Let's move the discussion of corporations right out front.

Yes they do...as the largest employer in the United staes they do....

It MIGHT be possible that they grant the largest absolute number of gifts of any company, as they push most corporate giving down to the store level. But dollars? Nope.

For the year 2006 they donated 300 million Dollars or 5.8 Million per week to over 6,700 world wide charities....

For the year 2006 they donated 300 million Dollars or 5.8 Million per week to over 6,700 world wide charities....

Per the Washington Post on March 27 of this year: "- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. increased its U.S. charitable giving 10 percent last year to $272.9 million, the world's largest retailer said Tuesday, likely defending its position as the country's largest corporate donor of cash." That's for 2005 - 2006 data was not yet available.

And I'm NOT defending WalMart!

neither do i but they have a right to exist just as any other Bussiness does....

I'm not a big fan of big business but I think there are a few that stand out as socially responsible businesses. Ben & Jerry's as well as Paul Newman's Own come to mind.
As far as Walmart goes I can't get it out of my mind the HUGH advertising campaign they did years ago promoting themselves as only buying American made goods then were caught sewing Made in the USA labels on clothing made overseas. Kind of took care of any decision on my part whether or not to buy from them.

Earlier, Robin wrote: "I think we ignore at our peril that the corporate state is ultimately a fascist state, and I do believe that we've been headed in that direction for the past generation and may still be, although the absurd excesses of the Bushies may possibly be working to turn things at least slightly off that course."

Very, very important thought.

The type of thing that genuine adults (SWAATTT - geez, that gnat has corporate bisque on his breath) can discuss.

Coming soon: Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of Red Lobster."

Earlier, Robin wrote: "I think we ignore at our peril that the corporate state is ultimately a fascist state, and I do believe that we've been headed in that direction for the past generation and may still be, although the absurd excesses of the Bushies may possibly be working to turn things at least slightly off that course."

Very, very important thought.

I'm interested in this time line. The worst of the corporate excesses seemed to exist in the "dot.com" era, which was, in my opinion, the greatest transfer of wealth from the unknowing to the knowing in my lifetime. That era was rooted in the fiscal policy of the Clinton era. So, what makes today more corporate-abused than 1999?

Um guys, I think you are comparing apples and oranges. Wal-Mart's donations are corporate gifts and I think Robert is correct in that they are numero uno. Bill Gates and Buffett's donations are channeled through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. They don't qualify technically as "corporate" charity donations, however they dwarf Wal-Mart's donations. Personally, I don't shop at Wal-Mart because I think they sell cheap junk made by Chinese prison laborers. Hey, but that's just my pet peeve. OK, touch gloves and get back to it.

Just curious...Where do you shop that has all American Made Products and where the workers are making 50 to 80 percent above minumum wage...Just curious...I dont think there is a place like that.....

Um guys, I think you are comparing apples and oranges. Wal-Mart's donations are corporate gifts and I think Robert is correct in that they are numero uno. Bill Gates and Buffett's donations are channeled through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. They don't qualify technically as "corporate" charity donations, however they dwarf Wal-Mart's donations. Personally, I don't shop at Wal-Mart because I think they sell cheap junk made by Chinese prison laborers. Hey, but that's just my pet peeve. OK, touch gloves and get back to it.

Hmmm....Robert said Target was the largest, not WalMart.

"Chinese prison laborers.?" You're kidding, right? Again, I'm not defending Wal-Mart, but that's just silly.

The selling of products made by prison labor and child labor by Wal-Mart (and others) is not exactly "silly". For accounts of how Wal-Mart looks the other way as it buys products made by child and prison laborers please read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_ ... ote-palast
and the works of the Chinese dissident Harry Wu. Also, the CECC has the data
Robert wrote:

Just curious...Where do you shop that has all American Made Products and where the workers are making 50 to 80 percent above minumum wage...Just curious...I dont think there is a place like that.....

Robert you're right. No one store fits the bill. But, by cruising the internet I can find good products made by people who aren't being exploited. For example, I recently needed a winter coat and found a brand, Western Mountaineering" that is made in the U.S. Sure, maybe some of the components might have come from elsewhere, but the product is made here. For some clothing I buy from the American Apparel line. I try to look for fair trade products whenever possible. Not preaching, just what I do.

[quote="Jon K"]The selling of products made by prison labor and child labor by Wal-Mart (and others) is not exactly "silly". For accounts of how Wal-Mart looks the other way as it buys products made by child and prison laborers please read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_ ... ote-palast
=/quote]

I don't think I'm willing to accept "Wikipedia" as an expert source. You'll have to do better than that as evidence Wal-Mart uses "prison labor" for sourcing.

I, for one don't really enjoy shopping at the Wal-Mart(or Target, or any other Big Box Store,) but the low... low prices make them hard to ignore. My problem is with the whole American corporate system in general.

I mean, when do we get to hold someone accountable for the sorry state of things when everyone is working at a bad service industry job, for low wages, to purchase low quality products(that are made in China).Is it the Unions who ask for too much(health insurance,guauanteed pensions)The kids of unskilled workers who can't afford the rising cost of a higher education to better themselves ? I could get on a big soapbox here but when is enough, enough. How much profit do the big corporate guys have to make at the expense of the American Dream? For most people I talk to the ends aren't meeting like they used to. So they have NO CHOICE BUT TO SUPPORT THE VERY ENTITY that has had a lot to do with creating this situation.

I, for one don't really enjoy shopping at the Wal-Mart(or Target, or any other Big Box Store,) but the low... low prices make them hard to ignore. My problem is with the whole American corporate system in general.

I mean, when do we get to hold someone accountable for the sorry state of things when everyone is working at a bad service industry job, for low wages, to purchase low quality products(that are made in China).Is it the Unions who ask for too much(health insurance,guauanteed pensions)The kids of unskilled workers who can't afford the rising cost of a higher education to better themselves ? I could get on a big soapbox here but when is enough, enough. How much profit do the big corporate guys have to make at the expense of the American Dream? For most people I talk to the ends aren't meeting like they used to. So they have NO CHOICE BUT TO SUPPORT THE VERY ENTITY that has had a lot to do with creating this situation.

Amen brother, amen. I will tell you I haven't a clue as to the answer. I go to work, draw the pay and make things work out as best I can. I also remember that there is always someone on Planet Earth who has it worse than me tonight. I thank God for my plight and ask God to help the ones that have less than I.

Doogy and TP: We can argue the merits of wikipedia at an off-line. However, numerous sources support the assertion that the Chinese use prison labor in manufacturing. Heck, even the Chinese government admits it and calls it an important part of rehabilitation. Don't forget that the great state of Texas practices the same form of rehabilitation on a much smaller scale.
Sources:
Congressional Executive Committee on China http://www.cecc.gov/
Sociology research from Wright State http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=624601
U.S.-China Economic Security Commission http://www.uscc.gov/pressreleases/2002/pr02_5_10.php
As you can see, the data above is not self-proclaimed expert punditry but comes from a variety of government and academic sources.

As for Wal-Mart's involvement, Chinese dissidents such as Harry Wu report on how the Chinese government "protects Wal-Mart" and other American buyers from seeing the labor source. That way their hands are clean. The same assertions are made by U.S. and international labor unions. That one is sourced more loosely, I admit, but Wal-Mart has been caught using exploited labor way too many times for me to give a pass to them.