Anomalous Data - Thank God. Wal-Mart is doing well.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Just want to let you all know, it’s official. My brain has splintred completely off from the consensual reality, and I’m officially crazy as of 12:43 in the afternoon on Thursday, May 12, 2005.

I’m watching CNN, and the anchor says:

“One way to check on the financial health of the typical American family, just take

a look at how Wal-Mart is doing, Sales were up 10% in the latest quarter to 70

billion dollars and…they cleared 2.5 billion dollars in profits on that 70 billion.”

When exactly did Wal-Mart’s profitability become an economic indicator? Didn’t we used to measure the well-being of the average American family by how many of them were building homes to live in, how well their average wage increases stacked up against gains in the cost of living…how much money they were socking away in savings accounts and investments?

Evidently, we are now measuring their well being by looking at how much poorly-made crap slapped together by sweat-shop slave labor they are purchasing.

Seems to me, this would be a better indicator of how much space we’re going to need to devote to landfills over the next year.

“Liberal Media”…my ass.

Thursday, May 12, 2005 12:16:08 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00) | Comments [4] | insane news

Thursday, May 12, 2005 12:33:33 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

This is part of an ongoing process of "re-definition". I remember when, back in the early days of the Reagan regime, poverty was redefined by taking the amount of income that was considered the "poverty line" for an average family and reducing it by over a third. Voila', suddenly millions of families were no longer considered "at or below the poverty line" in America, and this was held up as a triumph for Reagan. "Look! We've reduced poverty! Reagan's economic plan works!!"

They also redefined good nutrition for the poor by declaring that ketchup and mustard and relish were vegetables (though I don't think that one lasted long, correct me if I'm wrong). And now, in Kansas, Georgia, Wisonsin, and Ohio (and soon, everywhere else) science and "controversy" are being redefined.

Jackboots are shiny.

Rick

Thursday, May 12, 2005 2:15:29 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

Plus, always remember that roughly a third of the money Wal*Mart makes goes directly into the pocket of the Chinese government. And we all remember how much the Chinese love Aemricam right?

The Evil Cub

Thursday, May 12, 2005 2:29:04 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

REally? I hadn't heard that one yet. How does that work? Do you have any sources I can look at?

Trees

kemaris

Friday, May 13, 2005 1:56:27 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

Not off the top of my head, but China is where Wal*Mart goes to buy all those 'well-made' items they sell so cheaply on their shelves. Less than 1/3 of the merchandise they buy is made in the USA, and the bulk of it (I seem to recall it's like 40%, but I may be hallucinating) comes from China. I recall hearing that Wal Mart is now a major source of income for the nation of China. A Communist nation, please remember. DO you remember when Communists were the bad guys? Ah, the good old days. I just have to keep saying to myself: Cuba - horrific danger to all right-thinking Americans, China - beneficent trade partner who loves all things American.

A large amount of Wal Marts profits go right back into buying more goods from China - and keeping the bureaucratic wheels greased enough to keep the Central Committee happy.

So no, I don't have exact figures at my finger tips, but it wouldn't be hard to find on Google, I suspect. If I had the energy to look.

The Evil Cub

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