Damn...! I'm Tired!!

This past week has been busier than usual at work coupled with the extra curricular events I attended on two evenings and my weekly Friday night pilgrimage to Richo's has worn me to a frazzle! That being said, it was an interesting as well as educational few days.

Tuesday evening was spent at Richo's (do we see a pattern here?) with the Louisville chapter of the Drinking Liberally folks. Due in no small part to the weather gurus prediction that we were all going to die in the ensuing storm, that by the way never developed, attendance was not what we had anticipated. However, those of us who were there figured that if this were our last chance to do so, we may as well enjoy the beer.

I guess my expectations were too high in that there were no Robert's Rules of Order business meeting followed by a statement of purpose. Camaderaderie seemed to be the order of the day and in the end found favorable results. I met some nice people, made new friends, exchanged email addresses and discussed political views without anyone loosing their cool. Things are definetly looking up!

By Wednesday evening the greatly feared storm had passed us by and was followed by a cold front coming directly off an iceberg. Nevertheless I braved the elements to see the debut of "WalMart- The High Cost of Low Prices" at the Farmers Market in downtown New Albany. At one point I suggested that we find a fiftyfive gallon barrel and start a fire to keep warm but someone reminded me that we did not have an outdoor burning permit for the event and that we would probably end up in jail for the effort. "Suck it up cowboy! It ain't winter yet!

The documentary was as depressing as I thought it would be and I came away with even more resolve to do my small part to not support megacorporations! As much as I hate to admit it, I worked for WalMart for a very short period of time in Colorado. I was not there long enough to experience any personal abuse but I did hear about it from my fellow employees and saw enough to conclude that $$ were all that Bentonville was concerned about and everything else be damned!

A few months ago David Faber of CNBC did an expose on how WalMart deals with their suppliers that again enforced what I have heard on loading docks all over this country. Corporate HQ's position is "If you want us to sell your product, here is the price we will pay you for it. Period! " The only alternative offered was the suggestion that suppliers could bring their price in line by cutting labor costs. They went on to say that the most effective way to do that was by moving prodution out of the country and they just happen to have personnell in house that can help pave the way if one is interested in pursuing that approach!

The CNBC piece caused me to become aggrivated, aggitated and question how & why manufactures in this country let corporations abuse them in this fashion. The Wednesday night veiwing made me "Mad As Hell !!"

So what is the solution? Depends on who you ask. The http://www.wakeupwalmart campaign has several suggestions some of which I like and some I don't. But isn't that what makes America great. Two things I know for sure. Bentonville will not get anymore of my hardearned dollars and I am more determined than ever to strive for a more level playing field!

It has been said that life is not fair; never was, never will be! That may be true for the was part but I have learned one of lifes most prolific lessons the hard way on numerous occasions. That being never say never. The fact that we even exist as a nation bears witness to the fact that we can with combined effort level some of the bumps out of that field and make it better than when we began. To throw up our hands and accept the status quo as is dishonors all who have come before us.