Everybody's Doing It

“Everybody does it, so why pick on me?,” is not a viable defense for the alleged actions by Wal-Mart executives in Mexico. As you may have heard since The NY Times ran an expose last Sunday, Wal-Mart allegedly bribed officials in Mexico to pass or expedite approval of building plans for its network of stores south of the border. Moreover, when these alleged violations of law were reportedly brought to the attention of corporate executives, they were swept under the rug, according to The Times. Now, the world’s largest retail company, and the largest retailer in Mexico, has been engaged in major face-saving activity. 

I have no direct knowledge of the allegations beyond what has been reported, but I can tell you with fairly good authority it has not been uncommon for retail and shopping center companies with aggressive growth strategies to engage in activities that are questionable at best, illegal at worst, including favors (okay, bribes) to secure necessary permits or negative action to block competitors from entering a market. 

In other words, Wal-Mart is no more guilty than other companies. It’s just bigger. It’s the same reality whether it’s building permits or low wages or no health care for workers or an anti-union bias—Wal-Mart is no worse than other large (and small) chain store retailers. Which doesn’t excuse or explain away what happened in Mexico. 

This corporate black eye is the latest in a long string of image-blackening revelations about the way American companies exploit their interests in foreign lands. Apple, as well as other technology firms, has had its reliance on Chinese suppliers and their labor practices put under the magnifying glass. Nike did, as well. Half a dozen years ago my magazine co-sponsored a one day conference, “Making it Right,” on the business implications of fair labor standards throughout the worldwide supply chain. Though progress has been made, exploitation of workers persists. 

Sadly, it seems significant progress occurs only when the media spotlights egregious conditions. 

Food for Thought: I’m married to a foodie. Now, some of you might know Gilda is a good, even great, cook. I am fortunate to enjoy many a good meal she whips up, even after she works a long day in Manhattan. 

But being a foodie means her taste buds work differently than mine. Whereas I enjoy foods that are generally sweet, Gilda prefers foods that are bitter, sour and something called umami, a Japanese word for pleasant, savory. It hasn’t been easy meshing our different tastes, but now Gilda has reason to believe she is a trend setter. Read for yourself: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/story/2012-04-25/food-snobs-tastes-wired-differently/54540652/1

Wrong Number: Just had a most interesting phone call from the Republican National Committee. Seems I’m on one of their “conservative” lists, thus would I be willing to join the RNC with a pledge of $300, $200, or $100 so the ultimate goal of removing Barack Obama from the White House could be realized? 

After telling the woman on the other end of the line I was “fascinated” to find myself on such a list, she embarrassingly fumbled her way through the rest of our short conversation, apologizing for bothering me. I guess the RNC doesn’t read my blog. 

Enough Already

I don’t mean to jinx everyone, but I’ve decided it’s time to store away the snow blower. Enough already.

Though there’s still a remnant of snow on the shaded part of my front lawn, and weather forecasts for later this week hint at possible flurries, I don’t care. It’s seven weeks since Groundhog Day, since Punxsutawney Phil and Staten Island Chuck both were said to have failed to see their shadows, thus predicting an early spring.

Ha! Had they seen their shadows, it would have meant six more weeks of winter. Well, those six weeks expired last Wednesday, yet the water in the birdbath outside remains frozen. Enough already!

I ran the snow blower this afternoon until all the gas was used up. I rolled it into the shed on the side yard. I moved Gilda’s plant cart from the shed to the garage. I’m mentally prepared for spring. But just in case, I left the snow shovels in the garage for easy access.


Spring means the start of the baseball season. Of all the non-stories wafting their way up north from Florida, the one surrounding Derek Jeter’s spot in the NY Yankees batting order ranks as #1.

The Yanks have won championships with Jeter batting first or second. So why should we care where he hits? As long as he hits like his old self and not like last year. Just sit back, relax and if you really want to fret about anything (if you’re a Yankee fan), pray our pitching holds up.

For the record, in case you haven’t heard, Jeter will bat second this year behind Brett Gardner.


Draperless: More fretful is news that Don Draper and Mad Men company will not be seen this summer. Word today from AMC network that Mad Men will not air again until 2012.

Hard to say how people under 40 will respond. My cohorts, at least, can reflect back on life in the 1960s, though I must admit, I knew no one like red-headed office manager Joan Harris.


Not Since Taft: Is President Obama growing a mustache? Check out his upper lip in this interview Tuesday with CBS News’ Erica Hill: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7361181n&tag=contentBody;featuredPost-PE. Though the rest of his face is clean-shaven there clearly is a shadow under his nose.

If he goes all the way and joins the facial hair crowd, Obama will be the first president since William Howard Taft 100 years ago to sport a mustache. It’s up to him, and no doubt Michelle, how he wants to look, but he should keep in mind that a president with the middle name of Hussein, who already is less than appealing to some 40% of the country, should be careful not to reinforce stereotypes. If there’s one region where despotic leaders, and everyday citizens, come attired with mustaches it is the Arabic Muslim world.


Would you spend $2 million to fight a $7,000 fine from OSHA? If you were Walmart you would because the retailer doesn’t want restrictions placed on how it conducts Black Friday and other massive sales events.

Some background: in 2008 a Walmart employee was trampled to death when crowds overwhelmed security and orderliness as doors opened at a Valley Stream, NY, store at 5 am on the day after Thanksgiving. Walmart appealed the $7,000 fine the Occupational Safety and Health Administration levied against it. OSHA also issued guidelines retailers should follow to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy. Last week a judge ruled against Walmart (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/business/26osha.html?scp=3&sq=damour&st=cse). Walmart is considering a further appeal.

Though Walmart has taken the lead, the retail industry, at least the big chain stores, are mostly behind its stand. And that is unfortunate. Unfortunate because it demonstrates a callousness toward both their employees and their customers.

I’ve said it before (even while head of a retail industry publication) and I’ll say it again—crack of dawn Black Friday sales are demeaning and unsafe. They represent the worst of a get-it-at-all-costs consumer mentality. Each year numerous people, customers and workers, are injured in melees that ensue when customers who’ve waited hours in the cold are unleashed to scramble for a few prized products at “door-busting” prices. Indeed, the doors busted when 34-year-old Jdimytai Damour was overrun in the Walmart store.

OSHA is proposing a more civilized way. Shame on Walmart and its supporters for caring more about their sales than the people who work and shop in their stores. How fitting the ruling against Walmart came down on the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that ultimately led to OSHA’s creation to protect workers.