Need help debunking a winger on Obama charities vs Wal-Mart!

[jackster]

Here's the comment made at The Tallahassee Democrat website

http://tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080403/OPINION04/804030301/1050#gslPageReturn

Have you ever worked for anyone poor? Are you aware that Wal-Mart and the Walton family are the second largest contributors to charities...on Earth? Who you might ask is number 1? Bill Gates and his wife. Still curious? Barack and Michelle contributed less than 1% of their income to charities...until Barack decided to run for President. The little guy gets paid exactly what they are worth. IF they're making peanuts, maybe they should have actually taken advantage of the free education they were offered instead of Mr. or Ms. COOL who ridiculed the kids that were working hard and studying...and now the employer

This guy is a hard core narcissist who shouts down everyone. Can anyone help with these charitiable contribution "facts?"

Thanks!

[babylonsister]

1. You might want to ask him why he's defending WalMart to begin with.

Here's a link to the abuses the company has been involved in:
http://wakeupwalmart.com/

I'm also wondering what that clown's doing on a Dem board with that attitude...


Also, here's two threads discussing the Obama charitable contributions;

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4917978&mesg_id=4929244

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=127894#127898

[jackster]

4. The Tallahassee Democrat

is the name of the local paper. And although it is pretty progressive area, you'd never know it by reading the comments, forums, blogs, etc on the site. They wingers have taken over and its driving me mad!

Thanks!

[kaygore]

2. Maybe this will help

http://reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart/2005-06/charity.php

http://reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart/big-box_studies_reports.php

[glowing]

3. Really now.. you should know this...

Ok, #1 reason companies give charitable donations is to escape paying taxes and give itself a PR kick to make you feel better spending your money there.

AND

If Walmart paid its employees a fair wage, then its employees wouldn't have to worry about standing in line trying to receive a piece of those donations. Walmart also pushes down the prices that it buys from other companies. So, other companies that sell their products in Walmart, have to take a cut in profit, which in turn cuts into the pay of people who are working at these companies.. so, now they are in line hoping to catch a piece of charity from Walmart. AND the companies that cannot or do not slash the price enough to satisfy Walmart's sales request loses out to another company or in most cases, to another country (China). So.. unemployed and underemployed people become a greater burden on the local, state, and federal govt, all the while, Walmart is finding as many ways to keep its company from paying taxes into the system... Its a vicious cycle that eventually will make America enslaved within a country that is privatized and supported/ run by corporations... Essentially what you see going on today..

ON EDIT: We THE People are the most Charitable entity.. We support all of this thing we call the United States with our labor and love.

[jackster]

6. I'm quite aware of that

especially since old man Walton didn't even believe in giving to charity and its only been in the last 10 to 15 years that the company gave in such large amounts. I just wanted to see if his facts were correct in stating that they are the largest in the world and if so how one might correctly analzye the data.

[jackster]

8. and one more thing...

I hope you weren't being snarky - that shite should be saved for the bad guys!

[glowing]

10. I cannot tell anymore.. Some people on this board are just barely

hoping the fence.. They aren't aware of these things. but your posts are high count, so I figured by now you could slap away a fundie with the greatest of ease.. I don't think it really matters if they are #2 or #10.. They are doing it for a tax shelter and for PR so we don't think they are as evil.. And in the larger scheme.. These big corps are creating a Corporate Statehood.. Fascism... Nike Town U.S.A (tm).. When you take someone on, don't get stuck on a little detail.. They love little factoid details.. And too many of the Dems look for a way to fight the factoid, when its the general idea they need to squash.

[thoughtanarchist]

5. Why are Re-Re-conservatives so fixated on "charity"

But abhor any broader type of social responsibility?


Anyhoo, if the donor gets tax breaks based on those contributions, who is really footing the bill? The donor or the taxpayer?

[walldude]

9. The are fixated because they don't give shit...

and need to make sure someone is taking up the slack.

[walldude]

7. Uh.. same Wal-Mart who took a woman all the way to the Supreme

court to take money she won in a lawsuit after her life was destroyed by a semi-truck? And then had to be browbeaten by Keith Olbermann and others into dropping the claim? Yeah they are a real charitable bunch.

Oh and tell your right wing "pal" that it was only 1 year that Obama gave only 1%. Who knows maybe he had a leaky bathtub or something. The following year they Obama's gave $125,000 to charity, ask your pal how much he/she gave...