http://commondreams.disqus.com/Breaking News & Views for the Progressive CommunityenSat, 08 Dec 2012 22:06:50 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-731394725<p>I am looking to sue Walmart if I can find a lawyer that is. I was bullied into quitting because I was pro associate and an Assistant Manager. I did not toe the line and fire good associates like I was told to. The drummed me out with busy work and you suck and You need to quit every day.</p>BrokenSoulSat, 08 Dec 2012 22:06:50 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-731393687<p>Oh and if the terrible manager's were not making the schedules and just let the computer make it there would be better customer service. Or it last there would be someone there for customer service. If the asked yes what do you want then it is them doing bad service. Stop shopping at Walmart and condoning this bahavoir and treatment of associates. Associates sell all your Walmart stock on the same day so the stock crashes. Money is the only thing Walmart corporate understands. Does no one see this? Am I the only one who quit after 13 years to have my eyes opened to what they are?</p>BrokenSoulSat, 08 Dec 2012 22:04:21 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-731392149<p>Sure the computer creates a schedule based on customer flow, but humans change this. The Market Manager's office calls and tells you to nock 1000 hour off before finalizing payroll and they do. The computer schedules plenty of hours for all associates but lots do not fall into a time slot that is open. Say an associate is availible 7 to 4 but the shift is 9 to 6 the reslting trim shift should be 9 to 4. Since there are manager's that have thier favorite associates then they go ahead and schedule 7 to 4 anyway. Then the other person gets thier hours cut even though they have the correct availbilty. The computer gives all the hours a store could use if properly staffed based on what the budget was made for that week. Then to top it all off you still have to cut hours by 1000 hours. Everyone works 7 to 4 and when you go in at 5 and need customer service there is no one present to help. Favorites get what shifts they want and the non suckups get zilch. This is the true way Walmart schedules are made. If the Market team did not cut hours top make a quick profit and the associates had open availibilty then there would be no gaps in coverage for the whole company.</p>BrokenSoulSat, 08 Dec 2012 21:59:08 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-731204806<p>Some locations the *only* option is WM for miles around. What WM and others who are into the game of limiting working hours to limit benefits will eventually find that the 30 'escape' clause will also be limited.</p>WhyMeLordSat, 08 Dec 2012 14:32:53 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-731117121<p>what planet are you on? or rather, what nation? Walmart is in EVERY state, and conspires to drive down wages everywhere in order to drive up their stockholders profits.</p>Marlon WoodwardSat, 08 Dec 2012 11:45:26 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-727256773<p>It only gets worse, Timothy. I just heard that Obama's Grand Betrayal will involve RAISING the Medicare age!! Like any unemployable older workers don't already have enough problems buying affordable, decent coverage on their own. Just what the hell do they expect us to do until we are old enuf to deserve affordable Medicare? The answer is, they don't expect or want us to live long enuf for that. And the truth is may of us won't make it long enuf. I pay a third of my gross monthly income for health insurance, which I am only entitled to as part of my wife's coverage. Fortunately I'm able to keep this insurance (if I choose to) even after she dies. But it won't get any more affordable, in fact the premiums will only go up as I age. I'm in my mid fifties and while I'm waiting to see if the insurance exchanges and fed subsidies with Obamacare will offer me a better deal, I have almost no faith it will be any better than my present coverage and out of pocket costs. In other words, we're suppose to shut up, stay away from the medical facilities used by the middle and upper classes, and die quietly out of their sight. Like someone else here said, maybe contagious diseases will spread thru us like rats in the Black Death and we will have our bitter revenge on the upper classes that way. If so, that will be small consolation to me and my loved ones.</p>singingthinkerTue, 04 Dec 2012 11:00:54 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-726642123<p>Single payer health care - an expanded Medicare for all - would make this issue m.o.o.t., taking health care off the bargaining table.</p>Janet244Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:03:53 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-726100038<p>Two more reasons why people shop there: WalMarts are ubiguitous and in some more remote areas, the only place to get many provisions (when I lived in the Yukon, I had no viable alternative than WalMart when I was in Whitehorse - shipping time and costs was almost prohibitive).<br>Also, for many, many low income people, there are simply no alternatives they can afford. You can't ask people living on the shit wages in the U.S. to spend more of their limitied income to "send a message" they don't believe anyone will hear. This is what a monopoly means, and it is exactly what is so pernicious about WalMart.</p>Randy OftedahlMon, 03 Dec 2012 10:38:36 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-726024059<p>The only way for the people to handle Walmart is to completely stop shopping at all Walmart stores and Sam's Clubs.</p> <p>There are other options. Use them. Do not any longer support the scab Walton family. They are at the top of the despicable 1% of the people of this undemocratic nation that has nothing but contempt for the other 99%. By their filthy business tricks, Walmart and Sam's holds all workers in virtual slavery. </p> <p>End this slavery by never entering another Walmart or Sam's Club door. That is the only solution. When will this people of this country stand up for themselves against the oligarchic tyranny of the 1% who consider themselves our royal family? When will the lethargic people of this country defend themselves? We desperately need another revolution.</p>gilcanMon, 03 Dec 2012 08:28:01 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725945877<p>It might make a lot of sense at this point for Obama to say, "Well, ok, anyone denied healthcare by corporations under Obamacare, you can now get medicare." What could be more common sense? Every effort has been made to placate corporations. What more can stand in the way of medicare for all?</p>ZAX68Mon, 03 Dec 2012 05:20:43 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725904911<p>I envy you for the local family-owned Italian grocery stores.</p>69TuscanyMon, 03 Dec 2012 02:42:39 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725803665<p>You have a very good point, and thanks for the gratuitous insult. How about this : "Why does anyone who can afford to shop anywhere else shop at Walmart?"</p>oldblue63Sun, 02 Dec 2012 23:43:51 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725701875<p>People shop there quiet often because they are poor!In other words.Mr.or Miss class snob that is where they can afford to shop so to suggest that they shop else where is CLASSISM in and of itself!</p>GuestSun, 02 Dec 2012 21:19:43 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725665273<p>The "death panels" existed long before anyone ever heard of Palin. They were (and are) the CEOs who deny us care for the sake of their bottom line. They were (and are) the real authors of Rom-Bamacare, who bought and paid for both parties and denied nationalized care to the average citizen.</p>Amy L SacksSun, 02 Dec 2012 19:35:05 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725609035<p>Federal programs that cover non-compensated care = medicaid. Procedures and treatments not covered by medicare (TAR) = medicaid. Medicare does not cover the non-elderly, non-parents, not pregnant but with eligibility medicaid does. Sometimes it only covers a medicine, or a treatment. Like dental care if it is life threatening. It is federal but most programs have combined resources. The 200% or 133% of poverty level is an eligibility standard as in you can become non-eligible for healthcare services. Insurance companies are not paying for indigent care, in fact people that do not have insurance actually subsidize insurance by paying a higher rate. Maybe ACA expands eligibilty but I would be very surprised if it improved the level of care.</p> <p>Edit: Ok, it is different in Texas. I live in one of the few states that does not have the same restrictions. </p> <p><a href="http://www.governing.com/blogs/politics/Medicaid-Expansion-Covering-Nearly-All-State-Prisoners.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.governing.com/blogs...</a></p>wildcarrotsSun, 02 Dec 2012 17:16:04 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725604916<p>States differ. Here in Texas, from what I have seen, non-elderly adults who are not parents or pregnant are not covered by Medicaid. If such a person goes to the ER without insurance, he or she is individually responsible. Most don't pay, so cost-shifting occurs to the insured population and to federal programs that cover non-compensated care. If the person is not on Medicaid already, it does not pick up the tab. The ACA would expand coverage to all adults under 133% of the poverty line, which is a significant expansion of federal health care coverage. Medicaid would be free to the individuals covered, and it would provide comprehensive health coverage, including preventive care, not just ER visits. However, our Republican governor prefers to continue with the highest rate of uninsurance in the nation, so that's where that stands.</p>JLBSun, 02 Dec 2012 17:06:08 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725599597<p>I'm glad. Wasn't really sure. And by the way, yes, I find those BP ads <i><b>really</b></i> outrageous and infuriating.</p>GuestSun, 02 Dec 2012 16:53:36 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725590913<p>Well said.</p>wildcarrotsSun, 02 Dec 2012 16:34:11 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725583001<p>I'm really glad it is working for your son, no doubt it will work better than standard insurance for some groups. Just remember that the system you are comparing it with really sucks. If you really think it is good try comparing it to one of the other systems in the world that deliver better care at half the cost.</p>wildcarrotsSun, 02 Dec 2012 16:15:41 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725579446<p>Yes indeed, the transformation is quite depressing. Where I live all the small business are closing (the small market, the vacuum cleaner new and used + repair store, the 99 cent store, the compounding pharmacy, ethic foods store all gone in the last year. (all of them unable to pay the rent) Empty buildings with a new walmart market a few miles away, a new eight pump BP station with small market, and a payday loan place that is robbed every so often. The management company extracts what it can and doesn't fix anything. The management company is kind of like a vulture. It is pretty weird.</p>wildcarrotsSun, 02 Dec 2012 16:07:20 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725577709<p>Thank you. Apparently, my use of the term for private versus public was unclear. Palin's use of the term for her GOP handlers referred to <i>government</i> "death panels", to scare people away from universal coverage by single-payer (for the same people waving signs reading "keep your government hands off my Medicare"). My use of the term refers to the <i><b>private profiteers</b></i> (insurance racketeers), whose gatekeepers are a far worse form of "death panel" --- denying claims and rationing care for profit only. </p> <p>The denial of coverage by for-profit gatekeepers is routine and far worse here than what occurs in civilized countries with single-payer universal coverage like Sweden, Canada and the UK. And Obamacare rejected single-payer and any public option thus institutionalizing profiteering by private racketeers with a captive market --- with almost no limits on escalating costs, including prescription drugs that are explicitly protected from market competition (free trade is remarkably selective). It is the worst form of crony capitalism endorsed by the conservative Supine Court.</p>Doug_TerpstraSun, 02 Dec 2012 16:03:24 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725570070<p>The poor, indentured, or anyone that has a major injury or illness and doesn't have insurance.</p>wildcarrotsSun, 02 Dec 2012 15:46:00 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725565495<p>In my state they are already eligible and so are all the other employees that have lost employer based health care.(If you are poor and meet poverty guidelines) If you go into any hospital with a knife in your back and don't have insurance or money it is medicaid that covers the expense. It is not new and it is not free and it is not routine health care. It is restructured. And listen closely, there are a few pitfalls. Being eligible for indigent care is not really a "good" thing.</p>wildcarrotsSun, 02 Dec 2012 15:35:53 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725529977<p>Death panels in the affordable care act, Sarah Palin won lie of the year with that one.</p>Inspector47Sun, 02 Dec 2012 14:27:13 -0000http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/01-1#comment-725519627<p>I didn't take it as a criticism. I find the additions to my list kind of interesting.</p>gardenernorcalSun, 02 Dec 2012 14:04:09 -0000