Wal-Mart Mexico: It's ALL About the Benjamins.......Riiight?

[ABM]

Dang..

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/business/walmart-bribes-teotihuacan.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=1&

SAN JUAN TEOTIHUACÁN, Mexico — Wal-Mart longed to build in Elda Pineda’s alfalfa field. It was an ideal location, just off this town’s bustling main entrance and barely a mile from its ancient pyramids, which draw tourists from around the world. With its usual precision, Wal-Mart calculated it would attract 250 customers an hour if only it could put a store in Mrs. Pineda’s field.

One major obstacle stood in Wal-Mart’s way.

After years of study, the town’s elected leaders had just approved a new zoning map. The leaders wanted to limit growth near the pyramids, and they considered the town’s main entrance too congested already. As a result, the 2003 zoning map prohibited commercial development on Mrs. Pineda’s field, seemingly dooming Wal-Mart’s hopes.

But 30 miles away in Mexico City, at the headquarters of Wal-Mart de Mexico, executives were not about to be thwarted by an unfavorable zoning decision. Instead, records and interviews show, they decided to undo the damage with one well-placed $52,000 bribe.

The plan was simple. The zoning map would not become law until it was published in a government newspaper. So Wal-Mart de Mexico arranged to bribe an official to change the map before it was sent to the newspaper, records and interviews show. Sure enough, when the map was published, the zoning for Mrs. Pineda’s field was redrawn to allow Wal-Mart’s store.

Problem solved.

Wal-Mart de Mexico broke ground months later, provoking fierce opposition. Protesters decried the very idea of a Wal-Mart so close to a cultural treasure. They contended the town’s traditional public markets would be decimated, its traffic mess made worse. Months of hunger strikes and sit-ins consumed Mexico’s news media. Yet for all the scrutiny, the story of the altered map remained a secret. The store opened for Christmas 2004, affirming Wal-Mart’s emerging dominance in Mexico.....

 

[MARIS61]

Wal-Mart is the 3rd most powerful criminal organization in the world, right after Monsanto and the Vatican.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I worked with Walmart in Mexico a few years ago on an outreach program. They gave away some of their excess inventory/foodstuffs to the poor communities in the outlying areas. They have partnered with a local community group and the government to do this and its a pretty regular thing from what I recall. But they are evil I guess?

 

[ABM]

I worked with Walmart in Mexico a few years ago on an outreach program. They gave away some of their excess inventory/foodstuffs to the poor communities in the outlying areas. They have partnered with a local community group and the government to do this. But they are evil I guess?

I'm sure they've done some very fine things for the communities at large. I just have a problem with money (whatever it takes) simply overcoming the obstacles. Me thinks Mexico already somewhat has a reputation for this type of activity (corruption). See: Law Enforcement

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Its how it is down there. Most of the world is corrupt, its just how it works.

 

[ABM]

Its how it is down there. Most of the world is corrupt, its just how it works.

It doesn't mean I have to buy into it if I'm aware of it.

Thanks for playing, though. Beautiful Carol has some parting gifts awaiting you in the reception area.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Your "awareness" of how the world works is laughable. The new zoning laws were likely enacted IN ORDER to force walmart to "pay up".

 

[ABM]

Your "awareness" of how the world works is laughable.

OK, then, splain that to me. In the context of this thread, I have the choice to not shop at Wal-Mart. It's just that simple.

Next.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Its just a buzzword for armchair activists to whine about. Them and Monsanto and "Big Pharm". Typically by people who have no exposure to how the corporations and governments work. Those easily swayed based on some blogs or NY Times article or CNN which makes them decide "this is bad", yet they likely support other bad organizations that do the same thing.

The classic example is Occupy wall streeters using Apple Products to tweet, comment, etc about corporate greed and consumerism.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

OK, then, splain that to me. In the context of this thread, I have the choice to not shop at Wal-Mart. It's just that simple.

Next.

I respect your choice to shop anywhere you would wish to

Tell me this, is this any different than oboma buying GM and giving a large percentage to the same unions that helped him get elected? oh, and by the way..that auto company that he would not let go through with a restructuring to rid itself of bad contracts now has 140 days of inventory, announced a 4k rebate on trucks and has slowed down volt production due to lack of sales..so the same conditions are popping back up...the same problems exist..

 

[ABM]

I respect your choice to shop anywhere you would wish to

Tell me this, is this any different than oboma buying GM and giving a large percentage to the same unions that helped him get elected? oh, and by the way..that auto company that he would not let go through with a restructuring to rid itself of bad contracts now has 140 days of inventory, announced a 4k rebate on trucks and has slowed down volt production due to lack of sales..so the same conditions are popping back up...the same problems exist..

No real differences at all, really. I'm not a proponent of heavy-handedness, corruption (wink-winks, payola and back-door deals, etc.) at any level, or otherwise getting their way of the similar ilk.

Look, I live in the real world....and am well aware that this type of stuff happens ALL the time. Now, I don't go on total bents...stand on curb sides with a sign in my my hands, and the like.....but if I feel that a company, politician, or otherwise, goes against my better values, then I won't support them. Sometimes, it's just a gut feeling. Yet, it's a prerogative that I entertain and value.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

I have to give you credit to stand by your beliefs

 

[ABM]

I have to give you credit to stand by your beliefs

Anything less would be a lack of integrity.....or cowardice.