soundwaves

I’ve had several instances where running to Wal-Mart would’ve been the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective thing to do – especially over the holidays. I can proudly say that I avoided doing so at all costs. I will continue with my mission!

My husband’s place of employment boasts a nice wellness facility for employees and their families. I’m taking full advantage of this by utilizing their personal trainer services. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve scheduled six sessions to individually work with a professional who’s developed a program tailored to my personal physical needs. These needs have been determined by my own goals, and a rigorous physical assessment that I underwent last week. I was impressed by the thoroughness of this process, although I guess it’s pretty standardized: resting and active heart rates, blood pressures, body fat measurement, flexibility, etc. The program also offers a meeting with a registered dietician, to discuss nutrition, of course. The assessment I’m looking most forward to is my resting metabolic rate. I am fascinated by the contraption that tells you how many calories your body burns when you are doing absolutely nothing. This is extremely useful information in regard to caloric consumption, whether trying to gain, maintain, or lose weight.
I know that improved cardiovascular health would strengthen my mind and body, aid me in reducing stress and contribute to more sound sleep. This is the least I can do for the casing of my soul.

There are many reasons why I will no longer shop at this retail giant. The first reason is an issue close to my heart: health care. Less than half of Wal-Mart employees have health insurance. Part-time Wal-Mart employees must wait six months to sign up for coverage, and the few full-time employees must wait one full year! Wal-Mart employees pay for 41% of their family premiums. Nationally, workers pay an average of 27% of family premiums. [Employer Health Benefits 2006 Annual Survey] The family deductible on a Wal-Mart insurance plan is $3,000. This deductible does not include additional fees for standard services, such as a $300 pharmacy deductible, $1,000 in-patient deductible, and a $500 out-patient surgery deductible. [Wal-Mart 2006 Associate Benefits Book] How does Wal-Mart get away with such unscrupulous practices? By limiting employees to part-time status. Wal-Mart deceives employees by hiring them in at full-time status, knowing that they have one year to gradually reduce their hours before their insurance “benefits” kick in. I strongly believe that every human being should be entitled to affordable health care. I find it preposterous that any working human being, no less, is not being provided with such. Wal-Mart forces its employees to rely on public programs for affordable health coverage. Right here in Ohio, and in 22 other states, Wal-Mart takes the cake for having the most employees enrolled in state-funded health care programs. According to a recent Business Week article, Wal-Mart single-handedly causes an increase in state Medicaid spending by $898 per person. And we’re footing the bill. We’re also footing the bill for the $1 billion in public subsidies that Wal-Mart has received in the form of property tax breaks, sales tax rebates, enterprise zone status, etc.
Wal-Mart breaks environmental laws, hires undocumented workers, falsely labels merchandise as “Made in America,” and sells personal data about their customers.
Needless to say, I will no longer be contributing to the Walton family’s $90 billion fortune.