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Message 2652
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| Subject: | Re: [socialcredit] Martin on Wal-Mart, Retail Discount and CIR | | Date: | Wednesday, August 31, 2005 14:50:00 (+0100) | | From: | Kenneth Palmerton <kenpalmerton @................uk>
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In-Reply-To: <003c01c5adde$d4698fc0$1902a8c0@keithb9abaaf21>
Was any of this like the British Columbia proposals of the 1970s ?
LIFT (Low Interest Funding Today). A scheme that offered "Forgivable"
loans :-)
Never was able to get the full story at the time, but would love to know
more.
Ken.
-------- Original Message --------
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From: "Keith Wilde" <keithwilde@sympatico.ca>
To: <socialcredit@elistas.com>
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<008101c5ad83$d16e8790$0c4722cf@martinh4>Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 23:48:20
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Subject: Re: [socialcredit] Martin on Wal-Mart, Retail Discount and CIR
X-Envelope-To: kenpalmerton@cixcouk.cix.co.uk
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I am ignorant on the history of the Treasury Branches' impact on =
provision of more abundant credit. Did it operate somewhat like the =
federal Industrial Development Bank of our own times--providing loans =
for real investment in contrast to private banks' emphasis on lending =
only with the backing of existing assets? The only thing I knew about =
TB as a youth was that a cheque drawn on a Treasury Branch account was =
the way you identified neighbors who were soft on Social Credit. Is =
that because they were progressive farmers who knew something better =
about getting a loan to buy a new tractor?
And I am rusty on the German miracle. Did they simply issue a new =
"brand" of fiat money (like deGaulle's New Francs or the Euro) and then =
withdraw the old currency from circulation? What do you mean by it =
"depreciating out of existence". Was it actively withdraw as it became =
physically deteriorated and then destroyed, as we used to do with worn =
out currency in an incinerator in the basement at Bank of Canada?
When you say that "conventional banking has built on that German =
foundation", I am left in the dark. Any intepretations I can think of =
as questions for clarification sound too implausible to even proffer. =
It does seem that your suggestion for reform has an affinity, however, =
with the comments I made to Joe under "Round two: Katrina". I will be =
interested to know if that is the case.=20
Your mention of Guernsey credit reminds me that Maurice Colbourne's =
Economic Nationalism invokes it in support of Douglas' New Economics. =
Since the main references Colbourne cites for further reading are =
Douglas' "Social Credit" and Hattersley's "This Age of Plenty", the =
'legend' gets pushed back in time to a modest degree. Colbourne adds =
that Hattersley provides abundant references from many and varied =
sources to support his argument. Is that a place to look for Guernsey =
'legend' antecedents?=20
Keith Wilde
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Martin Hattersley=20
To: socialcredit@elistas.com=20
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 12:27 PM
Subject: Re: [socialcredit] Wal-Mart, Retail Discount and CIR
It seems to me that, without necessarily implementing the whole =
Douglas system (dividends, Just Price, etc.), great progress could be =
made simply by restoring to government the control of credit - as was =
done in a partial way by the development of Alberta's Treasury branches, =
and the sort of public issue of credit that was the key to revival in =
Guernsey, as well as in countries like Belgium and West Germany after =
World War II - an issue to everyone of state created "fiat" money, and =
the old money depreciated out of existence.
Of course, conventional banking has built on that German foundation, =
so we're back where we were before - but Germany's "economic miracle" =
after World War II was an object lesson on what a reformed money system =
could achieve. If we're looking at a policy to sell to the public, =
something as simple as this, without all the finer points of A+B, is =
likely the way to go.
Martin Hattersley
1970-10123-99 St.,=20
EDMONTON AB CANADA
e-mail: hattersleyjm@interbaun.com
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Keith Wilde=20
To: socialcredit@elistas.com=20
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 5:27 AM
Subject: Re: [socialcredit] Wal-Mart, Retail Discount and CIR
(Joe comments) Perhaps we should re-visit some of what Douglas =
wrote about Japan in the 1930's, and the way it used 'national credit' =
to 'subsidize' exports, and build up the ''nation'' on its way to the =
other kind of 'war'. The opposite approach to the 'Social Credit' idea, =
as he noted, but it certainly showed what is possible in regards to some =
of what CAN be done with 'credit'. =20
As an immediate solution to 'our' problem, before what's left of our =
industrial base disappears, I think Bill Ryan is right. There has to be =
'protectionism', though I think with China today, as with Japan then, =
there are considerable 'military' risks involved in invoking it. It's =
probably better to take those risks sooner, rather than later. Before =
it absolutely is too late. Though unless we press at the same time for =
a 'financial system' both here, and in China, and elsewhere, that can =
use 'national credit' for each country's individual CITIZEN'S real, =
(and primary), advantage, (''We must build 'up' from the INDIVIDUAL, not =
'down' from the STATE."), we're going to still be headed for trouble in =
my opinion.
(To my question:) Am I right to infer that at least a part of =
Douglas' reaction to Wal-Mart would be to close the borders against =
imports from China...?
That is what I suspected the answer to be, but I have only dim =
recollections of the exchange that covered trade policy explicitly and =
do not recall reading Douglas on Japan. =20
It does bring up the further question of whether it is conceivable =
to implement the Douglas solution in one country, even if its citizens =
did get themselves roused sufficiently to take over their government. =
What then is a positive strategy for advancing the agenda--aside from =
the educational program advocated by Vic Bridger, as we have discussed?
Keith
Joe
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Joe Thomson=20
To: socialcredit@elistas.com=20
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 3:08 AM
Subject: Re: [socialcredit] Wal-Mart, Retail Discount and CIR
Hello Keith,
I'll reply in 'green' below.
(Keith rejoins:)
Wal-Mart discounting does not have the monetary impact of the =
Douglas discount, but it does apply the principle of continual =
improvements to "efficiency" and consequently to labor displacement. As =
I understand texts from the '30s, Douglas and his allies were mostly =
focused on production as the place where this phenomenon occurred. They =
were preoccupied with the abundance of production contrasted to the =
failure of distribution, and they attributed the latter almost entirely =
to the "toll-bridge" constraint imposed by the banking and financial =
system, preventing goods from crossing the bridge from producers to =
consumers. Since mid-centry, it seems that a great deal of =
cost-reductions from technological development have occurred in =
marketing and distribution. Does this development have any implications =
for the way in which Douglas' solutions would be applied if citizens did =
rouse themselves (against the power of corporate money to buy votes) to =
demand action against the financial power in the 21st century?
(Joe replies:-) Judging from the reactions of citizens here =
when Wal-Mart came to town, about an equal number were totally enamoured =
with the idea of getting 'lower prices', no matter what, as were those =
who vehemently opposed Wal-Mart's presence, for whatever reasons, =
real or imagined. And a larger, probably wiser, number here were =
pretty well ambivalent about the whole issue. =20
While those opposed made a lot of noise, the 'votes' that =
Wal-Mart 'bought' here weren't those of the citizenry, but rather those =
on the City Council. I would say the whole issue had been clearly =
decided ''FOR" Wal-Mart on that Council even before any public hearings =
were held. And despite all the 'gum-beating' of those against, and the =
pretence their 'obedient servants' were listening, it was obviously a =
done deal before any of the 'general public' ever got to say their =
two-bits worth. =20
An experienced mega-buck company offering millions in 'amenity =
funds' to a cash conscious City Council anxious to show the voters it's =
'done something', without having to raise taxes to do it, can get a =
piece of land it wants rezoned for a new Wal-Mart just like that. And =
the store itself approved, even if old Sam Walton himself had horns, =
forked tongue, and a tail, or come Hell or high water. The only =
difficulty here seemed to be keeping the Mayor and all the Councillors =
looking awake and un-yawning as the necessary public hearing 'window =
dressing' dragged on.=20
The land the Wal-Mart here sits on had been zoned 'light =
industrial' back in the Bill Bennett era. When that so-called =
latter-day 'Socred' Premier had been going around the Province preaching =
how 'high-tech' manufacturing industry was the wave of the future, and =
it wouldn't matter if the forest industry and other 'traditional' =
industries continued to shed workers apace. And municipalities that =
wanted to get on the band-wagon should zone some land appropriately for =
the coming 'boom'. 'Tourism' and 'high-tech' would provide well-paying =
replacement jobs galore. They didn't. It was all hype. =20
Wal-Mart here had over 800 applications the first day it =
announced it was hiring. For 125, part-time, slightly above =
minimum-wage positions. 'Something' is better than 'nothing', I =
suppose. And the computerized point-of-sale scanner accounting and =
re-ordering system the casher gets to use is definitely 'high-tech', =
even if it is assembled somewhere in the 'Third World'=20
Well, we can't dump entirely on 'Wal-Mart'. A few years =
earlier, another mega-buck big chain arrived here, Real Canadian =
Super-Store. Followed by Canadian Tire. Both 'domesticly' domiciled =
outfits. Not imported from south of the line. And they both plopped =
their 'barns' and parking lots down on a piece of prime agricultural =
land previously locked up in the 'Agricultural Land Reserve', (as are =
still many properties in BC. Most which don't even have enough 'soil' =
on them to grow a decent marijuana crop ~ about the only thing in =
'agriculture' that pays anymore! ) This piece had 'soil', and had been =
farmed. Legitimately. It was the kind of property the ALR was =
supposedly designed to protect. But the 'power of money' changed that =
pretty quickly too.=20
There's no denying Wal-Mart is good at what they do, (selling =
stuff, I mean), and one would expect them to take full advantage of the =
latest in modern technology in regards to 'merchandising' their stores. =
And 'timing' the payments to their suppliers for that merchandise to =
best advantage, (for Wal-Mart ! ), as well. Nothing like using your =
supplier's 'credit' to the limit, interest-free, instead of 'borrowing' =
your own the other way. =20
Insofar as genuine 'efficiency' in the saving of labour is =
concerned, I think Douglas would be impressed with what the 'computer =
age' has brought. And if that were the only 'secret' to Wal-Mart's =
success, he, and we, could find little fault with them. I think there's =
just a little more to it than that, though.
(Keith continues:-) A related question: =20
(Joe replies:-) That's an interesting question, Keith. I hope =
you get some better informed reaction to it than i can give you. We =
think of the Chinese export-factory worker as a 'slave', yet compared to =
the 80% or so of Chinese still on the land, I don't doubt for a moment =
he thinks of himself as finally 'upwardly mobile'. Even if his actual =
'production', which could be of more 'real' benefit to him and his =
countrymen if it were sent in that direction, will be largely witheld =
from him.=20
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I am ignorant on the history of the =
Treasury=20
Branches' impact on provision of more abundant credit. Did it =
operate=20
somewhat like the federal Industrial Development Bank of our own=20
times--providing loans for real investment in contrast to private banks' =
emphasis on lending only with the backing of existing =
assets? The=20
only thing I knew about TB as a youth was that a cheque drawn on a =
Treasury=20
Branch account was the way you identified neighbors who were soft on=20
Social Credit. Is that because they were progressive farmers =
who knew=20
something better about getting a loan to buy a new tractor?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>And I am rusty on the German =
miracle. Did=20
they simply issue a new "brand" of fiat money (like deGaulle's New =
Francs=20
or the Euro) and then withdraw the old currency from =
circulation? =20
What do you mean by it "depreciating out of existence". Was it =
actively=20
withdraw as it became physically deteriorated</FONT> <FONT =
face=3DArial=20
size=3D2>and then destroyed, as we used to do with worn out currency in =
an=20
incinerator in the basement at Bank of Canada?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>When you say that "conventional banking =
has built=20
on that German foundation", I am left in the dark. =
Any intepretations=20
I can think of as questions for clarification sound too implausible to =
even=20
proffer. It does seem that your suggestion for reform has an =
affinity,=20
however, with the comments I made to Joe under "Round two:=20
Katrina". I will be interested to know if that is the=20
case. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Your mention of Guernsey credit reminds =
me that=20
Maurice Colbourne's Economic Nationalism invokes it in support of =
Douglas' New=20
Economics. Since the main references Colbourne cites for further =
reading=20
are Douglas' "Social Credit" and Hattersley's "This Age of Plenty", the =
'legend'=20
gets pushed back in time to a modest degree. Colbourne adds that=20
Hattersley provides abundant references from many and varied sources to =
support=20
his argument. Is that a place to look for Guernsey=20
'legend' antecedents? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Keith Wilde</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dhattersleyjm@interbaun.com=20
href=3D"mailto:hattersleyjm@interbaun.com">Martin Hattersley</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dsocialcredit@elistas.com=20
href=3D"mailto:socialcredit@elistas.com">socialcredit@elistas.com</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, August 30, 2005 =
12:27=20
PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [socialcredit] =
Wal-Mart,=20
Retail Discount and CIR</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>It seems to me that, without necessarily =
implementing the=20
whole Douglas system (dividends, Just Price, etc.), great progress =
could be=20
made simply by restoring to government the control of credit - as was =
done in=20
a partial way by the development of Alberta's Treasury branches, and =
the sort=20
of public issue of credit that was the key to revival in Guernsey, as =
well as=20
in countries like Belgium and West Germany after World War II - an =
issue to=20
everyone of state created "fiat" money, and the old money depreciated =
out of=20
existence.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Of course, conventional banking has built on that =
German=20
foundation, so we're back where we were before - but Germany's =
"economic=20
miracle" after World War II was an object lesson on what a reformed =
money=20
system could achieve. If we're looking at a policy to sell to the =
public,=20
something as simple as this, without all the finer points of A+B, is =
likely=20
the way to go.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Martin Hattersley<BR>1970-10123-99 St., =
<BR>EDMONTON AB=20
CANADA<BR>e-mail: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:hattersleyjm@interbaun.com">hattersleyjm@interbaun.com</A>=
</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dkeithwilde@sympatico.ca =
href=3D"mailto:keithwilde@sympatico.ca">Keith=20
Wilde</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dsocialcredit@elistas.com=20
=
href=3D"mailto:socialcredit@elistas.com">socialcredit@elistas.com</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, August 30, =
2005 5:27=20
AM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [socialcredit] =
Wal-Mart,=20
Retail Discount and CIR</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000> (Joe comments) Perhaps we =
should=20
re-visit some of what Douglas wrote about Japan in the 1930's, and =
the way=20
it used 'national credit' to 'subsidize' exports, and build up the=20
''nation'' on its way to the other kind of 'war'. The =
opposite=20
approach to the 'Social Credit' idea, as he noted, but it certainly =
showed=20
what is possible in regards to some of what CAN be done with=20
'credit'. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000>As an immediate solution to 'our' =
problem,=20
before what's left of our industrial base disappears, I think =
Bill Ryan=20
is right. There has to be 'protectionism', though I think with =
China=20
today, as with Japan then, there are considerable 'military' risks =
involved=20
in invoking it. It's probably better to take those risks=20
sooner, rather than later. Before it absolutely is too=20
late. Though unless we press at the same time for a =
'financial=20
system' both here, and in China, and elsewhere, that can use =
'national=20
credit' for each country's individual CITIZEN'S real, =
(and=20
primary), advantage, (''We must build 'up' from the INDIVIDUAL, not =
'down'=20
from the STATE."), we're going to still be headed for trouble in my=20
opinion.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV>(To my question:) Am I right to infer that at least =
a part=20
of Douglas' reaction to Wal-Mart would be to close the borders =
against=20
imports from China...?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>That is what I suspected the answer to be, but I have only dim=20
recollections of the exchange that covered trade policy =
explicitly and=20
do not recall reading Douglas on Japan. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It does bring up the further question of whether it is =
conceivable to=20
implement the Douglas solution in one country, even if its citizens =
did get=20
themselves roused sufficiently to take over their government. =
What=20
then is a positive strategy for advancing the agenda--aside from the =
educational program advocated by Vic Bridger, as we have =
discussed?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Keith</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT =
color=3D#008000>Joe</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- =
</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dthomsonhiyu@shaw.ca =
href=3D"mailto:thomsonhiyu@shaw.ca">Joe=20
Thomson</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dsocialcredit@elistas.com=20
=
href=3D"mailto:socialcredit@elistas.com">socialcredit@elistas.com</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, August 30, =
2005 3:08=20
AM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [socialcredit] =
Wal-Mart,=20
Retail Discount and CIR</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#008000><STRONG>Hello=20
Keith,</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#008000>I'll reply in =
'green'=20
below.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT =
size=3D3>(Keith=20
rejoins:)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Wal-Mart discounting does not have the monetary impact of =
the=20
Douglas discount, but it does apply the principle of continual=20
improvements to "efficiency" and consequently to labor =
displacement. As=20
I understand texts from the '30s, Douglas and his allies were =
mostly=20
focused on production as the place where this phenomenon =
occurred. =20
They were preoccupied with the abundance of production =
contrasted to the=20
failure of distribution, and they attributed the latter almost =
entirely=20
to the "toll-bridge" constraint imposed by the banking and =
financial=20
system, preventing goods from crossing the bridge from producers =
to=20
consumers. Since mid-centry, it seems that a great deal of =
cost-reductions from technological development have occurred in=20
marketing and distribution. Does this development have any =
implications for the way in which Douglas' solutions would be =
applied if=20
citizens did rouse themselves (against the power of corporate =
money to=20
buy votes) to demand action against the financial power in the =
21st=20
century?</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000>(Joe replies:-) Judging =
from the=20
reactions of citizens here when Wal-Mart came to =
town, about an=20
equal number were totally enamoured with the idea of =
getting 'lower=20
prices', no matter what, as were those who vehemently=20
opposed Wal-Mart's presence, for whatever reasons, =
real or=20
imagined. And a larger, probably wiser, number =
here=20
were pretty well ambivalent about the whole =
issue. =20
</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000>While those opposed made a =
lot of=20
noise, the 'votes' that Wal-Mart 'bought' here =
weren't those=20
of the citizenry, but rather those on the City Council. I =
would=20
say the whole issue had been clearly decided ''FOR" =
Wal-Mart on=20
that Council even before any public hearings were =
held. And=20
despite all the 'gum-beating' of those against, and the pretence =
their=20
'obedient servants' were listening, it was obviously =
a done=20
deal before any of the 'general public' ever got to say =
their=20
two-bits worth. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000>An experienced =
mega-buck company=20
offering millions in 'amenity funds' to a cash conscious City =
Council=20
anxious to show the voters it's 'done something', without having =
to=20
raise taxes to do it, can get a piece of land it wants rezoned =
for a new=20
Wal-Mart just like that. And the store itself approved, =
even if=20
old Sam Walton himself had horns, forked tongue, and a tail,=20
or come Hell or high water. The only =
difficulty here=20
seemed to be keeping the Mayor and all the Councillors =
looking=20
awake and un-yawning as the necessary public hearing =
'window=20
dressing' dragged on. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000>The land the Wal-Mart =
here sits on=20
had been zoned 'light industrial' back in the Bill Bennett =
era. =20
When that so-called latter-day 'Socred' Premier had been going =
around=20
the Province preaching how 'high-tech' manufacturing industry =
was the=20
wave of the future, and it wouldn't matter if the forest =
industry and=20
other 'traditional' industries continued to shed workers apace.=20
And municipalities that wanted to get on the band-wagon =
should=20
zone some land appropriately for the coming 'boom'. =
'Tourism' and=20
'high-tech' would provide well-paying replacement jobs =
galore. =20
They didn't. It was all hype. =
</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000>Wal-Mart here had over 800 =
applications=20
the first day it announced it was hiring. For 125, =
part-time,=20
slightly above minimum-wage positions. 'Something' =
is better=20
than 'nothing', I suppose. And the computerized=20
point-of-sale scanner accounting and re-ordering system the =
casher gets=20
to use is definitely 'high-tech', even if it is assembled =
somewhere in=20
the 'Third World' </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000>Well, we can't dump entirely =
on=20
'Wal-Mart'. A few years earlier, another mega-buck big =
chain=20
arrived here, Real Canadian Super-Store. Followed by =
Canadian=20
Tire. Both 'domesticly' domiciled outfits. Not =
imported from=20
south of the line. And they both plopped =
their 'barns' and=20
parking lots down on a piece of prime agricultural land =
previously=20
locked up in the 'Agricultural Land Reserve', (as are still many =
properties in BC. Most which don't even have enough =
'soil'=20
on them to grow a decent marijuana crop ~ about the only thing =
in=20
'agriculture' that pays anymore! ) This piece had 'soil', =
and had=20
been farmed. Legitimately. It was the kind of =
property the=20
ALR was supposedly designed to protect. But the 'power of =
money'=20
changed that pretty quickly too. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000> There's no denying =
Wal-Mart is=20
good at what they do, (selling stuff, I mean), and one would =
expect them=20
to take full advantage of the latest in modern technology in =
regards to=20
'merchandising' their stores. And 'timing' the payments to =
their=20
suppliers for that merchandise to best advantage, (for Wal-Mart =
! ), as=20
well. Nothing like using your supplier's 'credit' to the =
limit,=20
interest-free, instead of 'borrowing' your own the other=20
way. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000>Insofar as genuine =
'efficiency' in the=20
saving of labour is concerned, I think Douglas would be =
impressed with=20
what the 'computer age' has brought. And if that were the =
only=20
'secret' to Wal-Mart's success, he, and we, could find little =
fault with=20
them. I think there's just a little more to it than that,=20
though.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>(Keith continues:-) A related question: </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000>(Joe replies:-) That's =
an=20
interesting question, Keith. I hope you get some better =
informed=20
reaction to it than i can give you. We think of the =
Chinese=20
export-factory worker as a 'slave', yet compared to the 80% or =
so of=20
Chinese still on the land, I don't doubt for a moment he thinks =
of=20
himself as finally 'upwardly mobile'. Even if his actual=20
'production', which could be of more 'real' benefit to him =
and his=20
countrymen if it were sent in that direction, will be largely =
witheld=20
from him. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: =
5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT=20
face=3DArial></FONT> </BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE>
=
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