I was denied my civil right under the ADA
when I was not allowed to enter a Wal-Mart store with my service dog. I had proper ID for myself and vested trained service dog. I was laughed at and told I could not enter the Wal-Mart store with my service dog. How do they get away with that? Is it because they have MONEY MONEY and the law doesn't apply to them?

I just want to know why is it that my light bill goes up at least two dollars every month. Can someone explain to me what the gross receipts tax is and the county utility tax going up almost two dollars every month. Someone please explain what the heck is reciept tax and why is the county making us pay so much every month.

After resisting for so long, I am preparing to be assimilated. I'm about to have an interview at Walmart! I can't wait! These guys really know how to treat their employees.......not. Now I need to think how I'm gonna communicate to the unhappier employees that the union is a way to get things solved. I know-I'll start by hanging out with the smokers-they gripe about everything.... Someone told me to be real careful cuz they spy on you at work, is this fur real?

I've got more of a BraveNewFilms question. I've applied to become a field producer and called up the office today to leave information about myself to the staff. I called again, because I forgot my email, which I then left on the machine.

I just wanted to say I admire all the films BraveNewFilms produces and I'd want to help become a part. I think I did the right thing by become a field producer and I will be forking over some photos and videos soon. Is there any more I can do to help? I'll be in chat tonight.

Thank you for all you do Robert, Jim, Rick, Devin, Lisa and everybody whose made a difference through these movies. These movies won't change WALMart or Fox but they will inspire the people to change them. Cheers.

AS TO WHERE ELSE TO SHOP-----------Anywhere but Walmarts-------- Its something akin to what the United Auto Workers did at one time. They would pick one of the big auto companies[GM , Ford or whatever] and target only that company to strike against. This would have the effect of placing the entire industry on notice as well as pressuring the lone targeted company to comply and thereby generating new pressure on the rest. Although they all are abusive we must start somewhere and starting with the prototype for worker exploitation,WALMART, is a very good place to start.

Would you consider "Wal-Myth, the Frown Behind the Smile"? I realize I'm quite late. Just received a forward about the movie today.

Hi All

Wal-Mart discriminates against people with disabilities who use devices such as service animals,That are technically known as Medical devices and not pets. Wheel chairs and other mobility devices, isles and other areas are too narrow and are blocked by items being sold. Accessable toilets being used for storage. People who are blind by not providing braille in places that it is needed, not having clear isles. No braille for the prices on the shelves. This should be a must for all stores. Hard of hearing by not providing flashing lights for certain things that would alert them emergencies, or specials that may go on as they cannot hear the speakers.

Wal-mart was sued not to long ago and was required to change its ways about service animals and other violations. Most Walmart stores stores still continue to discriminate against all who have disabilites.
It would ultimately be cheaper to fix the violations and train employees the proper way to handle those with disabilities and to follow the ADA law than it is to fight it in court. But businesses like Wal-mart figure they have the money to fight it. Why should they have to change so that we who have disabilites can have all the same freedoms and independence as a person with out disabilities. It is our right to live as independent as possible.

I am not required by law to show proof of my disability. I am not required by law to carry identification with me for my Service Dog. My dog has visual identification to try to meet the business world half way even though it is not required.
I am mobility impaired as well as other disabilities. I use a Service Dog. My dog is well trained and does not ever cause a problem. With a Rollater walker ( Walker with a Seat and Wheels and brakes) I cannot get around a Wal-mart store due to the isles being to small and narrow due to items being sold or stored in them. I am often followed by store employees. After confronting me about my Service dog they often times they call their managers and the manager again confronts me about my Service Dog.
I tell the manager the same thing I tell the employee. He is a service dog. They start to question me and I let them know they cannot ask me questions about my disability. They cannot deny me access. If they chose to do so then I will be forced to take further action.

This does not happen only where I am but all over the United States. People are denied access either by the multiple violations in the store or because some employee decided that my dog was not a service dog. I suppose he is also a dog trainer and a medical doctor that has the ability to make decisions based on his professional ability as such. He is a Walmart employee. When he can show me a judges license and I am before him in the Supreme Court of the United States and he tells me I am not disabled I will stop requiring access with my animal and my walker.
Thank you very much

I would be careful with using only
"WAL-MART" in the title of a documentary. Some people might think it's a promotional film or positive documentary about the company. Not everyone will read, nor digest the subtitle.

For those praising WalMart and all the cheap things they sell: just how much "stuff" do we need? If it only costs a nickle and we don't need it why spend the nickle? We citizens of the United States are the biggest consumers of natural resources in the world. With our government subsidizing outsourcing of our jobs each of us needs to save every penny we can if we wish our next generations to be able to afford a home of their own.
In addition, we need to build smaller homes and be proud of them instead of building "trophy" houses! It seems our government wants to take us back to the Lord and Serf system. Big corporations like WalMart help to promote that by driving local businesses out and drying up our towns.

Wal Mart is just one example of what this country is becoming without strong unions.
The workers are loosing the rights and laws that kept workers safe from harm. And young children from becoming slaves to the companies.
This is not a new problem. Read the history of unions.

I choose not to shop at Walmart by choice. However, it is my contention that under our current laws, if Walmart were to change its ways via consumer and advocate pressure, a new goliath (or goliaths) would rise in its place. Walmart is just amazingly good at its destructive game.

In light of this, what systemic change must take place? I just saw "The Corporation" and wonder if a landmark case in front of a future sympathetic Supreme Court may remove the protections of corporations under the 14th Amendment may be a possible answer? Shouldn't be too tough to find a legitimate plaintiff...

i must've missed the original collecting of title options, if it was put to the public. it's not on the list, but i'm a big fan of the bumper sticker on my car: MAL-WART: YOUR SOURCE FOR CHEAP PLASTIC CRAP. i voted for "The High Cost of Low Price" as a subtitle, but i'd like "Mal-Wart" so much better as a title.

I was just curious if there is a list of addresses of the locations who will be screening the film? It would be helpful, that way I can see if there is any scheduled where I live. They are planning on building a walmart in our town, and I am wondering what I can do (if anything) to fight to stop this from happening. I hate corporate monopolies such as WalMart. Thanks. Amy, Juneau Alaska

As Carolyn posted early on here, I am also interested in what the solution orientated voices can offer. In Outfoxed there is a good segment at the end giving voice to those who have constructive solutions. Also in Frontline's piece "Is Wal-mart good for America" nothing was really offered, it was just "Wal-mart is for the most part bad and we don't know what to do about it." Just like Fox news, Wal-mart is too big a beast to hope for a total dismantiling, yet it is still possible to change the nature of the beast. Or at least get it a muzzle so it doesn't eat everything. Point is, besides just not shoping at Wal-mart, what other solutions are being talked about and who is offering them. For one it would be interesting to talk with the community relations (not Public Relations) person at stores, if there is one. More community involvement can lead to closer scrutiny of there practices.

I'm just wondering about what impact Jr. Walton's death might have on your plans for marketing the film?
I'd also like to suggest a wonderful teaching tool for kids concerning the consumerism attitude that's sweeping our country with the aid of Wal Mart. It's a Veggie-Tales video called "Madame Blueberry" (with operatic pun intended) and the main point deals with greediness. Madame Blueberry lives in a tree house and nearby a giant "Stuff-Mart" is built and their representatives come to the tree and sell her on buying, buying, buying. Finally the tree house collapses under the weight of all the stuff.

Why don't I shop at WalMart? Let me count the ways:

Negative impact upon towns/cities in which they "occupy":

WalMart's unfair business practices result in competitors demise; WalMart's overall treatment of their employees, as potential "thieves" (read Barbara Ehrenrich's book about this); Walmart pays employees substandard wages; WalMart does not provide health insurance for employees (forcing them to rely upon public health facilities, and taxpayers picking up the bill; WalMart cynically and avariciously purports to "Sell American," yet most of their products are manufacuted overseas; WalMart exploits and manipulates overseas markets and their employee--who toil under inhumane conditions for inhumane wages; WalMart is at the cusp of a trend to force working class people into an ever-growing permanent underclass; WalMart is not the American Dream but, for most, an American Nightmare.

Why do I not shop at WalMart? I do not want to participate in the exploitiation of my fellow human beings. A bargain is not a bargain when fairness, compassion, and the coldest form of capitalist greed are the corporate catchwords. The smiling and friendly faces, coupled with "down home" accents of people featured in WalMart commercials fail to hide the corrupted heart of the WalMart Corporation.

Also, I recommend an exciting and Canadian-produced document, "The Corporation," to those of you who are interested in learning more about the history and current state of the corporate culture.

Thank you for producing this documentary.

Linda

The Supreme Court decision of Kelo Vs New London -- giving developers via city government, rights to take over private citizens' property -- seems to be an open door policy for corporations like Wall Mart to encroach communities. Are you addressing this in your film?

Thank you for being another wonderful example to young film makers. This genre of political film-making is crucial. One of the best ways to step around our paid for and bought media is to make films like yours. A great big THANK YOU!

I plan to show your film and want to promote it, but many people are ignorant about why Walmart isn't good for the community. What is a short, concise way to explain the "evils of Walmart" that will make them want to come see the film?

Great, and TRULY, long-term THINKING, and CARING PATRIOT, is Robert, "Bobby" GREENWALD!

Great and ever-THOUGHTFUL, TRULY American, Long-Term THINKING, AND CARING, Patriot, is this Lad, name O'ROBERT, Bobby GREENWALD!!

MalWart pretends to be the friend of the lttile man by buying in volume and selling low. However, when MalWart is the only box store in a town, they revert to high prices because the market will bear it. Take for example Lockhart and San Marcos, Texas, two cities about 20 miles apart and no more than 40 miles from a regional MalWart distribution center. Lockhart has no real competition, San Marcos has Lowes and Target. Everything from dog food to cinder blocks can be found to cost up to twice as much in the Lockhart store as in the San Marcos store. Where there is no competition, MalWart reverts to a policy of avarice and greed, and the little smiley face turns into the mark of the beast. No wonder the NeoCon Nazis love MalWart. When I was younger, I never understood why one of my elders said that MalWart destroyed small towns. To me, it was about the opportunity to buy things in a small town that previously couldn't be had without a trip to the big city. There is no positive economic benefit to minimum wage jobs with healthcare funded by taxpayer Medicaid. MalWart is not friendly, they do not provide quality service or products, and I can prove that their grocery prices can definitely be beat on a routine basis.

Hi Robert. I am a friend of your brother and sister-in-law. When will you be making the trek to Bucks County Pennsylvania to promote your new film? Is there a possibility of your making a personal appearance at a local press conference in Quakertown with our local Democratic candidate for township supervisor? I appreciate your consideration.

Please use the subtitle "The High Cost of a Low Price" or something not just about America. Wal-Mart is exploiting people all over the world and hopefully they, too, will be seeing this movie.

To Carolyn: It is not easy at times to shop elsewhere, but watching a recent TV special on Dateline or 20/20 about how a young woman(& mother of a young child...) seamstress from Bangaladesh who makes clothes sold at Walmart works 10 hour days & lives an extremely impoverished lifestyle with very little trickling down to her) ...It is an eye opening experience...I agree that it is better to spend more when you can. You also can shop thrift stores for clothes and other items first . Buy only bare necessities if you shop at these "exploit-o-marts" and let people know how you feel if you shop or go into these stores ...When my son was in junior high and at his height of "fashion consciousness", used to urge me to spend $$ for items I could not afford until he got an education on the third world from myself and others...Now we shop the better thrift stores first, often finding new items...I shop online and at places like alternative energy & sustainable lifestyle type festivals for hemp clothing, 100% cotton clothing made in the USA,etc...When you shop ask about the working conditions of the factories where the clothes are made, inform the employees...Many of them do not know or think about these things. This an opportunity to educate them!!!With time and practice you can be an activist and an educator while spending your hard earned bucks...May the force be with you, Carolyn, and Good luck!!!

the film title could be:

" Off the Wal"
'nailed to the Wal'

I will not step foot in another WalMart for many reasons. First and foremost, they do not pay a living wage and the majority of their employees must rely on government assistance for health care, section 8 subsidies and/or food assistance. It's part of a dangerous trend in this country--more and more jobs do not pay a sustainable wage. Secondly, Walmart provides cheap, low-quality goods that feed our culture's rampant consumerism. The store is aisles and aisles of cheap plastic toys and gidgets most of which people don't need and end up in our landfills a few years down the line. Thirdly, employees in these stores usually know nothing about the products they sell. The philosophy seems to be that the cheapest product is always the best, so no need to worry about educating the consumer to help them choose the best product for their needs. And lastly, there are countless examples of WalMart moving in and closing down local businesses. Since local businesses are more involved in the community and represent the driving force in our economy (something like 70% of all jobs are provided by small businesses) we should be supporting them.

We need to wake up in this country to the fact that the huge and growing disparity between the wealthy and the poor in this country ultimately brings all of us down. If we keep supporting businesses that don't provide a living wage, more businesses will adopt this model and the downward spiral continues. CostCo is a great example of doing it the right way, so we know it's possible to provide low-priced goods while paying a living wage.

I vacation frequently in my motorhome, as I travel all over the USA.

Most stores do not allow any rest-stops in their parking lots. There are liability issues.

Walmart does allow us to park there overnight, and they have security cameras, and roving security guards.
I purchase my gasoline there, and my groceries, and some of my casual clothing also.
They are nice people, and I have never had any of their employees say anything but praise about their employer.
It is a pleasure to be associated with a fine company who still cares enough for the public, that they provide everything we might need - all in one place.

I Love Walmart.
They have what I need.
Great Prices.
Great Service.
Great Return Policy.

What's wrong with WM,Sheril? Try living in a small town in Eastern Kentucky with a main street of mom and pop businesses: the drug store, a tire store, a ladies clothing store, a beauty shop. WalMart came in about 30 miles up the road, between my town and another small town about 30 miles the other way. The mom and pop businesses which made our "downtown" all folded in a year after they couldn't compete for price. Two years later when WM wasn't making enough % profit, they moved out leaving us with nothing.

well, first of all, to some of the people above, I work for an electronics retailer, and in southern minnesota, wal-mart has a stranglehold over these smaler communities. a number of sales associates and store manager in this area that I work with on a daily basis have worked for wal-mart. A friend of mine that manages another store was on a national reset team that told him he would be away form his family 4 days a wek and then they turned around and worked him 5 weeks without more than a single day off a week. needless to say he left at the end of that 5 weeks. I am all for the overthrow of the comapny that wants to kill dreams of small buisness owners and erode away the living standards of people.

To Ellen,

Yes, Costco is known for being one of the better companies to work for. They cap their CEO's salary at 10 times that of their average worker. This is unusual considering that nowadays most CEOs earn several hundred times what their average employee earns. They also provide excellent benefits and very competitive wages to their employees and believe in keeping their people happy and healthy.

Exactly-- what other stores are doing better? I like Costco -- Do their workers have Union representation?

The "logo" for this film would be much more effective if the "smiley" was smiling.

The current angry-face makes it look like a personal attack. People resent that, and then they instinctively reject what you are trying to say next. End result: you're not able to make your point.

Use a slightly modified version of Wal-Mart's original smiley, that will have a much bigger impact.

Why? When people "make their own conclusion" that what Wal-Mart is doing is wrong, it is far more effective as they say to their friends, "I've been thinking that what W-M is doing....".

Unless of course you don't aspire to communicate anything to new people. For "preaching to the choir," the current angry face will work just fine.

A film title: Wal-Fraud: The high price of low morality.

My kids enjoyed reading, and now watching Dr Seuss' THE LORAX on videotape. The story on tape has many songs, including one that describes the dozens (hundreds?) of products that we are marketed to but have no real need for - and so the product in the Seuss story is called THNEED. I'm with Amy, who posted earlier - how much do we really need that Wal-Mart (or Target or Kmart or BigLots, etc.) sells anyway? The concept of living simply and "ways to simplify your lifestyle" are constantly in rotation in magazines, newspapers, on radio, tv, you name it. How simple is living simply? Why, it's elementary, my dear... consume less, live more.

how about a widescreen movie of kennedys question to rumsfield today. with war footage
and rumsfield's grimace as he answered.

Netflix and Walmart have now teamed up to "co-promote" or as i like to call it crush the small indie video store world. In a major deal Netflix will send their dvd sales to Walmart and Walmart will send their failed attempt at mailorder videos to Netflix. I hope you do not plan on having Netflix carry this now--I will be very disgusted if it is. Do not sleep with the enemy and please let people know to give Netflix the thumbs down. Thanks.
for more info
see:money.cnn.com/2005/05/19/technology/ personaltech/walmart_netflix.reut/?cnn=yes - 41k -

SELLING OUT AMERICANS - THE WALMART STORY

SELLING AMERICA AT A DISCOUNT - THE WALMART STORY

THE REAL COST OF LOW PRICES - THE WALMART STORY

IMPORTING GOODS/EXPORTING JOBS - THE WALMART STORY

This title's too long, but how about:

Un-Believable: How Wal-Mart Moved in and Stole America's Soul

Frontline did a story on Malmart. I hope that this movie shows the law suits that the employes have filed from not getting paid for there overtime pay to the discrimiation.

I can not tell if the movie will be screening in the Greater New Orleans area or not...can you somehow let me know...

Thanks!!!
Heather Wright
New Orleans, Louisiana
(A Blue City in a Red State)

Wal-Mart does lots of good wherever they have stores and I have not heard any complaints from the employees I have talked to. I think this is just a few disgruntled people who are out to get Wal-mart. Get the facts before tearing down someone.

How many local businesses under threat from a Wal-Mart in their market area pay higher wages than Wal-Mart does? How many offer medical insurance? How many offer stock purchase plans? How many offer advancement into management? How many attempt to offer the lowest prices possible to the consumer? How many contribute to websites and campaigns to discredit Wal-Mart? Why should consumers pay higher prices for the same products from a local busninss when they can buy at Wal-Mart and then have cash left over to spent elsewhere? How many local business owners with cash from price gouging buy a new car every year and take a vacation to Hawaii while the consumer stares at a stack of bills on the kitchen table at home?

To Carolyn,

After working with our community to stop a Super Wal-Mart from being built, I hardly felt like I could step foot in one of their buildings. (the store was built anyway) I have not shopped in a Wal-Mart since 1998 and I don't miss it. Living in a small town, that either means pay more or do without it. For most things I do without and save the money to buy the pricier things that I really need or want.

I have to admit that on occasional shopping trips to bigger cities I've shopped at Target and other big box stores, but not often. It is tough being a responsible consumer, but the root word there is consume, and most of the junk they sell we don't need. It requires a complete change of thinking.

I just wanted to ask if there will be ideas given on where a better place to shop than Wal-Mart is? I have read several articles about how bad Wal-Mart is to it's employees and how they sell cheap Chinese products but, never has anyone said that Target or drugstore.com or anywhere else does any better so how am I as a comsumer suppposed to know where to spend my money? I am very willing to boycott Wal-Mart if I could ever figure out where else to shop. Help!