Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price

Director Robert Greenwald explores the dirty underbelly of how the big box behometh maintains its hold on the market place while undermining local business infrastructure in this 2005 documentary, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price.

It also examines how Wal-mart’s personnel practices abuse and disregard the needs of the people who desperately need the jobs the company offers, despite its minimal benefits and illegal personnel practices. Seemingly, Wa-Mart counts on government subsidies not only to build its stores but to also provide health and human services to its employees who can’t afford or are not eligible for their health insurance plan.

The company is systematically destroying small town America. At the same time it offers substandard wages and horrendous living conditions–essentially sweat shops–in China, Bangladesh, and Honduras.

Government is essentially subsidizing Wal-Mart’s ability to do business wherever it wants and to rake in millions in subsidies and other advantages. They have a track record of complete disregard for the environment, promises made of community support and investment, and fair employment practices.

The only heartwarming element of the story came near the end when several communities were featured that have fought against the big box phenomena entering their communities. In all likelihood, though, these victories mean stores will simply pop up in a communities just down the road.

Although I’ve only been in the store a very few times, I vow never to step foot in a Wal-mart ever again.

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