Muscatine

Thanks BB for giving us this great topic...... I find it very odd what the Journal decides to print. But I agree most of the comments posted at the Journal site is very hateful and shows great dislike for walmart.

When Jeff Wheeler wrote his story I would have thought the Journal would have done some research on the facts. It appears a couple of posters over there did. Here's what one of them had to say. I did take notice how this post wasn't worthy of your mention.

Quote:

"When I first read Mr. Wheeler's article in the paper I thought what ax does he have to grind.... Working at WalMart they expect some trash talk.

However the truth of the matter is that Mr. Wheeler's facts are just ridiculously off base.

Mr. Wheeler states "Did you know that a man is more likely to get hired at Wal-Mart", but the truth of the matter is that 80% of walmart's work force is women.

Mr. Wheeler states that "Did you know that it is expected of women to clean the restrooms", but the truth is it's expected of every maintenance worker to clean restrooms. Currently that's seven men and one woman.

Mr. Wheeler states that "Did you know that Wal-Mart, this corporate giant, pays women less than men", but again the truth of the matter is Walmart currently has pay levels by position to assure that pay is fair and not gender bias.

Mr. Wheeler then states that "Wal-Mart, the greatest store in the world, pays women in Third World countries 17 cents an hour to make T-shirts", but as you might have guessed this is not the whole story. While WalMart does employee women and men in third world countries at what many of us would consider slave wages, in reality those wages are among some of the highest in that country. People try hard for the opportunity to work in these places.

Mr. Wheeler also states when The you spend $10 on a T-shirt, you give Wal-Mart a $9 profit. Well facts tell another story. Walmart shows about a 4% profit every year. That's 4cents on every dollar.

Mr. Wheeler, get the facts. "

Come on now, Married, we CAN'T be dealin' in facts here, that might change the direction of the post!  I WILL have to say, that one poster DID recognize that "other" Corporate Giants have done a LOT to run Ma  and Pa Kettle out of business.  Lets just name a FEW that have been around Muscatine, for a LONG time!  How 'bout Nash Finch (WFO), Happy Joes, Pizza Hut, Applebees, Sears, (at one time) Montgomery Ward, FBC, the old Five & Dime Store, Woolworths, Menards, Blaines Farm & Fleet, Fleetway, Hy Vee.......AND, I could go on!  The old Ma & Pa places like Ryan Hardward (Ralph Ryan), Neitzels Pharmacy,, the 10 to 20 corner grocery stores, that were TRUELY neighborhood stores.  ALL of these kinds of places went by the wayside here in Muscatine LONG before Wal-Mart EVER came to town!  I remember when the Mall first opened up!  The shop owners of Downtown Muscatine were screaming bloody murder about how the Mall was killing downtwon.  I put the 1st Radio Shack in that Mall, and it NEVER was close to 100% occupancy!  The Quad Cities, Iowa City,(megga malls), the new Interstate ALL had something to do with the demise of Ma & Pa stores (as we knew them).  AND, the seemingly "slow death" of downtown Muscatine, AND Ma & Pa!  To blame Wal-Mart EXCLUSIVELY, is a gross injustice.  Just remember, that at one time, Sam Walton WAS one of those Ma & Pa operators, JUST like the likes of Ralph Ryan!  For those of you who are too young, Ryan Hardware, was on the alley, on Mulberry, between 5th and 4th streets.  Here's how that block USED to be (starting on 5th.) spelling WON'T be right!  Biesissi's tavern.  Had pin ball machines, cigars, candy for the kiddies, a soda fountain.  Kathy's Diner, (Mary's on Walnut is the ONLY one of it's type left).  Dolly's Tavern, and then Ryan Hardware.  On the OTHER side of the alley, going to 4th st., was Sun Mart (Nash Finch).  The other side of the street, coming back to 5th., were:  Western Augo, (a car dealership before that) with gas station.  Nietzels Pharmacy, The Taco eatery (BEST tacos in Muscatine (Jim Carter?), The Sportsmans Tavern (between Nietzels and the Taco place), and then the VFW, and a laundromat on the corner of 5th & Mulberry.  One side of the street is ALL gravel/grass/parking!  MOST of this happened WAY before Wal-Mart came to town!  It AIN'T ALL there faults!  So there, now I've chimed in.....which I KNOW you expected me To!  Tom Milder.    

I noticed none of the pro-wally posters touched on the pay issue. When it comes to Walmart, the old saying holds true. You can't polish a turd.

I fear that I wasn't clear in my previous post on this topic.  I choose to avoid Wal-Mart not just because of well-documented corporate wrongdoing, but also simply as a matter of going somewhere enjoyable and having the right to make that choice.  Maybe it's changed in the past couple of years in my absence, but my memories include dirty conditions (grocery end included), unattended children running wild through the aisles, uninformed and disinterested clerks, filthy restrooms, and standing in long lines in one of two open lanes while over 20 more stand empty.  It's just a personal choice.  I'm sure Wal-Mart is doing just fine with all of the folks who are willing to put up with all of that, but I think I'll just continue going elsewhere.