Hi Jim,

>The corporate world, of which "the media" is a part, have done a great job over the last decades to make unions look like greedy job-stealing pigs.
>Just keep in mind that EVERY union contract required 2 sides to sign the agreement.

Well lets look where the unions are strong,
Auto (Ford/GM/Chrysler) - Working for them??
Airline (Pilots, stewards, baggage handlers) - Working for them??
Government (Teachers, Legislsators, etc) - well kinda working for them, at the taxpayers expense of course.

Two sides, pay us what we demand or we shut you down, equally productive attitude.

>I heard a former AMC (Nash, Rambler, etc) CEO say that when it came to items like pensioner's medicare and such they never worried about it because that would be a factor only long after they were no longer the CEO!!!
>

I agree that pensions and other defined benefit plans should not be allowed to be cut, these were paid for by the employees and are contractural obligations.

>
>Well WalMart has actually benefitted so far, and will continue to do so for a short while yet in terms of growing its customer base (count) BY HAVING JOBS SHIPPED TO CHINA. This left poorer people here who were more or less forced to get what they needed at WalMart because that's all they could now afford!!!
>
We live in a global community, that's life.
Many things ARE more cost efficient to have done overseas. So what, there are still many things the US is better at doing. The US had many competitive advantages in the last century, we were stupid enough to squander many of those.

>
>Yes, corporations have got themselves set up exactly the way they want themselves to be... enshrined in law.
>But that doesn't mean the law(s) regarding this are good. Most laws dealing with financial matters (as opposed to criminal matters) are designed ASSUMING MORALS/MORALITY of those to whom the laws apply. Yet the practitioners use the very same law to "justify" immoral and socially harmful activity!!!

Are you suggesting that the Walmart board ignore the law to push their personal agenda? (Enron, Tyco, WorldCom). The law may need to be changed, and that is doable with public support and activism, but while its the law, it should be followed.

>
>cheers (yea, right)
>

Also keep in mind that is is China's buying of our bonds that is keeping our economy afloat and we are paying them in a devaluating currency. Protecionism is not the answer.

Best wishes to you Jim, Although I don't always agree with your point of view, You always have well thought out opinions which I can respect.

Bob