Wal-Mart Bribes: Just Business as Usual

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For Wal-Mart, there were 90 cases of bribery in Asia during one year alone, and 145 instances inMexico over three years, because they say "these are difficult places to do business".(It's tough finding people to work for $1 a hour these days. Justask Alice in Wonderland Walton.)

In the New York Times article "Bribes Without Jail Time" we learn that many big American corporations like Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods,Johnson & Johnson, Halliburton, Siemens and Morgan Stanley were involved in bribery. It's business as usual.

But it's against the law, yet no one ever goes to jail.

It’s axiomatic that people, not corporations, commit crimes. But "real people" in corporations (company executives) are protectedfrom criminal and civil prosecution because of "corporate limited liability". The company usually justends up paying a small fine. The corporate big wigs can't be personally sued.Besides, they have access to a mountain of cash can hire the best army of shystersdefense lawyers that money can buy.

Just like most members in Congress, the large corporate bosses are above thelaw. CEOs make decisions every day that sometime maims or kills people forprofits. But when a kid gets caught with a joint, they goes to prison, while pedophilesand murderers get early releases and pardons. Does that make any sense?

The case for Wal-Mart should be a poster child for "individual liability" and "personal responsibility"...like the Republicans are alwayspreaching when arguing against food stamps. The Republicans call food stamps, TANF, and jobless benefits for the poor and unemployed "redistributing the wealth".

I call subsidies for big profitable tobacco and oil companies "redistributing the wealth". I call $650 billion every year given to thedefense industry "redistributing the wealth". I call two un-funded wars I didn't agree with "redistributing the wealth". I call lower taxrates for billionaires "redistributing the wealth". I call $174,000-a-year salaries and gold-plated healthcare plans for members ofcongress "redistributing the wealth". I call outsourcing jobs for cheaper labor "redistributing the wealth".I call domestic minimum and low wages "redistributing the wealth". I call raising prices on basicconsumer necessities to pay CEOs multi-million-dollar annual salaries "redistributing the wealth".

Mitt Romney's line of "politicians who end up spreading poverty in the name of spreading the wealth" is bull. He was one of those who createdpoverty for working Americans.

Taxevasion is "redistributing the wealth", and bribery is also "redistributing thewealth".

NewYork Times: "Once upon a time, the world vied primarily for the attention (and dollars) of American consumers. Just a decade ago, they wereresponsible for nearly a quarter of the world’s economy. Now, however, Americans are on their way to being displaced by upwardlymobile consumers from much poorer countries." Thanks Wal-Mart!