Chinese Newspaper Calls Wal-Mart Factory A Sweat Shop

I just caught this disturbing blurb from the China Real News on the Wake Up Wal-Mart blog:

Hsing Toys (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., a supplier of Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) , has been accused of sweatshop conditions. At Tai Hsing, workers are forced to work at least 66 hours per week with very low pay. According to some experts, Wal-Mart's low-price purchasing strategy is based on suppliers' exploitation of Chinese workers.

First of all, so much for the communist Chinese government looking out for its people. But secondly, how can Wal-Mart, the nation's No. 1 retailer, continue these kinds of ugly business practices and get away with it?!?

how do you think capitalism works?

it exploits any free or unprotected resource it can find, uses it up and extracts every possible nickel from it. Increasingly, human labor is the cheapest resource left, since capitalism has destroyed or used up pretty much everything else.

Remember Kathie Lee Gifford? In this day and age, capitalism needs to be balanced with human rights. The American consumer (minus possibly yourself) just won't tolerate the kind of conditions described above at that WAL-MART factory.

Wal-Mart's use of sweat shops has been well-documented for some time now, and it certainly hasn't hurt Wal-Mart's business.

Sam Walton had a "Buy American" philosophy. Today, 70% of Wal-Mart's products are made in communist China.

and had middle class incomes and benefits with one job.

Now, the gap between a typical American worker and that sweat shop worker has closed dramatically. I doubt there would be much if any outrage at all.

I don't think capitalism needs to be balanced with anything. It needs to be outlawed for the crime it is.

Like the communist Chinese on whom the Wal-Maniacs rely?

and definitely nothing like soviet "communists."

those are republicans.

it shows the sweatshops in china, it shows all of wally world's tactics. even my friends and I, who thought we knew a great deal about the evil empire, were stunned.

they get away with it, because they make so many political contributions.

that China owns Wall Street. Of course we all know Wall Street owns Capitol Hill.

and people in semi rural areas with no alternative stores keep shopping there because they have no real choice.

We live 90 miles..one way...from any large city.
Our town has a pop. of 6,000, and is considered to be "big" for a rural town here.
Prices are about 1/4 higher than in the nearest big city. We have 3 supermarkets, one smaller country style market, 2 produce stands.

There are 3 Walmarts in a 40 miles radius,( small towns are about 40 miles apart around here ) and a super Wal Mart planned for our town, which already has an older "regular" Wal-mart.

I would have to drive 180 miles round trip to Mobile or Pensacola ( no sales tax in Pensacola) to shop "cheaper" stores like Costco. It would take most of the day, cost 30.00 bucks at least in gas, and
I would not save enuff to make the trip worth it.

Fortunately, there are 2 Dollar stores here.
I rarely go to Wal-Mart.
I do shop online for non-foods, sometimes.
.
As you say, shopping options are very very limited for folks in these areas with low paying jobs, high cost of gas.