” It is known that you either love or hate Wal-Mart, but either way it is not going anywhere. They have been scrutinized about putting other companies out of business (remember K-Mart) and their many law suits against them from their own employees. However, they keep on going, trying to take over as much as possible, and it is working.”
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It is known that you either love or hate Wal-Mart, but either way it is not going anywhere. They have been scrutinized about putting other companies out of business (remember K-Mart) and their many law suits against them from their own employees. However, they keep on going, trying to take over as much as possible, and it is working. They are the largest grocery retailer and toy seller in the U.S., but that is not good enough for the corporate giant. They are expanding into banking by having the Visa Prepaid Money Card.

This is an aim toward consumers that do not have bank accounts. Last year they cashed 45 million paychecks collectively worth $17 billion. This of course sparked an idea. They are adding the Money Center near the front of the store which will allow customers to use direct deposit and check cashing by using their Money Card. You can use this card just like a bank debit card. Your paycheck is deposited on the card and you can pay bills, internet shop or pay at the pump. Well, why do you need a bank? There are fees of course. There is an $8.94 activation fee and a $4.94 monthly maintenance fee. There is also a $4.64 fee to reload your card, but this particular fee is waived if you have direct deposit. Is it too good? We will soon find out.

This is not it of course. Wal-Mart is also selling Coca-Cola T-Shirts made partially from recycled plastic bottles. The shirts will cost $7.50 and are available now. They have phrases on them like Rehash Your Trash, and Make Your Plastic Fantastic. If this isn’t enough for you; they will also be selling Wal-Mart brand Great Value milk that comes from cows that are not given the growth hormone. On April 1 they launched six coffees under the exclusive Sams Choice brand. It is basically affordable gourmet coffee. I for one try to stay away from Wal-Mart because of their treatment towards employees, but sometimes you just have to go there and why wouldn’t you when you can’t find things as cheap all in one place. Plus you have to give them credit for thinking outside the box. They make sure that you don’t need to go anywhere else to buy your goods and services and that is why they are the No. 1 corporation in America and they are not ever trying to become No. 2.

Did the trucker strike work?

On April 1, 2008 the semi truck drivers tried to have a protest against the oil companies. The price of diesel is at an all time high and they were trying to make a stand. Tons of freight idled across the country as independent truckers pulled their big rigs off the road or slowed to a crawl on major highways. This action was supposed to force President Bush to stabilize prices by using our oil reserves.

The gas prices are too high, said Lamont Newberne, a trucker from Wilmington. N.C., who along with 200 other drivers moved about 20 mph near Newark on the New Jersey Turnpike. This is one of the nations most heavily traveled highways. However, major trucking companies were not on board and the Teamsters denied reports that they initiated or endorsed this protest. Federal Law prohibits the association from striking because it is a trade association. So, I ask this obvious question: What is the point? The Teamsters is the union that represents the truck drivers. If they don’t support their own members; why would President Bush?

Meanwhile the top executives from the five biggest oil companies say they know how the high prices are hurting consumers but deflected any blame and argued their profits of only $123 billion last year is inline with other industries. Are they serious? On April 15, 2008 the national gas average is $3.39 a gallon; in Akron it’s $3.45 a gallon. This is a .53 cents increase from last year. I don’t know about you but I have seriously considered investing in a bike! The one thing that doesn’t seem to be getting through to people is that this is effecting the price of our goods because if the truckers have to pay more to deliver we have to pay more to receive. Truckers are paying about $1.00 a mile to drive their big rig and that’s why I had to pay $4.00 for a gallon of milk!

So the question is: Did the strike work? No, it didn’t. If we are going to change anything in this country we are going to have to stick together and fight, but it seems to me we are satisfied just to complain about it everyday.

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