The insurance policy thing came out a few years back. Despite all the sinister-sounding propaganda, what it really seemed to be was a fancy tax shelter.

Yes. They made millions off it.
How would you feel about your doctor having a life insurance policy on you? Walasaurus has more bearing on employees health care than their own doctors.

Okay, but still, there are a number of possible scenarios here.

One is that they figured out that by both denying health care AND taking out life insurance policies, they could duke the system for a while and make a quick buck. Until the insurance companies notice. Which they will, clearly, because they write the damn policies and the checks, and are just as vicious and sneaky as Walmart.

Another is that they looked at demographic studies of their own employee population, found that in certain locations they were very old, and took out policies on that basis simply to manage their own risk without consulting the insurance implications at all.

Another is that some dumb Walmart executive wanted to build his own little empire within the company, and came up with a really complicated scheme to attach finances to hiring policies or something, and BSed his boss that it was a great idea and that he should be in charge of it, and hid the questionable sides of it to protect his own ass.

I believe this is close. If I remember correctly it was a guy in charge of benefits (national) trying to cut expences in his area, but with the approval of higher ups. It was unethical and in most states, illegal. But this is just one incidence of ruthless management.
I'm more concerned with the negative impact on jobs. The more people I know that are unemployed, the less faith I have in the economy, regardless of "leading economic indicators". I don't think I'm alone in this perception. Most of the economists I hear say the the public's perception of the economy has a large effect on it's health. That's why when the stock market tanked the economy kept chugging along.

Life without Wal Mart
 

This is what happens when I don't shop at wal mart. I paid $10 for a hard plastic drinking bottle at Target. Seriously, $10 for this?

(...imagine a pic of a skinny water bottle...)

It was the cheapest I found find of its kind. Sorry, but I usually pay 1/3 of that at Wal Mart. In fact, I was looking at a similar bottle in wal mart 2 weeks ago and put it back on the shelf b/c I thought the price of $3.50 was too much. Now, I can only think "What in the world?!"

I am definitely not used to paying what most middle class families pay. At this rate, I will overspend maybe $500 a year. I am going back to Wal Mart as soon as possible (which unfortunately won't be for 3 more months).

Of course, you could have gone to the quickimart and paid $1 for a "sport cap" bottle of yuppie water or sucky-top Gatorade and reused the bottle ... If it had to be a "hard" bottle with a wider screwcap so you could fit ice cubes in it, Arizona Ice Tea has an insulated sport bottle version too, for around $1.35.

Of course, if you're going for the Barbie or SpongeBob Squarepants graphics, that does cost yah more.

Well, it was one of these. Perhaps "mug" should have been the word of choice, rather than "bottle." Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between mug, cup, bottle, jar, etc... heh

http://migo.net/imgproducts/THELMARE.jpg

I just returned from a trip to Western MN to visit family. I had a discussion with my aunt about Walmart. (She is, like many of my rellies out there, pure gold in my opinion.) She said she's heard negative things about Walmart, but that it allows her to afford things she wouldn't normally be able to afford. She also said Walmart provides more jobs than any Mom'n'Pop stores ever did and that employees seem pretty happy to her (well, I'm not sure on either of those points, especially the former).

It doesn't really matter though, because Walmart is the only dept store within 80 miles of there.

bmgb: I am in the Twin Cities for the summer, and I haven't found a Wal Mart yet. There are like 25 Targets, so that's where I shop. I'm paying about 40% more for everything, which is not making me happy. Once you get used to wal mart's unbeatable prices (unless you shop @ Burma or something), there is no turning back.

Well, given that Target is based in Minneapolis and all...

Yeah, it's weird. I went on a shopping spree at Walmart in Redwood Falls just for the novelty of it... feel kinda guilty though. But they have DVDs for $6! (B-list titles, but I like that crap).

Well, I'm back in the metro area now, so it's back to Target for me.

The upper midwest lobe of the Cellar grows!

Target will grow on you. They have so much stuff that turns over each "season", watch out when it goes on clearance. Super cheap. Check the endcaps.

For a regional adventure, might I suggest a junket to Fleet Farm! Beyond the clothing, housewares, and auto supplies, you can play a great game of "what the hell is this ?!?" in the livestock accessories area. :)

Operation "Rollback"? laf

Fucking a.

It was funny until my editor came over and told me to re-report this story. It's FOUR FUCKING O CLOCK YOU FAT FUCKER!!!&(@!#$(@!*#!@#*(@J#R)J#)RJ{#$PIRLKJG_#$(JTY_(#