I am guessing that you have watched the video, and that by your statement, "that you know first hand", that you have had personal dealings with Wal-mart.  I can not tell by your post if that was a positive experience or a negative since there are no specifics as to what you are referring.  I make no assumption about you personally, I do however take issue with the accuracy of the information that is being presented, and the willingness for people to take at facevalue with out looking at other sources, and information that paint a different store.  Many people take what ever is given to them first as the truth, and no additional effort unless someone gives them the otherside of the story.  My statement that communism and socialism are the same. 

both are the same result, no difference just splitting hairs communism has a greater stigma but the both have the same result.

  I made the statement both are the same result, not that they are the same.  You can cut your meat with a fork, or a knife, the result is the same, meat cut but a fork and a knife are not the same, same principal.

I have not seen anything in the video about contracts and there effects on family, so I am not sure what you are referring to and how that effects the topic of the information that was covered in that video. other than you personal experience.

As far a human nature being an argument for our choices or our actions, human nature is the bare minimum we can expect from each other as humans but by no means where we should leave the level of expectation from each other.  My statement about choice was not an indication that we do not make choices and that we all do it, only that many stop short in looking at facts, refuse to acknowledge that there could be another perspective that is different and that the truth most likely lies some where in the middle.  There are things in everyones life that are not choices.  Of the things we do have choice over there is a bad choice, and a good choice, None of us hit the mark all of the time, if we were to hold ourselves to the same level of accountability that we expect from others, things would be different.  I am sure that as in any business Wal-mart has made mistakes, I am sure that you have as well.  Maybe some that have effected other people, employees, community etc.  It is a part of doing business, when mistakes are made, an effort must be made to correct, continued mistakes will end in failure. There are so many points that are skewed in this representation that it would take more time than I have to address them all.  You are certainly entitled to your opinion.  I look forward to your response.  It has been interesting to say the least. 

All I will say AS A BUSINESS OWNER.... I could in a few months or a year put everyone of my competitors out of business but I will never do that.

It must be liberating to go to work on a daily basis knowing that you have that kind of security and that you could not be threatened by the competition.  I do not have that luxury.

Florida Community Impact 
Last Modified: Monday, October 22, 2007 
Real Estate
As of September 2007, Wal-Mart's presence in Florida includes:
Supercenters: 151
Discount Stores: 44
Neighborhood Markets: 16
Sam's Clubs: 40
Distribution Centers: 7
Average store size (national average)
Supercenter: 185,000 sq. ft. with approx. 142,000 items
Discount Store: 101,000 sq. ft. with approx. 120,000 items
Neighborhood Market: 41,000 sq. ft. with approx. 29,000 items
Sam's Club: 130,000 sq. ft. with approx. 5,500 items
 

 
People
As of October 2007, the total number of Wal-Mart associates in Florida is 94,949.
The average wage for regular, full-time hourly associates in Florida is $10.76 per hour (Wal-Mart Discount Stores, Supercenters, and Neighborhood Markets). Additionally, associates are eligible for performance-based bonuses.
In recent years, Wal-Mart has contributed four percent of an associate's eligible pay to their combined Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan.
 
Suppliers
In FYE 2007, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc spent $5,716,647,630 for merchandise and services with 2,844 suppliers in the state of Florida. As a result of Wal-Mart's relationship with these suppliers, Wal-Mart supports 133,154 supplier jobs in the state of Florida.
Supplier figures provided by Dun & Bradstreet.
 
Taxes and Fees
Wal-Mart collected on behalf of the state of Florida more than $790.9 million in sales taxes in FYE 2007.
Wal-Mart paid more than $94.7 million in state and local taxes in the state of Florida in FYE 2007.
 
Community Involvement
In 2006, Wal-Mart Stores and Sam's Club gave $12,798,091 in cash and in-kind donations to local causes and organizations in the communities they serve in the state of Florida. Through additional funds raised through stores and Clubs throughout the state, Wal-Mart contributed and raised a grand total of $19,099,648 as a result of its presence in Florida.
Florida's 2007 Teacher of the Year is Terry Porter from Markham Woods Middle Schoo in Lake Mary.
 
This is just some of the information out there that tells the other side of the story, its not all bad, if you look you will find tons of other information as well.  If you choose to. 

You now have the floor. I wish you continued success and  I enjoyed the debate

You are willing to take what the issues are with wal-mart at face value based on what others say, but when I say Communism you have to assume that I must have meant something else.  Interesting that we believe what we choose to believe.   

Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. It is usually considered a branch of the broader socialist movement that draws on the various political and intellectual movements that trace their origins back to the work of Karl Marx.

Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that visualize a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community[1] for the purposes of increasing social and economic equality and cooperation. This control may be either direct—exercised through popular collectives such as workers' councils—or indirect—exercised on behalf of the people by the state. As an economic system, socialism is often characterized by socialized (state or community) ownership of the means of production.

both are the same result, no difference just splitting hairs communism has a greater stigma but the both have the same result.

How does capitalism eliminate the middle class?  And what would be a better solution than capitalism?  Communism?

Why don't you enlighten us on what the issues are?  I am aware of what they claim the issues to be, it is a lot of opinion and a lot of twisted information.  They tie the issues to the result of bringing low prices not the low prices themselves.  It is interesting that the economy is driven by what the customer wants, most changes in the market are as a result of each and everyone of us as a consumer.  Imagine walking in to a store and being told that the only pillow and blanket available was for $40 and a pillow for $20 you would than ask why?  Well we decided to only make available pillows and blankets that were made in the united states of 100% U.S. materials.  Some would buy it, most wouldn't if the majority of consumers are looking for something other than what a merchant is providing than they go else where the rest of the market gets the picture and adapts.  Then all are soon to follow.  If you are selling something no one wants you change are go bankrupt.  It is intersting that when given information that effects you personally you will fight tooth and toenail to find the truth, the rest you take at face value.  If we were to take everything ever put on video or in news paper a face value, we would be in bad shape, take time to look at other sources and the flip side of the coin.  There are three sides to every story, Their side, the side of wal-mart and the truth I would venture to say that the truth is closer to the middle.  Take Wal-mart out of your town and watch what happens, The Kmart, Target, etc will all raise prices, competition becomes less of a player and the consumer pays.  On top of that you will be getting the same thing from them only more money out of your pocket.  This is way bigger than you think and it easy to minimize in an effort to put a label on it.  As in any business there are things being done that are not always the best, but look at who is behind most of this and look to see what kind of shady past they have.  Best price alone will not make you successful and definitely will not take you to the top, any small business owner knows they have to do more to be competitive. 

at Kmart, Target, Dollar General, the dollar store, any of the $1 stores, most of the convenience stores, many of the mom and pop stores, only you will pay twice as much for the same thing, CVS, Walgreens, publix, winn dixie, albertsons, etc, etc.  They all have the chinese crap, Wal-mart doesn't have the market cornered on it, they are just the biggest.  What is it that makes people think they can have a sorry excuse for a business model and expect to be successfull, in the increasing consumer savvy world we live in, the fittest will survive, No one wants to pay 40% to 100% more for the same thing.  Walk in to sweet bay and pay $1.67 for a pack of toilet paper that you can get the exact same pack at Wal-mart for .97 cent, that is just the tip of the iceberg, why would you want to spend your money on something you can get for less and limit your ability to chose where you extra income is spent.  Everyone is being exploited by someone, you spend more of your money for what you want, I will be happy to have the same thing for less, sometimes that is not at wal-mart either.  The movie is crap, and the same type of thing you would expext from the liberal  yahoos that would have you believe that ATV's are ruining the world.  Wal-mart was a small business, mom and pop at one time, taking on the giant retailers, why do you think they knocked everyone of them off, Every small business has the potential, some don't have the right plan others don't have the desire.  None of them are going to get any better by whining about how unfair it is that they cant charge extra because they don't want to adapt to the market.  Who will be the next Wal-mart, Microsoft, IBM, Intel, fed ex etc, I bet it wont be one of the whiners, cry me a river!!!!

I called and spoke to a woman ranger the first week of October, have a friend that lives in ocala and was planning on going and riding in the forest, wanted to get additional information.  She stated you do not need to pay the fee to ride big scrub, it was for the marked trails and big scrub was free.  I was very sceptical, as you are, having read some of the other post of people saying they were checked a big scrub, I asked my friend what he knew he is under the impression if you ride on onf land you must have the permit.  We didn't want to take the chance, we both went to croom, for the day.  I am trying to go up next week to onf to ride with him again, I plan on buying the permit just don't need the trouble.

I saw you out at the pit for a little while, I was sitting over by the bowl, there were 4 or 5 guys on ltr450's ripping it up for a while and a girl dressed in black pants and tank top on a yellow ltr450 with them.  I saw you heading across the pit, think I saw you heading out at the end of the day also, that was the only bike like that out there.  Nice quad.

that sucks i saw some guy riding a blue blaster i think was acting wierd kept point at people and across the pit or to jumps like he was challenging everyone.  some of you guys on the dirtbike just fly around the pit its almost like you dont touch ground saw a couple of crash and burns looked like they hurt but everyone just bounces right up and takes off again.  several utility quads get stuck in the hole over by the bowl and one guy did it twice in the same place it didnt start after that.  some guy on a ktm 450 i think got stuck nose first in the same hole could only see back tire and tailpipe it didnt start either.  half the fun is watching the other people no telling what they do next.  i was riding a z400. sorry to hear about trailer should a smacked him.

Went out to Croom was wondering if anyone else was out there running around.  Was a good day lots of people but didn't seem to be to crowded anyone else's take on the day?

I was there last Thursday and road the entire perimeter trail with a couple of friends it took us a while mainly because of all of the whoops. I was told it was 12 miles it felt like more.  Was fun warm up before i spent the next two hours chasing my friend on the marked ftr trail on his ktm. the trail is like riding a wash board.

Liddell all the way! wont let it happen twice.