PeakTrader.com

[administrator]

Buy American consequences:

PeakTrader said...

The implication is to pay more for (domestic) goods, in both money and time.

Why not just give unemployed Americans spoons to dig holes and fill them up again. So, they can receive paychecks, and pay taxes, instead of receiving unemployment checks?

Of course, these schemes will not raise living standards.

The failure of a V-shaped economic recovery created a train wreck, particularly with the massive government spending spree.

California pays record $22.9 billion in jobless aid
February 11th, 2011

"Payouts for California jobless benefits totaled $22.9 billion last year, up from the previous record of $20.2 billion in 2009, the state Employment Development Department reports. In a typical year, state unemployment payments total $5 billion to $6 billion.

Since California’s unemployment insurance trust fund has long since been depleted, the state has also borrowed more than any other to keep those jobless checks going out.

As of Jan. 25, California owed Uncle Sam $9.9 billion plus interest for its federal loan. Michigan was second with $3.7 billion."

--------

Wal-Mart Wikipedia

Customer base

A poll indicated that after 2004 US Presidential Election 76% of voters who shopped at Wal-Mart once a week voted for George W. Bush, while only 23% supported senator John Kerry.

When measured against other similar retailers in the U.S., frequent Wal-Mart shoppers were rated the most politically conservative.

In 2006, Wal-Mart took steps to expand its US customer base, announcing a modification in its US stores from a "one-size-fits-all" merchandising strategy to one designed to "reflect each of six demographic groups – African-Americans, the affluent, empty-nesters, Hispanics, suburbanites and rural residents."

It seems, around one-third of WalMart stores in the U.S. are in Southern states, which are politically conservative.

However, according to PayScale.com, WalMart employees are paid roughly the same as Starbucks employees.

Yet, Starbucks is expensive. A cup of coffee can cost $5.

Starbucks needs more competition to reduce prices for consumers.

Similar to VitaminWater competing with Gatorade, and store brands reducing prices even more.