tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3356197772493765397.post2372721916341390409..comments2023-06-14T07:02:58.527-05:00Comments on The St. Lou Jew: Is Wal-mart Kosher?Y?http://www.blogger.com/profile/11649272113923397688noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3356197772493765397.post-83745232159781629672008-07-09T19:12:00.000-05:002008-07-09T19:12:00.000-05:00I would like to applaud you for writing this piece...I would like to applaud you for writing this piece. I consider Wal-Mart "treif" and refrain from shopping there or Sam's Club. While we me disagree on Wal-Mart, it is more important for us to be discussing and thinking about the ethics of a company like Wal-Mart, than just shopping their blindly or boycotting it ignorantly. So...on to my complaints.<BR/><BR/>You neglect the fact, from a shareholder perspective, that the company's practices hurt their brand image, which may drive down shareholder value now and into the future.<BR/><BR/>You largely dismiss arguments against the ethics of Wal-Mart's policies with the argument that since they are big, they are going to be targeted. If we use this same argument with the United States, the most powerful country in the world, it prevents us from legitimately addressing serious problems posed by U.S. actions. Using your celebrity analogy, there's a reason why Will Smith isn't blasted in the media and Britney Spears is...<BR/><BR/>You asked a provocative question, "Is Wal-Mart Kosher?" but you never really answered it. To ask if the company is ethical is one thing, but the title implies that you are going to take it on from a Jewish perspective.<BR/><BR/>Well, as a Jew, is your perspective not changed? Are we not obligated, as Jews, to demand the highest ethics? Shouldn't we see more purpose in this world than shareholder value or consumer value? If you believe that Wal-Mart is kosher, why not explain why the lack of adequate health care for the workers is worth the value that the company brings? Although Wal-Mart provides necessities at low prices, are they not also driving our out of control materialistic consumer culture?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com