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Show t 4 The Mayna 1 immWea Valley News, December 26, 2002 H ; ;!k1 Editorial low prices but at what cost Wal-Mar- t: real - of die 10 richest people in the world, five are Waltons. So Who pays for die low prices? Start with the workers in the stores. They average a poverty wage of under $ 1 1 ,000 a year and mostly get no health care benefits, plus being made to work several hours a month off the clock, which means for no pay. The community pays, too, ts because predatory pricforce local retailers out ing policies of business, eliminating jobs, tax revenues, consumer choices, charitable donations and the middle-clas- s wages paid by die local firms. Also, unlike local business, Wal-Ma- rt doesnt buy from local suppliand the money it makes in your ers, town is not locally, instead being hauled off to corporate headquarters. Is it possible for consumer prices to be too low? No way, you say! But what looks like a good deal on a price tag often turns out to be a raw deal because of hidden costs -and nowhere is this truer than at t, the retail Goliath that puts big signs on its stores, declaring: "We Sell for Less. The worlds largest corporation, Wal-Ma- rt brags endlessly that its the cheapest prices anywhere. got Hmmm. How does it do that? . Does it take less profit? Hardly - it sucks up more profits than any other retailer on the planet, taking twice as much profit as the next 15 retailers combined. Does it cut back on top executives? Uh-u- h - Wal-Ma- rt s CEO raked in a pay package of SI 1.5 million last year. Does the ruling Walton family forego riches? Get Wal-Mar- A Christmas Rhyme ( with sincere apologies to the author of the original) Twas just before Christmas, when ail through the land. Democrat egos got way out of hand. Theyd all smelled the blood of their rival, A1 Gore, And each was now eagerly thirsting for more. They came from the east, south, north and the west. Each one of them claiming heshe was the best The gleam in their eyes told the tale of their lust. As they all hit the road, shouting Iowa or bust! On Daschle! On Kerry! On Lieberman, too! On Edwards! On Hillary! And Vermonts Howard Who? There was little Dick Gephardt, the workingmans pal, Californias Grey Davis and slick Reverend Al. One by one tossing their hats in the ring. They then hit the low road with this common theme: To hoodwink the people and hijack the dream. With nary a blink and hardly a blush. They painted their foes with a sweeping broad brush. The hypocrisy hung in the air like a curse As they all called Republicans racists and worse! They seemed to believe that the issue was hot. As they just kept repeating the name of Trent Lott. They shouted that name and they said with a sneer. That the party of Lincoln is no longer here! Those evil Republicans stole it fromLgs' Why, they want you to ride in the back of the bus! They lied to the voters wherever they went. And just didnt answer when asked what they meant They practiced and worked and they learned to deceive. And soon there were some who began to believe. Then out on the trail, some new names were heard. Like Albert Gore, Sr., and old Robert Byrd, J. William Fulbright and others whod stood Blocking the way in a sheet and a hood. Theres He imietown Jesse strutting around. Living on tax breaks and shaking us down. Theres wild Patty Murray, who said with a sigh. That Osama bin Ladens not such a bad guy. Theres Biden, whose plagiarized speeches lacked fizz. And Clinton, who cant seem to define the word is. Theres old Teddy K., who's teamed how to survive. Even though he has never yet teamed how to drive. To when were approaching this next big campaign. Lets try to remember just whats in a name. If Lott is a sinner, he may have to pay. But at least he was not in the old KKK. 2002 by Doug Patton All across die country, folks are ts low deciding that and too are they high, prices organized a national Day of Action last month, rallying communities to stand up to this bullying corporation. in Events occurred at Wal-Ma- rt all 50 states. To get involved for die next one, go to the Website: Wal-Mar- www.walmartdayofaction.com Jim Hightower is a radio host and author. He is a former Agricultural Commissioner of talk-sho- w Texas. My top five wishes for the new year Now that were coming to the end of the year, I feel this is a good time to Jist my Top 5 wishes for the New Year. In no particular to start purging their ranks. I just dont know what its going to do for building support for Democrats in Utah - though watching the Republicans implode could make tor some nice fodder for upcoming articles. Anyway, Randy, if these guys really do like you, get them to join die Democratic Party. You used to be really good at flipping the politically confused. Lets see if you still are. 1. That Salt Lake City and the L.D.S. Church Officials team from their mistakes on die Main Street Plaza Deal. In 1952, a back room negotiation, without full disclosure to create the plaza would have never been an issue for either entity, and no one would have ever taken it to order 5. That the Republican Party of the State of Utah continues its Stalinist quest to purge itself of all I They managed to see eye to eye on one thing: "If you are not Lilly-whit- e, wealthy and male. The Republican Party just wants you to fail! Wal-Mar- Plus, this giant generates massive congestion, while also destroying a towns unique identity, turning every place into another Sprawl-Ma- rt dont know how many times Ive had discussions with people towards reforming the National around here who identify themDemocratic Party into something selves as Republicans, but when I that is more in touch with real peoknow to them are get ple. really Democrats. They just havent figThis election year proved its ured it out since die State needed, so get off your butts and Democratic Party does such an show die rest of the country the excellent job of sticking its head in way back to reality, and so I can the sand. quit watching Jim Mathesons Im Memo to Joe Cannon: Chairman not a Republican, but Im going to Mao and Senator McCarthy would play one in this commercial ads. be proud of Mr. Waddoups and Mr. 3. That Keith Prows and the Salt Throckmorton for wanting to kick Lake County Republican Party be court fined for their little post election OOPS! Its 2002! Everythings your little brother Chris butt out the door for not being one of die on on the Internet now, and any form game they played County Them. Honestly, there are only CounciL of ambiguity in a public transaction . ' five of Them anyway, so maybe T 'J 'MC'IYows 'accusations .were ! l '"like this dAe3&'ioingto 'someone trying to exploit it If die you ought to send Them packing every inch as bad as screaming to the Libertarian Party where they Fire in a packed Huntsman L.D.S. Church Officials wanted Center, when there was no fire at belong before they rip your party complete control over the plaza, all A full disclosure of the situaapart they should have said so up front On second thought let diem rip tion that led up to Cryins lies instead of trying to side-ste- p die it apart so the voting public can see would show an ample amount of issue to minimize die risks of die what a bunch of paranoid, backguilt for both, and taking a little . plaza not happening. room deal making. Eagle Forum The City is also guilty, by not money from them would go a long John Birch Society towards false such way insuring looking into any past jurisprudence isolationist wannabees, these people and baseless accusations will never to see what needed to be done in die crafting of the agreement really are. So come 2004, the public happen again. will have no trouble in cleaning 2. That Randy Horiuchi spends Instead, they focused on that $8 house for you at the ballot box. more time creating Democratic million they were going to get for 4. That the Democratic Party of , Friends than spending time getvacating die street the State of Utah develops die guts The shame goes equally to both. ting his "Republican Friends to to look the DNC in the eye, and Now take what youve learned, and step to the plate for him. Before I go any further, I have pass its own independent platform. get out of the backrooms die next to admit I am a friend of Randys, time you want to do the publics Guys, its not like the DNC is the of one not business going to invest squat in any race in just Republican together. this State, except die 2nd ones. I have enjoyed having his There are many more things I would like to see as well, like Trent Congressional District (and after support in moving forward many what happened in November, I projects for the Magna Community, Lott getting rolled for being the dont know if I would bet on that). and he still kicks the crap out of racist that he is (If Jimmy die So, why not just do the right tiling me every time we go golfing. Greek and Al Campanis can get and write a platform that expresses But trolling a campaign ad listrolled for it he should absolutely the real Reliefs of Utah Democrats. ing the Republicans who support get rolled for it), and world peace. Better yet, why not lead die charge These will just have to wait for you? I guess it got the Republicans boot-lickin- g, You can only win the war on terrorism with offense Heres how you win the war on . . : terror. You shift your emphasis from defend to defeat Offense wins games. Defense is essential, but secondary. You win wars by killing the other guy. This is nothing new. Smarter people have said this better than I can. Hopefully, some of them have the presidents ear. But most Americans are missing it Most Americans think we fight terrorism by tightening security. We dont And dont be confused on that point Putting more guards at die airport doesnt fight terrorism, neither does opening the mail with rubber gloves. You fight terrorists by killing them. Our goal must not be to defend ourselves against terrorism, it must be to defeat terror- ism. We must take the battle to them, not wait for diem to bring it to us. We are safer on the march than we are while cowering. Sure, we should take precautions. Yes, we must tighten securi ty want and we live as we please. Domestic security precautions restrict that And while that may be necessary in times of war, it must not be permanent During World War II, homes had blackout shades for tire windows, to keep enemy planes from being able to pick out targets. Those were necessary then. But when the war was over they were But the primary focus, of our efforts must be directed toward violendy rooting out terrorists at home or overseas. We must attack, relendessly. Our efforts and treasure must be directed toward bloodying him, not covering ourselves so he cant bloody us. In part because perfect defense is impossible and perfect offense is not There is no way we can imagine and prevent every conceivable attack against us. There will always be an opening, a loophole or a lapse. When you are on defense you must anticipate and be prepared to fend off a million blows. When you are the terrorist attacker you must land only one blow. Defensive measures will always be fallible. Offensive measures, however, can bring total security. That is the lesson of history. In -'- Americarthe Indians arent scalping anybody anymore, and die Nazis arent sinking any more ships in die Atlantic. That is not because we made pioneer homesteads any more secure, or because we made oceangoing vessels more seaworthy, its because we eliminated tite threat We played offense. We beat them. And we enjoyed peace, freedom and prosperity as a result And if we want our children and grandchildren to do the same we will need to fight on to similar complete victories. Because defeating our enemy assures our freedom, and defending ' ourself from our enemy restricts our freedom. We have too quickly accepted in America die belief that security restrictions imposed after Sept 11 are permanent a necessary hall-mark of the new world. : But they are not America is a society which has enjoyed a free openness unparalleled in human history. We go where we want and do what we gone. ; It must be the same with this war. The defensive restrictions of World War II - and the Civil War and the Revolutionary War - went away because we eliminated the need. We killed the enemy who threatened us. It must be die same with dais war. We will endure tightened security at home for a time - in the name of defense - but it must be made unnecessary as soon as possible by victory. We must recognize that and be willing to pay the price required. ' Not in our liberties, but in our national treasure and blood. It may require us to fight a real war. It may require us to station troops permanently in new parts of the world. It may require a draft Thats what smart people are saying. And they are right The fight is not here, it is there. We must not focus on what we can do, but on what we can do to our enemy. For us to live safely in our home, we must make it impossible for our enemy to live safely in his home. , We must beat the living hell out of him. I grew up in a town where die pioneers lived in fear of countless . rattlesnakes. They handled that by killing all the rattlesnakes, not by boots. wearing snake-proWe must do that now. We must remember that the goal is not to defend, it is to defeat The preservation of American of society demands it - by Bob Lonsberry 2002 Bob Lonshjrry is the morning talk-sho-w host at KNRS 570 AM 5:30 a.nt -- 10 am. He writes a daily internet column at www.lomherry.com l POOR C |