[Vision2020] Thanks, Rep. Trail!

[joekc at adelphia.net]

I want to thank Tom Trail for his input on this and other issues, and especially for his articulate and clear comments below.

I believe that these comments support our right to keep companies like Wal-Mart — companies “that pay low wages and limited health benefits” — out of our community. Why? Wal-Mart has had negative economic impacts on communities like ours, e.g., two communities in Speaker Newcomb’s district. 

Some think that a Super Wal-Mart will have a positive impact on our economy. In fact, three of the four panelists at the MCA’s recent public forum took this stand. But it must count for something that in some communities — two communities in Speaker Newcomb’s district, for instance — the introduction of a Super Wal-Mart has had a negative impact. To me, it doesn’t matter whether some economists think that a Super Wal-Mart will be a boon. The question is, What is the chance that our community could be ‘sucked dry’ and are we, as a community, willing to take that chance?

Many believe that when we prevent companies like Wal-Mart from entering our community we are compromising laissez-faire economics. I think we are putting the ‘fair’ back into ‘laissez-faire.’ As BJ put the point last Monday, Wal-Mart is not playing on a level playing field.

Aren’t we limiting choices by preventing Wal-Mart from entering our market? As I see it, the most important choice happens now. Do we want the future of Moscow to be dictated by the values of low-cost and convenience, or do we want them to be dictated by a broader set of values: a respect for our individuality, a respect for our environment, a respect for our community, and above all a respect for the rights of individuals?

Thanks again, Rep. Trail!

Best, Joe

---- Bill London <london at moscow.com> wrote: 
> Again, my thanks to Tom Trail for his communication with V2020....
> And thanks for his interest in protecting Moscow from Wal-Mart (see below)
> I urge him to work with other legislators to pass legislation similar to
> Maryland's which forces Walmart to stop dumping health care costs for their
> workers on taxpayers.
> BL
> 
> 
>  6. Wal-Mart  --  With all the discussion taking place in Moscow about the
> > possibility of a giant Wal-Mart getting started, it is advisable to keep
> > your eyes on what might happen at the state level.  I talked with Speaker
> > Bruce Newcomb.  Speaker Newcomb told me that Wal-Mart has "sucked dry" two
> > communities in his district.  Many small businesses have gone out of
> > business, and property taxes produced by businesses have fallen off.
> >
> >   Speaker Newcomb is also concerned about companies like Wal-Mart that pay
> > low wages and limited health benefits.  Many states have discovered that
> > Wal-Mart and other large companies encourage their workers to seek state
> > assistance for health benefits, welfare, food stamps, and other similar
> > forms of assistance.  This is shifting medical costs to the taxpayer.  The
> > Speaker has asked Health and Welfare to conduct a survey of all
> > companies who employ over 10,000 people in the state  to assess how
> > prevalent this problem is.  He is ready to introduce a Fair Health Care
> > Insurance piece of legislation modeled after that of some 20 some other
> > states.  This would require big box companies to contribute at least 8
> > percent of their pay roll to employee health care.  The state of Maryland
> > just passed this type of legislation (overriding a veto on the way).
> 
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