[Vision2020] Come tonight (was: I do not care about the economy)

[joekc at adelphia.net]

Radio free Moscow recorded tonight's forum. I'll let you know when and if it is broadcasted.

Joe

---- Matt Decker <mattd2107 at hotmail.com> wrote: 
> Joe,
> 
> For those of us who can't make it, is there anywhere we can go to see what 
> was said. Ie recordings, notes, or just plain sites?
> 
> Thanks
> Matt D
> 
> 
> >From: joekc at adelphia.net
> >To: Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com>
> >CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
> >Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Come tonight (was: I do not care about the 
> >economy)
> >Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2006 20:34:28 -0500
> >
> >Donovan and others:
> >
> >Come to the MCA General meeting tonight -- 7 pm at the 1912 Building -- and 
> >I promise you'll hear better arguments and responses than these!
> >
> >For one thing, none of the liberals are from Berkeley!
> >
> >(Sorry, Donovan, I could not resist the opportunity to promote the event!)
> >
> >Joe Campbell
> >
> >---- Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > I am still waiting to hear any legitimate complaints against Wal-Mart. 
> >Everything I have heard is either;
> > >
> > >   1) Applicable to all other major chains in the country
> > >
> > >   2) Coming from a biased source, such as a liberal from Berkeley, or a 
> >Union Organization.
> > >
> > >   3) Flat out untrue
> > >
> > >
> > >   Complaint:  "Wal Mart hurts the economy."
> > >
> > >    Response: " While an oil spill or natural disaster helps it."
> > >
> > >   Complaint: "Wal-Mart eliminates jobs."
> > >
> > >   Response "Wal-Mart eliminates unnecessary jobs."
> > >
> > >   Complaint: "Wal-Mart eliminates high paying jobs and replaces them 
> >with low paying jobs."
> > >
> > >   Response: "Wal-Mart replaces Kmart jobs with Wal-Mart Jobs that pay 
> >the same."
> > >
> > >   Complaint "Wal-Mart uses overseas labor."
> > >
> > >   Response: "Every one uses overseas labor."
> > >
> > >   Complaint: "Wal-Mart pays its overseas labors $70 a month."
> > >
> > >   Response: "$70 a month is more than what the teacher or police officer 
> >makes."
> > >
> > >
> > >   Wal-Mart eliminates high paying jobs in exchange for lower prices on  
> >daily living items like food, toiletries, paper towels, medications,  
> >automobile goods, and clothing.
> > >
> > >  As someone that makes $20K  a year and am getting soaked with high rent 
> >because of property taxes,  an unfair regressive sales tax on the 
> >dollar-even on groceries, and  minimum wage has not gone up in 9 years, I 
> >do not care if we eliminate  a few $80K a year jobs if it keeps prices 
> >lower for the rest of us. I  have no sympathy for those that lose a job 
> >making $80K a year. I care  about the poorer people that are living on 20K 
> >a year of less. Moscow  has done nothing for the poor in our community. It 
> >costs more to rent  an apartment in Moscow then a house in Boise. That is 
> >insane, and  highly unfair. Wal-mart, ShopKo, CostCo, and other mega chains 
> >reduces  the overall cost of living for the poor. To me, this is a good 
> >thing. I  think saving money, pinching pennies, and buying as cheaply and 
> >as cost  effectively as possible is the responsible way to handle personal  
> >finances.
> > >
> > >  When Idaho and Moscow does not raise wages, does  not provide property 
> >tax relief for the low income, pushes for a 20%  sales tax increase on 
> >food, clothing, and other items needed for daily  living, it is no friend 
> >of the poor, or hard working men and women on  the lower end of the 
> >economic end of this community or those dependent  upon Social Security. 
> >Moscow has to let Wal-Mart in because the  community has created such a 
> >need for a low discount store when it has  assaulted their quality of life 
> >and ignored their needs for such a long  time.
> > >
> > >  A head of household living in Moscow of a three  person household would 
> >have to work 400 hours a month in order to rent  a two bedroom apartment, 
> >at only 30% of their income before taxes at  the current minimum wage.
> > >
> > >   $5.15 (minimum wage) x 400 = 2060x .30 (affordable housing) = $618 a 
> >month (rent)
> > >
> > >   Now, unless you believe it is reasonable to work 400 hours a month, I  
> >do not see how anyone can ask someone to forgo shopping at the cheapest  
> >possible place or deny them that right.
> > >
> > >  I do not care about  the economy. I care about the quality of life for 
> >the people on the  bottom of the economic scale. I care that people on the 
> >bottom are not  required to expend 100% of their income on the basics of 
> >life and still  go without some others. It is not fair. Moscow has been no 
> >friend of  the poor and disadvantaged.
> > >
> > >   -DJA
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------
> > >  Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less
> >
> >_____________________________________________________
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> >
> 
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