Adrianne Shropshire

The Everyday Low Prices of Blogging for Wal-Mart

Blog readers beware. While you might think you are reading the independent opinions and corporate-influence-free ideas of political pundits across the country, what you might actually be getting is a word-for-word opinion, straight from the Wal-Mart PR spin machine. While nothing seems to be too low for Wal-Mart (prices, wages, benefits) I still was a little surprised to learn that they've targeted the blogosphere in their search for friends and even more surprised to learn that conservative bloggers are lifting the words right off the PR presses and passing them off as original material. Talk about moving a message.

It's interesting though to get a look at whose support Wal-Mart believes they must consolidate. MoveOn certainly has transformed what is defined as a mobilizable base. And here I thought that given their usual commercials highlighting working-class African Americans playing basketball with their kids, or single African American mothers shopping with kids or their girlfriends, or Queen Latifah, or Beyonce... I thought Wal-Mart was almost exclusively focused on trying to convince working-class communities of color, and specifically African Americans, that everyday low prices should always outweigh dignity, respect, and a decent paycheck. I mean if Destiny's Child and their families shop there for Christmas presents doesn't that excuse the fact that the children of "associates" don't have health insurance?

Trying to convince these communities would make sense, since it is in these communities that Wal-Mart is trying to expand their low-road job show. And the relative ease with which they seem to slide into these communities is a sad commentary on the economic outlook of the regular folks who reside there. Having to decide between a crappy job or no job is not only a terrible position to be in but a false choice as well because Wal-Mart doesn't have to offer crappy jobs and we don't have to accept them as the only option.

But alas, poor Wal-Mart. In search of a friend. A company that seemed invincible is suddenly in desperate need of good PR. So, I'd like to be helpful to them and here's my little tip for Wal-Mart (and everyone else who they've inspired with their low-road business model): Wanna change your public image? Pay a decent wage; let your "associates" decide for themselves whether they would like union representation or not (and, oh, don't close the store if they choose the union); don't discriminate against women, people of color, or immigrants (go ahead, settle those law suits); and do what every other self-respecting, responsible employer does and provide affordable healthcare.

Adrianne Shropshire: Author Bio | Other Posts
Posted at 5:58 AM, Mar 08, 2006 in Labor | Media | Wal-Mart
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