Posted by noa on February 10, 2003, at 17:55:31
In reply to hello faith, posted by rayww on February 8, 2003, at 0:50:35
I can't say about Wal-Mart per se, as I know nothing about the company ethics, but often good works is also good for business. It seems like Wal-Mart also does a lot of this work along with the advertising that highlights it, to try to override the image of the big "box store" that puts little main-street stores out of business. But it is kind of hard to see a huge chain as a local community endeavor, imho. I think Walmart serves a purpose, though for a lot of people who count on low-cost household items, clothes, etc.
I think there are some companies who really do keep community needs as one of their priorities. I love the story about the mill in Massachusetts with the owner who treats his employees very well and when it burned down, he kept them on payroll as long as he could and then rebuilt. He was profiled on 60 minutes--I think his name is Feurstein?--and they showed him and his wife living in their rather modest apartment. The guy's hobby is reading and memorizing poetry! (no jet setting yachts or anything) Problem is, he is getting old, and who knows what will happen with a company like that. I think it was entirely privately owned, not a publicly traded company, which is where a lot of the greedy shady business seems to be happening in recent years. Last night's 60 minutes told the story of Montana Power which really screwed their employees, customers and shareholders to the benefit of a few top executives and the stock brokerage firm that convinced them to go out of the power business, which they were successful at, and into telecom, which they are failing at.
poster:noa
thread:1662
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20021227/msgs/1676.html