Howdy Amigo!
To begin with, this is a forum about open carry, not a debate over Walmart itself. However, considering you call the credibility of others into question, I will quote only a few sources here. Just a very few of a really big iceburg! After this, I will not continue driving this thread off topic. I won't however, let your claim go unchallenged:
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Corporate_Welfare/WalMart_Welfare.html
http://www.alternet.org/story/22298/
http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch/walmart/walmart_3a.cfm
http://www.walmartmovie.com/facts.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Wal-Mart
http://www.sullivan-county.com/id2/wal-mart/welfare.htm
http://www.dsausa.org/lowwage/walmart/2004/walmart study.html
http://mediamatters.org/research/200512100002
http://forums.hannibal.net/boards3/viewtopic.php?f=14&p=189438
http://drgdarealgrinc.hubpages.com/hub/Walmarts-pros--cons
http://walmartwatch.org/blog/archives/is-wal-mart-still-encouraging-employees-to-use-food-stamps/
http://nomountorabwalmart.wordpress.com/
http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Wal-Mart-s-women-employees-and-customers-in-1162992.php
ALABAMA: 3,864 Children of WAL-MART Employees are Enrolled in Medicaid
y
"Retail giant Wal-Mart tops the list of companies in Alabama whose employeeshave children on Medicaid, the [Montgomery] Advertiser reported, citing staterecords. Wal-Mart workers' children account for 3,864 children on the Medicaidrolls at a cost between $5.8 million and $8.2 million."
y
Source: Associated Press,"Wal-Mart No. 1 in Employee Medicaid,"
The Decatur Daily
, February 23, 2005
ARIZONA: 2,700 WAL-MART Workers on Medicaid
y
According to state data provided to Capitol Media Services and reported by theArizona Daily Star, "Close to one of every 10 Wal-Mart employees is gettinghealth insurance paid for by Arizona taxpayers, according to figures obtainedFriday from the state...In the Arizona statistics, nearly 2,700 people listed theiremployer as Wal-Mart out of more than 28,000 company employees in thestate...The numbers came as a surprise to state Sen. Richard Miranda, D-Phoenix, who tried earlier this year to get a law requiring the DES [Department of
Economic Security] to disclose the employers of people on AHCCCS. Thatmeasure was defeated amid opposition from corporate lobbyists, including RipWilson representing Wal-Mart."
y
Source: Howard Fischer,"Wal-Mart 1st in State Aid Enrollees,"
Arizona Daily Star
,July 30, 2005
ARKANSAS: 3971 WAL-MART Workers on Public Assistance
y
"Nearly 10,000 workers with Arkansas' nine largest employers receive publicwelfare for themselves and their families, according to the state Department of Human Services. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., with 3,971 of its 45,106 employees onpublic assistance, topped the list."
y
Source: Brian Baskin,"Top 9 Employers in State Have 9,698 Getting Public Aid,"
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
, March 17, 2005.
CONNECTICUT: 824 WAL-MART Workers
Have Children in a State
Heath CareProgram
y
According to a report prepared by the Connecticut Office of Legislative Researchexamining enrollment data for the HUSKY (Healthcare for UninSured Kids andYouth) program for children of low-income families, "The same employersaccount for the highest number of employed parents of HUSKY A [traditionalMedicaid] and B [state CHIP] children. For example, Wal Mart employed thehighest number of HUSKY A parents (824 in September 2004) and the secondhighest number of HUSKY B parents (79 in December 2004)."
y
Source: Robin K. Cohen,"HUSKY A and B - Enrollment and Employer Data,"
Connecticut Office of Legislative Research Report 2005-R-0017
, January 10,2005.
FLORIDA: 12,300 WAL-MART Workers and their Dependents on Medicaid
y
"Wal-Mart Corp., which is getting millions of dollars in state incentives to createjobs in Florida, has more employees and family members enrolled in Medicaidthan any company in the state. ...The giant retailer, which has 91,000 full-timeand part-time employees in Florida, has about 12,300 workers or dependentseligible for Medicaid, the growing health care program for the poor and theelderly...According to figures released Thursday by Florida's Department of Children and Families, Wal-Mart and four other large companies that receive stateincentives have an estimated 29,900 employees or their family members enrolledin Medicaid...The figures suggest taxpayers may be double-subsidizing low-wageemployment by paying companies to create jobs and by paying for the healthcare of some of those companies' employees."
y
Source: Sydney P. Freedberg and Connie Humburg,"Lured Employers Now TaxMedicaid,"
St. Petersburg Times
, March 25, 2005.
GEORGIA: 10,261 Children of WAL-MART Employees are Enrolled in PeachCarefor Kids
y
"A state survey found 10,261 of the 166,000 children covered by Georgia's PeachCare? for Kids health insurance in September 2002 had a parent working for Wal-Mart Stores...Wal-Mart is the state's largest private employer. But when the topfour companies on the list are measured by number of PeachCare children per thenumber of employees in Georgia, Wal-Mart still dominates."
y
Source: Andy Miller,"Wal-Mart Stands Out On Rolls Of PeachCare,"
AtlantaJournal-Constitution,
February 27, 2004.
There is lots and lots more, but I believe I've made my point. What I said was accurate.
It has been confirmed by state agencies in every state in which Walmart operates.
Of course, it could just be that you think there is some sort of grand conspiracy against Walmart that includes current and former employees, state agencies in all 50 states, news organizations across the nation, in collusion with the AFL-CIO.
Once we conclude that such a massive conspiracy is, at face value, ridiculous, we are left with what must actually be true.
Now, with your gracious cooperation, let us return to the topic!
Blessings,
M-Taliesin