An organization known as WakeUpWalMart, commissioned a national opinion poll on Wal-Mart. The poll was conducted by the Zogby group. The poll was designed to gauge the opinion of the average American with regard to their feelings on Wal-Mart. As one might expect, WakeUpWalMart is no fan of Wal-Mart. They have accused the world’s largest retailer of paying sub-standard wages and generally mistreating labor.
Respondents in the Zogby poll were asked to choose between two carefully worded statements: 1. “I believe that Wal-Mart is bad for America. It may provide low prices, but these prices come with a high moral and economic cost for consumers” and 2. “Wal-Mart is good for America. It provides low prices and saves consumers money every day.” Now to the average feeble mind these may seem like two fairly standard questions. But it you pay close attention the poll is clearly weighted toward question 1. Both questions acknowledge that Wal-Mart generally provides consumers with low cost consumer goods, but question 1 is worded in such a way as to encourage a favorable choice and that’s exactly what occurred, 56% of respondents chose question 1.
The Zogby poll also gauged public perceptions about Wal-Mart in other arenas. The results of one question revealed that 33% of respondents felt Wal-Mart was a retail monopoly. A retail Monopoly? Clearly 33% of this poll’s respondents are too ignorant to be relied upon for anything except the most minuscule and unimportant of tasks. By most estimates, Wal-Mart’s retail market share is around 20%. This hardly constitutes a monopoly. Granted Wal-Mart is a prominent player in the retail industry, but this is attributed to the fact that it provides a service desired by consumers, as evident by its continued growth. The supposition that Wal-Mart is a monopoly implies a lack of choice for consumers, which in and of itself is a statement based purely in ignorance and stupidity.
WakeUpWalMart contends that the retailer is “bad for America.” Why? Because it pays its employees a fair wage based on their level of skill. The average employee is undeserving of anything beyond minimum wage. Their tasks require minimal training and can be performed by anyone over the age of ten. Just as the average homeowner wouldn’t pay a neighbor $300 to mow his/her lawn, Wal-Mart shouldn’t pay exorbitant wages for employees to stock shelves and unload trucks. Yes it is true that some Wal-Mart employees have families, families for which minimum wage provides marginal subsistence, but therein lies the problem. People shouldn’t raise families and have children they can’t afford if the best they can do is minimum wage.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20051201-1110-retail-walmart-poll.html
