Live on cheap prices, and Die even cheaper.

Walmart is one of the most controversial mainstream companies ever conceived. With boasts of fiscal year 2009 sales of $401 billion, and the employment of over 2.1 million, the company definitely secures a place in history as a successful business, also being ranked as one of 2009's most successful retailers.#

However some say that there are hidden consequences to this success. In the last few years, many analysts claim that Walmart has contributed to the degradation of wages in urban areas. UC Berkeley's Labor Center projected a loss of 3 billion in earnings for workers in 2004 and 2005, only to discover that they were wrong. It turned out to be even worse, costing a disgusting 4.7 billion. The result of this of course, is the increased dependency of the workers on government assistance. The UC Berkeley Labor Center stated that "reliance by Wal-Mart workers on public assistance programs in California comes at a cost to taxpayers of an estimated $86 million annually; this is comprised of $32 million in health related expenses and $54 million in other assistance."*

 

"Hello Welcome to ******, I can't afford health care. 

Our prices are even lower than my self esteem."

The findings are staggering.  In the face of these studies, Walmart continues to broaden it's product base, and the most recent abomination that I plan to mention here, is their sale of CASKETS. If you think this is a joke, then go look for yourself HERE. My personal favorite, is the "Lady de Guadalupe" for it's ridiculous, and obvious name geared toward Hispanic culture. I'm hoping that they will release one called, "Uncle Tom's Casket", or "The West Coast Chillaaah", for black people. Dyno-mite! Now you can have a completely impersonal send off for your loved one, and racially profile them at the same time. I think low prices are great, but what the shit man???  

COULD NO ONE ELSE HAVE COME UP WITH WAY TO MAKE A CHEAP CASKET?

"You got it where? I heard they sell caskets too..."

Funeral homes are bound by law to accept 3rd party caskets, so that means Walmart Caskets will be flying into holes at alarming rates during wars. It'll be good to know that Walmart can dominate the lives, and deaths of people in poverty stricken areas.



# Source: walmart.com

* Source: Ken Jacobs and Arindrajit Dube, "Hidden Costs of Wal-Mart Jobs" [PDF file], UC Berkeley Labor Center, August 2, 2004

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