-10-Wal-Mart_x.htm Retail giant Wal-Mart faces challenges on many fronts], ''USA Today''</ref> As of January 2008, Wal-Mart was the largest company and the largest employer in the world, boasting over 2 million employees.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2008/snapshots/2255.html Wal-Mart's entry in "Global 500"], CNN</ref> It also has the accomplishment of making every [[Occupy Wall Street]] argument seem justifiable.<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2011/12/08/the_insane_wealth_of_walmarts_founding_family/ The insane wealth of Walmart’s founding family], ''Salon''</ref> | As of 2003, Wal-Mart was the biggest employer in the USA (aside from the federal [[government]]).<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2003-11-10-Wal-Mart_x.htm Retail giant Wal-Mart faces challenges on many fronts], ''USA Today''</ref> As of January 2008, Wal-Mart was the largest company and the largest employer in the world, boasting over 2 million employees.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2008/snapshots/2255.html Wal-Mart's entry in "Global 500"], CNN</ref> It also has the accomplishment of making every [[Occupy Wall Street]] argument seem justifiable.<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2011/12/08/the_insane_wealth_of_walmarts_founding_family/ The insane wealth of Walmart’s founding family], ''Salon''</ref> | ||
Revision as of 16:48, 7 July 2014
Wal-Mart is the official Chinese import outlet in the United States is a major department store chain that has become the largest and one of the most successful retailers in the world. Since 1989 it has been the largest retailer in the United States, surpassing K-mart. Wal-Mart is known for building stores bigger than some shopping malls that sell more things than some shopping malls. Because of its status as one of the most prominent companies in the world, Wal-Mart has become a significant symbol of corporate America. Since 1999 it has also owned Asda, a major supermarket chain in the United Kingdom.
As of 2003, Wal-Mart was the biggest employer in the USA (aside from the federal government).[1] As of January 2008, Wal-Mart was the largest company and the largest employer in the world, boasting over 2 million employees.[2] It also has the accomplishment of making every Occupy Wall Street argument seem justifiable.[3]
Contents |
Criticism
Wal-Mart receives a large amount of criticism from groups such as labor advocates and local merchants, who claim that it encourages unjust wage labour, shuts down local providers and stores, and is generally evil as a matter of corporate policy.
Wal-Mart's employment methods and corporate policies were defended by Penn and Teller in a Series 5 episode of their show, Bullshit! As usual with P&T, libertarians rejoiced greatly.[4] Most liberal sources, on the other hand, have argued that Wal-Mart's employment practices result in greater dependence on government handouts because of the subpar wages and benefits offered by the company.
Wal-Mart also tends to contribute heavily to Religious Right causes, especially Wal-Mart heirs in the Walton family. Wal-Mart has also seen controversy in its initial refusal to fill prescriptions for the "morning after pill."[5]
Demographics
Recently, it has become popular among demographers to compare the number of Wal-Marts in an area of the United States with the number of Starbucks: the ratio that results is often seen as an indicator of "yuppieness."[6]
See also
External links
- If you think this was a good idea, go fuck yourself.
- If you think this was a good idea, go fuck yourself. (If you are reading this after 2013 and you don't remember all the news events from that year, here is a little reminder of a related news item that occurred two months after the first story ran.)
- Gawker's Wal-Mart subdirectory -- basically, a clearinghouse for Wal-Mart horror stories
Footnotes
- ↑ Retail giant Wal-Mart faces challenges on many fronts, USA Today
- ↑ Wal-Mart's entry in "Global 500", CNN
- ↑ The insane wealth of Walmart’s founding family, Salon
- ↑ Penn & Teller on Wal-Mart
- ↑ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11391926/
- ↑ Wal-Mart/Starbucks = Red/Blue, it says more about consumerism, honestly.