Ok, so WalMart is the devil...

[RatRacer]

...is Target any better? Do they give better pay and benefits or are they about the same?

[4_Legs_Good]

1. That's a great question

If I'm not mistaken, they're a very red company as well.

Does anyone have more details?

david

[ihaveaquestion]

2. Red - According to BuyBlue.org

http://www.buyblue.org/detail.php?corpId=55

[RatRacer]

6. Hmm

On almost every category, it says "Not Rated". Only on political contributions is this being based. I'm more interested in whether their policies are better for workers (wages, benefits, etc.) than things like that.

[Midlodemocrat]

3. Go to Costco. They are true blue.

[MostPeopleDO]

4. lessers of evils

fact is, most companies are logically red. Why would an evil, faceless corporation want to waste their riches on securing fair pay for their workers. They have unions to bust!
However only Wal-Mart really bothers me. This isn't because of cherry-picking armchair liberalism. Wal-Mart contributes to the trade deficit, employees Chinese instead of Americans, intends on being a monopoly, uses child labour, union busts, and strategically eliminates all small businesses in small towns. Target doesn't do any of these. A more "normal" store.
Shop at Costco...or anyplace but Wallyworld.

[TwilightZone]

5. They are one of the most progressive large companies in the country.

They donate a higher percentage of profits to charity than any other large company in the US (per a recently-published study). They also provide more support to local school systems than just about anyone and are very involved in community support.

Employee benefits are good and company support, training, etc., are all pretty solid. Wal-Mart can't compare on the employee support side of the equation.

Disclosure: I'm the spouse of a Target employee

[earth mom]

7. I shop at Target...

and rarely Walmart-I want to give them up totally-I'm close to it, but they carry a couple must haves that I haven't found elsewhere-YET. Make no mistake though, I definitely hate the Walmartization of America-IMO, they are f-in destroyers of communities and other business! Plus, Walmart employees strike me as miserable and downtrodden, while Target employees seem happier and better treated.

That said, I'd rather shop entirely at Costco but it's just not practical since they don't carry everything our family needs. Lately, I've been shopping more at out of the way smaller grocery chains-sort of spreading the cash around.

[IrateCitizen]

8. Here's an alternative strategy...

Shop at these big-box stores as little as you can. Don't spend money on a bunch of stuff you don't need. Reduce. Reuse. Repair.

Instead of buying new furniture or household accessories, check out estate sales and tag sales. You might be amazed at what you find.

The problem doesn't lie so much in shopping at this company or that company (well, except in the case of Wal Mart). The problem lies in rampant consumerism, the idea that we have to spend money in order to feel like our lives are worthwhile.

Dare to break the trend....

[jdj]

9. yesm.

I'm a tight-wadder about 3 degrees away from being a recreational dumpster diver.

I'm only interested in being an active part of capitalism when I am not getting screwed up the yin-yang. I am saving my money now instead for the medical condition I'll have in my old age that I won't have insurance for.

[Donailin]

10. Any megastore that sets up shop

in an area that already has smaller shops and cannot compete with the prices of megastore will go out of business.

This is why I intend to open up a restaurant, cafeterias can't steal that many customers. <g>