me and wally? yeah we hang out...

*disclaimer* this is something that has been on my mind for a while. it may or may not be correct. i don't claim to be completely informed on these subjects. these are just MY thoughts on these subjects *disclaimer*



ok, i know everyone and their brother is walmart bashing now, but i still shop there...alot. i know they aren't letting their employees unionize, but you know what? k-mart isn't union, i don't think target is either. most of those stores are not union. why is it ok to be totally against walmart for this, but these other stores get a free pass? i have heard that they don't give good enough benefits, aren't there alot of jobs that don't have great benefits? do we protest them too? these people who work at walmart are free to find other employment. they choose to work there. walmart has been good about hiring "undesirables". (meaning the elderly, mentally handicapped, physically handicapped) when you walk in the door, you see a huge wall full of pictures of missing persons. i don't know too many other stores that do that.
i don't work for walmart, and i don't hold stock either...but i do have a family member that has worked for walmart for many years. he has always been treated fairly as far as i know. if he hadn't, he would have found another job.
i am not condoning everything they do. the use of illegal aliens was wrong. but i think that was an isolated incident. if it wasn't, i hope someone rats them out on it.
as for raising minimum wage. all i see it doing is raising prices for everything. i know, i am uneducated on the subject. i am, i admit it. but the money comes from somewhere. i don't see why minimum wage should be a "living wage". i don't know about any of you, but even when i was 16 and working for hardee's, i was making more than minimum wage (min wage was $4.25 and i made $4.75). this is a base wage, a starter wage. why would you pay a teenager a "living wage"? (now, believe me when i say this, i am going by my own experiences here.) if we are talking adults, well, even fast food restaurants pay more for adults. if you can work during the day, you get paid much much more. in fact, i know of one mcdonald's that pays more than $10 an hour if you can work during the day. they have a tough time getting workers, so they pay more.
i know i am uneducated on both these subject. i am going by just my experiences. i am letting my wallet dictate my decisions. i can't help it. i am a stay at home mother of 5 kids. i live on a budget. raising of min wage doesn't change the size of my husband's check, but it does change the amount everything costs. at least that's how i see it.