Rent-Seeking: Wal-Mart Announces Support For Obama’s Health Care Plans

Proof • July 1, 2009

Believe you me, Wal-Mart isn’t doing this out of concern for the proverbial poor, down-trodden masses. Wal-Mart is doing this because a government mandate for business-provided health care will kill their smaller, more-regional competition.

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, announced Tuesday that it would support a mandate on businesses to help expand health care coverage, an about-face from other business interests that have strongly opposed any such requirement.

It’s amazing to me how many liberals decry big corporations like Wal-Mart and talk about how they’re “running the little guy out of business” without realizing that liberal, big-government policies contribute greatly to the growth of big business.
And not in an economically healthy way.
Corporations like Wal-Mart support big government regulation like health insurance mandates and cap and trade and the minimum wage because they know that while they can shoulder the burden of those additional regulations and taxes, their smaller competition cannot. In fact, a trend develops once a government begins regulating businesses within an economy more and more. The more tax and regulatory burdens businesses must shoulder the larger businesses must become in order to survive.
There are always niches where small businesses can still flourish, but if you’ve ever wondered why there aren’t more new car companies (as an example) it’s at least partly because the industry in question is so heavily regulated and taxed that only giant corporations can survive.
Wal-Mart is playing a cynical game here. They know that an employer health insurance mandate isn’t good for their bottom line. But they also know it’s even worse for the competitions bottom line.
Meanwhile, Americans in general suffer as a result of this unholy alliance between big government and big business.
I’m a Wal-Mart fan. Have been for years. I’ve cheered as the company has revolutinized the retail industry and brought goods and services to Americans at cheaper prices as a result. But corporate rent-seeking is wrong.

Tags: Asshats, Domestic Issues, Politics

http://Array Buzz

While the president has left much of the details of health reform to Congress, he has told U.S. lawmakers he is open to requiring larger companies to provide coverage for employees but exempting smaller businesses.

rob is fishing again. walmart supports this because they know it will reduce insurance costs across the board, which in turn will reduce their costs. Lower insurance costs will help all American businesses.
robert108

…in the hope that it will hurt is competition.

An unsupported opinion on your part, Rob. Obama is trying to intimidate every business in the country to go along with his fascist takeover.
studakota

Matter of fact I’ll take the well trained managers of 2000 of good sized Wal-Mart stores. You take the first 2000 names in the Boston telephone book, as Bill Buckley suggested, and both of our groups will run circles around these spendthrift idiots presently in charge of our government.
Mickey

dino,
Walmart offers insurance benefits to all employees. The option to participate is up to the individual. BTW, no benefits are free. You co-pay for the plan you choose.
Bat One

Why not just turn the country over to Wal-Mart they’ll run it, I’m sure, much more sensibly…

I like it! Heaven knows they couldn’t do a worse job than Team Obama, especially with their P&L mentality.

Then too, it would be worth the effort just to watch the sputtering outrage from the likes of Buzz, Dino, Hannitized, and ellinas. We’d save a bundle of money, that’s for sure, while preserving our freedom of choice in a market-based environment. All that plus the entertainment? Yeah, I like it. A lot!
studakota

Why not just turn the country over to Wal-Mart they’ll run it, I’m sure, much more sensibly, than these F–king amateurs, thugs, thieves, cowards, appeasers, liars, poseurs, who are now in power.
Hannitized

I’ve cheered as the company has revolutinized (SIC) the retail industry and brought goods and services to Americans at cheaper prices as a result.

…..and putting small businesses out of business, but I don’t support them when they support Obama.

That’s al your argument boils down to, Rob.

…Wal-Mart is still wrong to support Obama.

That is all you care about. Nothing else.
http://sayanythingblog.com/ likwidshoe

Ahh…I get it now. To some people, Republicans = Democrats.
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/america_is_back/#c397018 DINO

Well if it weren’t for Obama and the democrats all the stems would be on easy street enjoying that Utopian bush economy on their way to that tax-free paradise the conservatives have been promising them for 30 years!

That’s why they hate dems and liberals. Never try to reason with a con that smells money!
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/america_is_back/#c397018 DINO

Certainly a group of deaf, dumb and blind men could run the country better than the republicans did.

All they need do is NOT cause a Depression!
robert108

I doubt that WalMart “fears” any competition, especially in this Obama down economy. I think it’s simply a matter of staying off the radar of the successful, non-union businesses who are targeted for destruction by this administration.
http://insanereindeer.blogspot.com/ Kenny

Certainly a group of deaf, dumb and blind men could run the country better than the republicans did.
All they need do is NOT cause a Depression!

I’d take a group of deaf dumb blind men over Democrats any day.

Anyone who suggests Democrats had nothing to do with the financial meltdown is a liar and is committing intellectual treason.
http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

He probably cuts his sheet up high in back.

And he wears the silk sheets on formal occasions!
2Hotel9

Oh, well. Stopped shopping at Target because they are a proud corporate sponsor of cap&tax;, now stopped shopping at Wal-Mart because they support socialism. Good thing this is still America, and we can shop anywhere we choose.
http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

Buzz’s lush tight ass.

We’ve seen pictures of your man-boobs, Buzz! There’s no reason to think that your fat, saggy ass would be any less ugly!
But, your fellow Klansmen probably think you’re pretty!
Buzz

Oh, well. Stopped shopping at Target

`I doubt they will miss your daily purchase of anal lube.
2Hotel9

I don’t need that for banging your ass, it is all loose and stretched out already. Now tell us again how child molesters are your heroes, that was some funny shit coming out of your ass right there.
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/america_is_back/#c397018 DINO

I think they favor a public option so they can stop providing health care for the 2% that they give benefits to now.
Buzz

I don’t need that for banging your ass,

Don’t eat the K Y jelly! Or do you use Smuckersâ„¢ for both?

I just hope both of their hands are above the desk thinking about Buzz’s lush tight ass. Dirty perv.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

I’m sure that if Walmart took the other position everyone would discount it because they are clearly looking out for their own best interests.

In this case they are surprisingly looking out for their own best interests.
2Hotel9

So, you admit, again, that you are just a suckpuppet. Whose suckpuppet, that is the question.
http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

`I doubt they will miss your daily purchase of anal lube.

Buzz: Don’t eat the K Y jelly! Or do you use Smuckersâ„¢ for both?
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/america_is_back/#c397018 DINO

You’re right. It’s probably less than 2%.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

No way will socializing the health care system make it cheaper. The politicians are claiming that because it makes it easier to pass. They know they’re lying.

You’ll have more people entitled to unending health care services that they aren’t paying for. How is that going to save money?
2Hotel9

The actual number is 82%. That is where dinothefakehomo got the 2.
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/america_is_back/#c397018 DINO

Pure speculation, Rob.

You haven’t a clue why they support this but my explanation is more plausible. That’s one of the criticisms of a public option. It will cause some employers already unhappy with providing benefits to stop offwring them.

Ironically, it will HELP the small businesses who can’t afford to offer benefits by giving their employees an affordable option and leveling the hiring field for small employers.

So why would you oppose the public option? Because cons HATE the little guy and a level playing field.
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/america_is_back/#c397018 DINO

Provide a link and let us know the level of benefit they get.

Thanks, stem!
robert108

Rob: If WalMart were requesting a govt healthcare plan, you might have a point, but that’s not what’s happening here.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

He probably cuts his sheet up high in back.
http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

walmart supports this because they know it will reduce insurance costs across the board, which in turn will reduce their costs. Lower insurance costs will help all American businesses.

Buzz defending Wal-Mart! Now I’ve seen everything! Heh.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Like “Bowling Night?”
http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

Like “Bowling Night?”

Heh.
Or the early bird special at Denny’s!
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/america_is_back/#c397018 DINO

You can’t post a link because Walmart benefits are shit. Long waits for coverage, huge copays, premiums and deductibles. Probably no better than going and getting an individual plan.

Put up or STFU, STEM.
2Hotel9

Try reading what the DeptLabor has to say about Wal-Mart and its employment and compensation practices.

Or, you could just go apply for a job at one, and find out the facts. They have very liberal hiring policies.
SigFan

pparets – nice retort, but he’ll just say you’re making it up or some other drivel about all Republicans should die, or as usual when confronted with the facts he’ll just slink off to another thread and spew his usual nonsense there.
pparets

he’ll just slink off to another thread and spew his usual nonsense there.

What dino does best, Sigfan.
pparets

The usual banal challenge from Dino…

You can’t post a link because Walmart benefits are shit.

At Wal-Mart, a Health-Care Turnaround

Once vilified for its stingy health benefits, the world’s largest company has become an unlikely leader in the effort to provide affordable care without bankrupting employers, their workers or taxpayers in the process. From its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., the retailer is doing in the real world what many in Washington are only beginning to talk about.

At a time when other firms are scaling back or eliminating health coverage, Wal-Mart has made a serious dent in the problem of the uninsured. New figures being released today show that 5.5 percent of its employees now lack health insurance, compared with a nationwide rate of 18 percent.

The company has also put into practice many of the innovations that experts say will lead to higher-quality, more efficient care. Using its high-tech marketing savvy, Wal-Mart has introduced digital records, partnered with prestigious organizations such as the Mayo Clinic, and begun targeting costly health problems such as obesity and premature births.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/02/13/ST2009021300507.html

were you in Special Ed, STD?
2Hotel9

Again, go read what the DeptLabor has to say about Wal-Mart and its compensation and employment practices, or shut the fuck up whiny, lying cunt.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

Robert, despite your inability to see the forest for the trees, Wal-Mart is still wrong to support Obama.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

Dino, you illiterate retard, Wal-Mart is supporting a mandate for something it is already doing in the hope that it will hurt is competition.

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Rent-Seeking: Wal-Mart Announces Support For Obama’s Health Care Plans

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