It's the day after we give thanks for what we have, spend time with family and friends, and stuff ourselves with good food in honor of a bountiful harvest (or something like that.) So today we take the time to forget what we just did yesterday in favor of shoving other consumers out of the way so you can grab that off-brand television you so desperately "need."We are so hypocritical it isn't even funny. It's downright disturbing.
So today we're going to talk about one of the biggest culprits in the Black Friday Symphony of Consumer Discord: Wal-Mart. I've talked quite a bit about Wal-Mart lately, not only concerning the striking workers, but also providing my own story, so you can understand what some employees go through.
-- [Chuck] What effect does Wal-Mart really have on our country and world? This informative little piece will let you know just how fast the corporation is growing, how it is changing the world around it, and what that all has to do with us.
-- [Chuck] Wal-Mart is also getting heavily involved in something else outside of retail: The educational system. Wal-Mart and its Walton Family have donated millions to education reform, but not for the children. Rather, Wal-mart is working with other well-known charter school champs to "add choice to our schools."
-- [Chuck] The retaliation against employees who strike is illegal, but Wal-Mart doesn't seem to mind breaking the rules. Striking workers have been fired, threatened, and otherwise shown that speaking out will get you punished. Here is a petition you can sign demanding that Wal-Mart stop the retaliation against their employees.
-- This article was posted last year, but recently reposted now that Wal-Mart workers are striking. The author gives a strategy for Occupy against Wal-Mart, declaring the company to be the "symbol of a broken capitalist system."
-- Black Friday can be dangerous for employees and customers alike, but most people believe the danger strikes once you get inside. In this case, that wasn't what happened. A couple were walking in a Wal-Mart parking lot when they were hit by a drunk driver.
-- A protester was arrested at a Wal-Mart in Portland, but police will not reveal the nature of the detainment, only saying that they are trying to maintain a safe environment for those shopping.
-- Want to see what the Wal-Mart protests look like? You're in luck. The protesters have been tweeting images of the Black Friday strikes. Have a look.
***Solidarity***
To contact me, email elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com. Thanks.
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