Union Households Shop at Wal-Mart
From Reuters: New Wal-Mart poll finds more favorable attitudes
CHICAGO (Reuters) - About 70 percent of Americans think Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is good for consumers, according to a poll released on Wednesday by a Wal-Mart-backed group of community leaders.
Well this is in stark contrast to a poll provided by the union backed WakeUpWalMart.com poll taken by Zogby found:
The poll found that 56 percent of American adults agreed with the statement - “Wal-Mart was bad for America. It may provide low prices, but these prices come with a high moral and economic cost.” In contrast, only 39 percent of American adults agreed with the opposing statement - “I believe Wal-Mart is good for America. It provides low prices and saves consumers money every day.”
This was later severely discredited along with Zogby by this Washington Times article.
Now granted, both of these interest groups are both backed by invested parties, looking out for their own best interest. That being said, we now have two sides of the story with the truth probably somewhere in the middle.
This new poll also found some other interesting data. From the Working Families for Wal-Mart: Poll Shows Union and Non-Union Americans Overwhelmingly Support Wal-Mart
Clear majorities of Americans support Wal-Mart and disagree with the Washington, D.C. union leadership-funded attacks. Specifically, the poll shows that of those surveyed:
- 71 percent of Americans believe Wal-Mart is good for consumers while 63 percent of union households hold the same belief;
- 58 percent of Americans and 54 percent of union households believe union leaders should make protecting union jobs a higher priority than attacking Wal-Mart;
- 60 percent of Americans say the campaign against Wal-Mart is not a good use of union dues and 44 percent of union households agree;
- 54 percent of Americans and 42 percent of union households believe the campaign against Wal-Mart makes labor union leaders less relevant to solving the economic challenges facing working families today.
I admit I am a capitalist and I am all for Wal-Mart. I shop Wal-Mart almost exclusively, put some big money down at the register in the month of December and felt good doing it. The associates, store, bargains, convenience and pop-corn shrimp, I like it all.
Lastly, one of the differences between this poll and the Zogby poll. From the same Reuters article, made by RT Strategies partner Thomas Riehle:
Riehle said his firm conducts monthly polls and invites industry or interest groups to in Washington to add a question or two at a cost of $1,000 each. He said he had no Wal-Mart conflicts to disclose.
I bet Zogby wishes he could have said that.