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| Wal-Mart supersizing |
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| Written by Craig Saalwaechter / Town Crier | |
| Friday, 25 July 2008 | |
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 Craig Saalwaechter But it shouldn’t have been a Wal-Mart versus Save-Mart battle. In truth, it is Wal-Mart versus the dozens of small-business owners and their employees of Tracy. It is also a battle of growth before infrastructure. Let’s go to the videotape and review the meeting. Wal-Mart wants to morph its existing store into a hybrid, including an expanded grocery store. At the meeting, with stickers proudly donning their shirts, supporters clustered around three seminal points. They wanted more jobs, lower prices and the convenience of one-stop shopping. On the surface, who could complain about that? Well, let’s see. The council has already given the green light to the slightly smaller grocery chain, employee-owned WinCo Foods. If you have shopped there before, you know the prices on average are lower than Safeway and Save-Mart. So mayor and council, already you have added future jobs and provided an alternate site for shoppers seeking lower grocery prices. The last point of the Wal-Mart supporters is the Gordian Knot that tightens around small business owners in Tracy. The issue of one-stop shopping. Some speakers at the meeting mentioned they make the long drive to out-of-town Wal-Mart supercenters to stock up on food and household items. I’m sure they may even use the optical, automotive or pharmacy departments. That concept, the ripple effect, is what will hurt the small businesses in Tracy. Right now, you can drive downtown, drop your car off at Big O Tires, walk over to Reich’s Pharmacy to fill a prescription, cross the street to Tracy Optometry and maybe grab a cup of coffee at Barista’s. Then, by combining trips into one, you can take a trip to stores in the Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Costco corridor. Sounds like forms of one-stop shopping, right? Even if Wal-Mart gets supersized, residents can support these small businesses. But Wal-Mart supercenters, as we heard from their supporters, are magnets of convenience, drawing customers away from local stores. They are also traffic magnets. And that leads us to another major issue, the inadequate traffic flow near the existing Wal-Mart. We don’t need to be reminded of our recent loss of a special, longtime resident of Tracy at the intersection of West Grant Line Road and Lammers Road. At the recent groundbreaking of the downtown transit station, San Joaquin County Supervisor Leroy Ornellas mentioned he would like to see improved transportation links for Mountain House, Tracy and Stockton. Let’s work with Mr. Ornellas, the county and surrounding cities to improve and expand the roads and transit system to make Tracy and our businesses a safe and easy destination point. Let’s make it inviting for Mountain House residents to visit and shop in our city. And, with the Tracy Hills and Ellis projects on the horizon, let’s get ready for future growth. It may take a few years, but let’s get the infrastructure in place before we expand the big-box corridor. Why don’t we leave the Wal-Mart supercenter hybrid in the garage, close the door and open it in 2012.
At a glance • Craig Saalwaechter, a community volunteer and 23-year resident of Tracy, is among a select group of local residents with columns in the Tracy Press. Trackback(0)
Comments
(79)
This type of self-righteous atitude is what is hurting our country! People try to put controls on market demands, only to dig all of us deeper into the dark ages! The fact is, if you artifically manage growth, it will go elsewhere! Elesewhere, as not in Tracy! The location off the freeway is PERFECT for commuters, spend their money and GO! We are losing big box stores (ie Linens and Things)-and their tax revenues...let's find places to GAIN. Let's help Tracy's economy.... why do we tax payers need to subsidize small business. Besides, each store has its own niche, many people won't like the inconvience and lines in a big store,and prefer the store nearest them.
Now you say WINCO is coming...find. But are you a marketing analysit? Have you figured in the many layers of demand? Who is the customer base? I am sure if you were spending the millions you would have a deeper understanding of your investment. Arm chair quarterbacking is not the answer to the expense and in-depth study of these corporations. Let us shoppers go where we want, and if traffic is not good there, then we won't go there. If downtown does not survive and Tracy decides to go back to being a backwards cow town, then we will shop elsewhere and our unemployed kids will find some other "activity" to keep themselves busy. Perhaps we should keep all the seniors locked away-- where they can't find jobs either. I say JOBS, CHOICE, FREE-MARKET, AND TAX REVENUE!! These type of letters from union representatives and their friends will keep coming.... if we go to a non-union location that is our choice! WE DONT WANT TO PAY MORE!!!
Here's the link to the WINCO "debate". Each blogger supported the idea of jobs, economy, and questioned who is secretly behind the "oppossition". Those stores near the mall and Walmart deserve as much "protection" as the small stores scattered everywhere else. Remember the word "Convience Store".
http://tracypress.com/content/view/8568/2/
I'm usually a big fan of supporting local business and small mom and pop stores. Sadly I cannot afford their prices right now. I have to feed and clothe a family of 6 on $150 a week. It's worth it to me to drive all the way to Stockton to the Walmart Supercenter every other week to shop. Even with gas so high. I walked out of there this last Thursday having spent $291 and change for groceries that will last me 2 weeks. At Safeway and Even Savemart that maybe covers 1 week. If Savemart is so concerned about other stores coming into town then lower your prices. You have three Savemart stores right here and from what I understand they own FoodMaxx too??? If that's true that's 4 stores in one town. That's just as bad as one Super Walmart. With our economy as it is people are having trouble simply supporting themselves. We can't afford to support small business right now. It's unfortunate but that's just how it is. I have always encouraged people to shop local and if you have a choice to shop mom and pop. Instead of Starbucks find a local coffee shop. When Tredways was still here I always told people that even though they were more expensive than Staples etc. you would get more personalized service. Van's Ace Hardware is the first hardware store I hit. But groceries are different and so are clothes. Hardly any of the stores for clothes are locally owned unless they are downtown and honestly they are too expensive. At least if there were a Super Walmart along with the new Winco we'd have some choices and some of us wouldn't have to spend our money out of town. Our revenue would go to Tracy. This debate is getting old. Just put it in and let the people of Tracy decide.
To whom it may concern:
Mr. Saalwaecher being a stay at home dad, should go out and get a job instead of supporting ill advised projects that cost the tax payers. Instead of supporting a SPECIAL INTEREST SUPERVISORS LIKE LEROY ORNELLAS. I wonder if Craig gets paid. GO TO WWW.BENIGNOFORSUPERVISOR.COM And get some real answers. t. b
Opposition to Big box stores is a Hippy pinko idea. small downtown businesses already in place and Unions fight the competition....
If a Gas Station wanted to Build a Huge Station with 100 Pumps and sell gas for 30 cents a gallon less would you go there??? heck Yes! you would. 35 years ago in Livermore the downtown ACE Hardware opposed Orchard Hardware from building a new store in Livermore in a Closed old Safeway store. It would have been about 5 times the size of the ACE store The Ace Owner got the City to Force the Orchard Hardware people to Have needless inspections including a renewed and expensive Building Fire code assesment. The Building was already up to code, and it was cement! after much delay the store finaly was built. I personaly used to have to Buy small bags of washers for outrageous prices at the ACE...and Now I could get "Bulk" and save at the new store. The ACE Folded. toughluck for ACE Competition is always good for US.
To whom it may concern:
Mr. Reshakis, alias Steve Wampler, alias David Kerst and who ever. You hipocrits you scream everytime someone opposes the Bush war, saying your great Republicans supporting the war. The Republican agenda is to allow even all small business to prosper. Now you call us small business people Pinko's. Get your head out of your, you know what? t. b
"Mr. Saalwaecher being a stay at home dad, should go out and get a job instead of supporting ill advised projects that cost the tax payers."
Looks like Benigno must either be acquainted with Craig or he's clairvoyant because I didn't read anything in the article about Craig being a stay at home dad or unemployed. Hey Benigno, maybe you can stick to the topic. ADHD is easy to control if you take your meds.
"If a Gas Station wanted to Build a Huge Station with 100 Pumps and sell gas for 30 cents a gallon less would you go there???"
Let's be real now. Do you actually think this comparison was necessary? Besides, all this banter really doesn't matter now, does it? Manteca is jumping ahead of Tracy in leaps and bounds. Tracy will have the residents after their trade-off with Surland but all the residents will be spending their money in Manteca and other surrounding cities. With Pro Bass Shops and Dick's Sporting Goods proposed and being built in Manteca, the Big 5 at West Valley Mall will soon be closing as will Tracy Guns and Ammo on 11th St. Two more businesses lost in this city. I wonder where Manteca is going to strike next?
What's wrong with providing more "heads of households" jobs? The store will require several new managers. And there were people at the July 1st Council meeting that talked about getting promotions at WalMart. They worked their way up the ladder. Said that WalMart takes care of their families and provides benefits. That sounds like "heads of household jobs"? Tracy City Council vote yes! Let's get more of those "heads of household jobs" in Tracy!
Low prices would be good too! I went to the store to purchase organic potatoes and carrots. Guess how much it cost? It cost over $8.00. Bring WalMart's "low prices", "worker benefits", and "heads of household jobs" to Tracy, CA! Will it look like American Canyon too? Sounds GREAT! Thanks!
TRN, you forgot this in your last comment.....
 Organic produce is always going to cost you more than regular grown produce. That's a fact you can take to the bank. I don't see organic pricing being that much lower at a Super Wal Mart. I've heard that produce buyers for Winco and probably Super Wal Mart get to the produce warehouses long after Safeway, Raley's, Bel Aire, or Nugget chains do. Thus they get what's remaining. Quality of produce will be lower in these instances. In this city at this moment, I think Safeway produce is probably, by far, the better choice. But you can't beat those fresh picked strawberries from that stand on Chrisman across from the Depot.
fortheunderdog,
First, you can't buy much organic produce at the Dollar Store. People are eating low quality foods and higher quality food will cost more in most instances. Tell that guy that brings cans of Dinty Moore Stew to the next Council Meeting to see if he can also find the Dinty Moore on sale at the Dollar Store for only $1.00. (but, is it organic?) Give the consumer choices. Farm stands are nice too. I know there were plenty of news articles about WalMart Eying Organic Foods (and the glut of "anti WalMart stories" to follow) If WalMart will give us organic foods, let's see if they also give us lower prices to go with it. (here's the winky that you were looking for) Thanks!
Tracy needs businesses. Small, large, in-between. The City Council should support all legitimate business expansion in our city. Any candidate who fails to do so should be rejected at the next election.
Craig, isn't the year "2012" the date inwhich the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world?
Maybe the indigenous peoples' couldn't see that a Super Walmart was coming...?
No fair k.l. vosburg! Would hate to miss (December 21, 2012) Christmas that year and got my Christmas shopping done all the way up to 2018!
Kidding! -amy The Mayan's did not have a way to express fractions, so they would not have understood the concept of, "falling prices". But mankind has understood how to express the concept of, "falling sky" for thousands of years. Many religions predict that there will be an end time cataclysmic event. Some have even predicted dates based on Hebrew, Mayan, and other calendar systems. In our recent advancement of technology and computation; sophisticated, bohemians, have created thousands of websites that dot the digital landscape and simply refer to WalMart as the "Evil Beast". Could it be the same Mayan Monster, that is mentioned in Revelation?
Felt chilled at the thought, going digital globally... Many eyes in the sky, too....
Note to self:.....enough of this morbidity, just gonna enjoy one day at a time... Brrrrr! -amy
To whom it may concern:
To the underdog guy, no my meds are not effecting me. If you have read the title it is about Wal-Mart, and Craig Saalwaecher is trying to support something he knows nothing about. You need to work to find out how bad things are, some people have lost their jobs. To support Ornellas in a pipe dream to have transportation, from down town Tracy to the Winco will never happen. It poor judgement as was the antenna farm purchase. I want Tracy to grow for all the people not someone who have the time to lobby the Council about his friends agenda. Yes I know Craig we stood togeather on 11th and Corral Hollow during the 2004 election year. t. b
TRN -good show!
Maybe "they" simply ran out out of taninbark, charcoal or other writing implements (too bad Home Depot wasn't around), or room to store a linier calender (what! no public storage units?) - while having their view of the stars blocked by some "giant unexplainable big box". Succintly yet sadly their civilization was put int turmoil and eventually foreclosed on due to a trifecta of three hundred years of current events involving Pizzaro, Cortez, Coronado (-small pox,etc , (along with "a gas station with 100 pumps selling at .30 cents a gallon -wow! who knew?), and a guy who suported Pombo in the last Congressional District election. That's some, "hippy pinko".
Mayan calender showing the year and date of ending could be the life as the Mayans knew it, the last true Mayans existing until that time? Going global and so on... Somber thought.
-amy
KL,
Sorry, Not being from CA I don't know complete CA political history. So I'll refrain from making judgments with little or no reference. Reading up on it though, so as not to use anecdotal evidence. "Engineers live like kings" where I'm from. Or at least Tom Ridge used to say so, before he got tapped for HS! So much for that "program"! But I'll never forget the $0.30 monopoly we had there, until they started rationing. and corn we had corn there too. And plenty of it in those days. Government subsidized corn and Welfare cheese too. Plenty to go around for any and all, who didn't want to work. And I recall there were a lot of them. They only ran on alcohol, I think. Not the E85 stuff either. This was straight proof juice for your carburetor, if you know what I mean. Nobody worried about Congressional District's in those days. We had Unions instead! http://www.gassigns.org/bigemblm/monopoly.jpg Talk about "low prices", and wages too. And Californian's think you got it bad. I am part American Indian though, although not Mayan. Off now, it's time for my "war dance" at the WalMart parking lot. Figurative form of protest, called "civil disobedience". Kidding of course, I'm more like the hippie (without the "pinko") and an upside down Peace Sign type. No more experimenting with Peace Pipes and Indian Animal Guides. Interestingly, it was the logograms that saved them. Pie charts too. They were able to show the spaniards were the gold was, at their own HOME-DEPOT. And that, unfortunately, was when they discovered the concept of the numeral "ZERO"!!  Do they also have "low prices" on Mayan Rum?
KL,
Government, surplus, cheese was a program, funded by the Democrats in America. The government in some states, measured-out these "golden bricks" to anyone who refused to think, or work, (and for whatever reason too). It went on for years, but eventually sanity prevailed and they left off with this "cheezy", program when the Republican's took back control of the House and Senate. But, before that happened, it was the damn government surplus cheese and you could see it in their faces. You still can! They forced the populace to not have to think. They took away their jobs and replaced them with dreams. And they took away their power to do anything about it too.
So, (TRN) given you have some particular insight to what it's like for America to sell itself out- all for the sake of convenience.
When you spoke of "Unions" were you refering to "The Tribes" or "collective bargaining agreements/rights for American's in the working place? And of course, not the alcohol mixture Mid-Western farmers tweaked during the gas rationing era of W.W.II, but the MD-40 [i/the brother's] were drinking before Pull'en on yo 40 became such a generational icon. So if cheap labor, products and services bode well for your appitite than China and Taiwan replace the Winn-Dixie. Yes, I have seen the corn in Des Moines,IA. and the "grass-lands" of North Platt NE. Who will really reap the field of lotus blsooms after the harvest? Mr. Walton and the negative trade deficit?
Well-- It seems hard pressed to find ANYONE who is an ACTUAL SHOPER (ie local, not a union talking head) to be against this Walmart of Winco (see previous blog cited above). It will be a STRONG TESTAMENT of the leadership of Tracy if this passes! It usually FAILS: Weston Ranch, Lodi, 8 Mile. The paid minority lobbies and gets everyone so riled up...the silent majority (su shoppers) just sit at home and let "them" takeover! WE LETTER RIDERS NEED TO FIGHT this type of control as "Crier Craig" advocates above!
towwhitten, we all seem to agree, Tracy needs businesses. Small, large, in-between. The City Council should support all legitimate business expansion in our city. Any candidate who fails to do so should be rejected at the next election. STAND UP TRACY AND SHOW YOUR STRENGTH! SUPPORT BUSINESS!
Vosburg, Why don't you open up a MADE-IN-USA store and give us some options. Everything is made in China or part of the NAFTA Made in Mexico or Chile foods. Give us a choice. Meanwhile, I choose to lower my expenses so I can spend them elsewhere IN AMERICA. -Get over it...
-Buy me a Whopper, or Subway, or perhaps travel to a local tourist destination. There are many American avenues available for me to purchase...anyone know a good website to find HOW TO INVEST IN AMERICAN MADE. That would include the services industry. Meanwhile, where I cut corners (ie Walmart) it allows me to spend more elsewhere..... give me some other alternative!
Thinker, we have it here, in Village Green, too, businesses of various sizes. Still going strong, no interruptions, merchants are happy as a "clam"!
-amy
Hated how our jobs were signed away by Bush Sr.'s draft of NAFTA and Bill Clinton's signing of it. Outsourced jobs begets outsource products (deregulated!)
Clinton should have not listend to his "briefers" and read his work instead! Hillary voted "wrong" for the war the first time due to the fact by her own admission she voted on the basis of being briefed, not doing her own homework. See the mess when a person does not do his/her homework in our Government??? Citizens should pay much closer attention to every candidate and agenda, the motivation behind it, investment portfolio with the special interest groups, lobbyist (lawyer lobbyist are powerful and domineering) developers and so on to address all base of your concerns. Villagers think as much as I do, do your own homework, even in successful cities! Do not let your guard down, I was told. So right! -amy -amy
Thinking soley of a one stop shopping fix-all is part and parcel to the reality of imports made in third world countries (before NAFTA there was Richard Nixon). It has been around for the last thirty years. While we build-up China's middle class, we lower ours.
If the demand for A Wal-Mart Supercenter agrees with good business sense for Tracy (I believe the economy is second on the political runway bounce -behind the war in Iraq and Afghanistan) then let the free market decide. No problem. Trust me, I'm well past being over it. One less Wall-Mart shopper won't affect Mr. Walton Inc. I can still go to the open-air fruit and vegitable markets on Saturday (that will be me pushing my grandkids around in a stroller) -then walk down the street to Ace Hardware for "a bag of washers." Who needs a bag of washers?
To whom it may concern:
Vos: You can't bring up those topics with the people on this blog it's over their heads. They think NAFTA is a laxative. t. b
Sure, let's get more government programs to put more iron in our diet and just eat "a bag of washers" instead of shopping at WalMart!?! That's one way to conduct "civil disobedience". Like to protest- in the hospital!?! Governor Arnold, Pass the hydrogenated oils and trans fats, please! Would you like to wash this down with more soda pop? It's on sale at SaveMart. Says, "bottled overseas - to help weaken the dollar - so we can eventually afford to bottle it here, again!".
Will that help prevent the pilfering of our wallets, or our jobs? People need to think about who the culprit really is. Is WalMart the Evil Beast mentioned in Revelation? Think about it, or just fill up the "stroller" (AKA: the trunk of the Toyota, Kia, or Honda) please! They will be exploiting third world, child, slave labor to pick the organically grown vegetables at all the grocery stores.
Don't buy it!
Not from any ONE of them! Ex lax? Manufactured by Ely Lilly, (in Taiwan?) They wouldn't even let Bayer (a German company do that in the 40s) Now they're blaming it ALL on WalMart??? The "evil beast"??? Nice!?!
Forget NAFTA. Let's just try trading poppies with Afghanistan???
Or include NAFTA and repeat that success in Columbia??? Couldn't hurt the economy any worse??? 
Thinker; Understood.
Amy; Wasn't that "tie-dye"? You "tied the "T" shirts up in knots as you were dy(e)ing them"? You simply have amazing talents? Tommy B; Funny stuff, dude. TRN; -Need more recquisition orders for invoking hyperbole. Have a good weekend ya'll  See you at Wall-Mart!
Yup! Thanks for transposing the words!
Made bunch of them for kids at the children's ward, called it the "rainbow" room, kids loved it!!! Sure was fun, but odd to walk around with odd colors on my hands where I did not cover well!! "Life is for learning"....Joni Mitchell. -amy
I appreciate Craig's opinion here I just don't entirely agree with it is all. What the man does or does not do for a living is immaterial to the issue before us and what counsel will or will not decide to do.
Personally I am open to a free and open market place free from government intervention providing the goods being marketed are safe for the general public consuming them. Like most Americans I would much rather have these goods and materials manufactured by American's, in jobs provided by American companies. If there is a problem with foriegn manufacturing, and I believe there are, then we need to change the laws to level the playing field so that American farmers and manufacturers can compeat with the third world nations instead of selling out our nations jobs and national security by engineering it so that Americans and American companies cannot compeat with the foriegn marketplace by giving those nations an unfair advantage that is in effect damaging our nation's economy, security and the every day lives of American Citizens. My opinion on the whole matter and one that some will share and others will disagree with. And folks, that ability to agree and disagree is probably one of the most important freedoms we have compaired to every other nation in the world. Dave Hardesty
As tempting as .30 cents a gallon gas is, I wouldn't buy it. Because I understand that after the other stations get priced out of business, the .30 cents a gallon station will charge $5.00 a gallon...because of no competition. That is the same thing that I have been saying about the "big box" retailers!!! Pay them now....and you will pay them dearly later!
KL:
A "vision" is worth a thousand hyperbolas. http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkyhack/825251792/ Will the bail bond shoppes in the BowTie outpace WalMart in creating more than the ten jobs? Bail Bond store! Great idea for revenue at the new Transit Station???  Here's a "vision"!!! After we displace the lower class, let's help them out; by selling them Bail Bonds at WalMart's "low prices"??? Can we put WalMart in the BowTie too???
Mr Saalwaechter,
Do you think that governemnt should dictate store sizes or dictate where we buy our consumer goods? Is there some sort of standard for store sizes? Maybe no one wants to shop downtown? maybe no one wants to be forced into a SaveMart for that last minute item. Maybe people want more choices. Did you ever think that people outside of tracy might stop and contribute to our local economy on the way home? You are entitled to your opinion, and you shared it. Heres mine of yours; "I disagree with you 100%".
Craig,
I'm not sure everyone reading this would be able to call this idea "one stop shopping". They don't accept my insurance downtown? I'd have to make more than one stop but it would take longer. And I'd have to wait for my car tires to be finished then go do shopping somewhere else anyway. Alternatively I can do everything, right at WalMart, where they accept my insurance. And may soon sell groceries. I also have a friend who has Kaiser Insurance, and she has to go to the Kaiser Optomitrist located in the Home Depot Parking lot, beside the WaMu bank. Also, I don't prefer to drink coffee (maybe tea, once in a while, but the Barista dosn't sell the type of Roobios tea that I like). Usually, just buy Mango or Apricot Juice at the grocery store (perhaps at WalMart), and then add ice. I put it in my thermos and carry it around with me. But unfortunately, you can't purchase Mango Juice downtown! And there is a Starbucks by the Home Depot that has a drive through. Most people are in a hurry when they drink coffee. That's just one of the reasons people drink coffee.
Also, you mentioned traffic issues at the Tracy Mall. I hope you will be just as concerned about the pending traffic issues related to another courthouse idea (downtown Tracy). Just something to think about. Thanks!
Ubbo,
I agree. The government (and other people) should stay out of it. I wonder if the same opponents of WalMart will have to say about Governor Arnold's ban on Trans Fats? If the author of this letter wanted to eat an Oreo cookie he would be able to excercise his freedom and drive to any store and just buy an Oreo (loaded with transfats). Nobody would oppose another's choice of a cookie? Does Craig oppose shopping at WalMart AND eating Oreos too? Some people like having the choice to purchase Oreos at any grocery store. Especially the store with the lowest prices. What's up with that? And why are people opposing the creation of jobs? Just curious. Because, I don't know, but is this coming from Garamendi? Just asking for "transparency"? (that's all I ask) ???
I lived on those golden bricks for a few months when it was just me and the kids. I was not lazy either. Sometimes jobs are scarce and you have to feed your family. Nice way of putting down those in need. My call....Judgmental.
mndc,
Were you referring to my earlier comment? That was not a comment about your legitimate needs. That was a comment about how this program was poorly created and poorly implemented. I grew up where there were some railroads and RR swtich yards. I saw some of the "wastefulness" of this program firsthand... Many years ago, I recall several train cars (parked) that were loaded with these golden bricks. The cars were sitting idle and had been vandalized (broken open). Other times I saw the same thing and more train cars, too, with other government surplus foods. Example powdered milk, and other surplus food. Same thing. Boxes of surplus food spilled out and wasted, when it could have been distributed and used by someone with a real need. Like yourself or others with legitimate needs. Judgemental? I'm not judging those who legitimately needed the program. Although, it has been argued in other places that there were those who abused the program, not having legitimate needs. You are not one of them. I just don't think there was a clear plan of how to manage the program? However, it may have been great way to manage someone's political career? Thanks!
"...
written by solar_biscuit , July 27, 2008 As tempting as .30 cents a gallon gas is, I wouldn't buy it. Because I understand that after the other stations get priced out of business, the .30 cents a gallon station will charge $5.00 a gallon...because of no competition." So am I to assume you purchase your gasoline from Safeway, which is normally a penny or two cheaper than the "big-box" stores like CostCo? I frequently shop both but by my gasoline from Safeway as they normally have the cheapest price in town unless you pay cash at an ARCO station. Dave Hardesty
(TRN); Agreed, wasted and abused visions may spell the trappings of a political career mired in mismanagement and lazy oversigt. ("Good job Brownie...")
Why worry about a little spilt powdered milk when you can have a surplus of uninhabitable trailors? Talk about statsis and good intentions gone sour, where were all the trains when you really needed them? On another note, paying the difference of only .3 cents less for gas is still relitively competitive on the open market. That's one thing but,... .30cents per gallon? You'd need a time continuim warp back to the 1960's. At that point gas becomes the varriable for driving the engine of consumption, increasingly ubiquitous and ecumenical. Can you say...? "Hello, to O.P.E.C.?" #Caution: Emodicons may lead sponataneous human hyperbolas.
K.L.
But let us not forget that today the cheapest gasoline in Tracy is currently selling around $3.93 a gallon (yesterday at Safeway when I bought gasoline) whereas before the 4th it was somewhere in the $4.37 bracket and coming down from $4.78 earlier this year. In fact, by it has not been reported so long ago that it would top $5.00 per gallon by December. The point of my comment is who really knows and yes, O.P.E.C. has a lot to do with how much we are all being held ransom and extorted because of our reluctance to develop and use our own oil and thereby achieve energy independence and free to develop other alternative forms of energy. Dave Hardesty
Vosburg:
Sorry, don't have a time warp back to the sixties. Welcome to the Hotel Global-economy. It used to be the third largest economy in the world. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave? There drilling off the coast of Persia. Perhaps the train never really left the station. Drop shipped it in from O.P.E.C. Barak Obama: Can we still get "low prices" on powdered milk?
Dave; It's been reportded, and I'm sure you're aware of this statistic;"that since June (demand) has been down by some 50 million gallons".
I've actually noticed more cars at A.C.E. train station, more people riding bicycles, and actually more people walking. Yet maybe it's still summer (vacation) - we'll see in the fall - if this same pattern of behavior continues? Note the commercials for people trading in their larger vehicles for the smaller economic types and the continued broadcasts of problems facing American automotive worker(s). I do agree we should use ALL available resources, including the cleaner version of shale (spell check) coal deposits, and drilling in the already approved 70 million acres of appropriated land holdings. (If we could convince the oil companies to KEEP it here, and at a fixed price.) But that sounds a bit like "Nationalizing" and all the fear-factoring attached to it? The world's demand for oil will only increase (glo-eco, S&D 102) and I fear if we do not diversify we've only wasted yet another thirty years -remember we talked about all this once before in the '70's?
TRN;
GPA v. GTA? GTA wins bt a field goal! ..."Wait, wait a minute! There referees are still reviewing the tape" "We could be going into overtime, folks." 
Amy; Unfortunetly scope is much more myopic.
My vision quest is to put our kids back into college where, Americans can develop it's HUMAN resource. We need more, engineers, scientist, lab techs, doctors, R & D, etc., etc. all in the fields of alternate energy sources, water treatment, agriculture, medicine -and just maybe when the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is over ("yeah right!"), we'll be able to spend some gov't monies on college subsidies to help offset the price of tuition. There will always be plenty of jobs in RETAIL, I fear.
Embed math calculations in GTA. Learn how to use KBB to calculate ROI. That should get their attention span.
Cue the next Barak Obama clip! Promises! Promises! " "
How does one pay off a $200,000 dollar student loan working at Wal-Mart?
TRN; -A president, gifted even with a degree in constituional law, some insight, and rock-star karisma is still only as good as the people he surrounds himself with. (Did I just end a sentence with a preposition? Example: Look at our current administration.
Preposition H?
Useful for the next administration??? That is something that I shall not up with put!
Yes, I do understand, we do need people of those specialized fields, now working on nanotechnology at the Oregon Health and Science University, technology does reguire one steeped in education.
How to we get these people gainfully employed? Alternative energy? Would the energy company hire the people from foreign countries do the work here, like Bill Gates when he asked for visas for employees highly skilled from India!!! Where are the jobs that call for that level of education? Just worried that we may have to lower our world status that we are no longer the super power of the world. It seems that we either go global or continue the war, depends on the outcome of the vote. Sure wish I had a crystal ball here to tell me who would be the vice presidential candidate and whom they would appoint to the cabinets!!! We are in for a wild, interesting ride! -amy Can we get retailers to put solar cells on their roofs. Build green buildings. Let's get "low prices" on energy costs too? Green! Made right here in America!
Right! Start up plants making solar panels, wind mills, necessities for geo thermal and so on to supply alternative energy to the rest of America, hope they hurry up with that before foreigners start mass producing!
Employ our Americans by the American based jobs! -amy
Sorry, TRN, Ohms Law (wheel) was as about as far as I got. (Another brilliant bit of stylistic writing).
Not to be confused with the Cheese Wheel, "ohm, ohm, ohm, zzz..." Lets see was that P over E = I Or, P = IE? Solving for resistance may be futile. I'll settle for PIE.
KL,
Bright idea!!! And of course, after the WalMart expansion, I'm sure you will be able to conduct a "one stop shop" and even purchase desert at the "low prices".
TRN; Indeed recalpitulative, reciprol, rap
 ar'tee makes for a strange "Thinking inside the Triangle" geometry, especially for most of us still under the influence of "The Gregorian Calendar." Or was that logograms squared by ROI(GTA x BKK +/- GDP ) divided by the GTA = Preposition H? Amy; Pie a la mode with cheese? "O-o-o-h-h-m, o-oh-mm, oh-mmm, mmmm..." I have heard of these places... Craig; You too, nice hair. 
KL,
Shocking! It could be a phase you're going through? But please do not try solving polar rectangular equations with each slice of inherently latent cheeze cake pie.
I'll shall attempt to abait the Ohm's Law theory in the hopes of leaving a carbon footprint no larger than an igloo. Interesting: Cheesecake-Pie? Are you mad?
By the way, "they'll be calling you "a green terrorist" by recommending counceling sessions for one's civil disobedience. No offense to your indgenious right to protest. But wait! That's just the beginning, They'll call you a heritic for comparing Wall-Mart to the Evil "B", or demanding transparency under local govt. (Remember VP. Chenney exists "in the fourth branch of govt.?") They'll suggest "you speak in tounges," ROI, BKK, GTA, Gpa's or name dropping like, solar panels, Preposiion H, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gharamendi, Oreo cookies and a Bail Bonds office located next to Bow Tie. And your affection, nar I say obsession, with trains -shall only lead to one thing: Instant martyrdom. My only suggestion is you drop this silly charade of "lower prices," "going green," "transparency" (not to be confused with Trans-fa(c)ts?) since in the absence of "they" (never really saying who "they" (really are) there's no fair equity of trial lawyers) and simply confess to being the original American "X" file, that you are. "Skully...?" "Maulder...?" Maybe it's not God whose sending the message...?"
KL Oh yes, I am aware of the drop in consumption and fully understand the marketing concept. I also agree with you that all of us need to stop talking and start doing. You are correct about dealing with this since the 70s and to date nothing much has been done about the problem except to talk it to death. After 30 years of talking about it with nothing getting done hopefully people will stop talking and do something about it. But as long as they talk and their elected representatives talk nothing gets done and the problem get's worse. You did pose an interesting question about $200,000 college loans being paid off at WalMart wages. Unless the person graduating from college takes a position in marketing for WalMart I would expect such an individual to find employment more sutable to his or her education level. The same question use to be asked regaring McDonalds and how many AA degrees it took to work at the hamburger flippers station. If those people want to work in those places it's their business. But it sure seems to be a waste of a good education to me. Another point to match my pointed head. Did we ever consider if we were not subsidizing the higher education for many who are not citizens of this country and tuitions lower than the average resident of this country would be required to pay, might not everything, tuition wise, become cheaper? If they can't make the tuition money from everyone then it seems they concentrate on raising the tuition monies paid by residents of our nation. Say, that sounds strangely like the way our hospitals and public medecine works today. Just something for you to muse over before you turn in tonight. |
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Do you have kids Craig Saalwaechter. Try pushing a stroller, two kids, shopping bags and for laughs, that hot cup of coffee around. You should try it but leave out the kids and put two 30 pound bags of sand in the stroller. At least the sand bags would hold still and most likely not get coffee spilled on them.