The 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll
Check Out The Results And Weigh In!
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No. 1: Our first question asked what American business best symbolizes the country today, and Walmart was the winner by a wide margin. It used to be said that as General Motors goes, so goes the nation, it appears the face of corporate America is now a smiley face.
- The American banking and car industries have just suffered through one of their worst years ever. Given that, which of the following best symbolizes America today?
Walmart:
48%
48%
Google:
15%
15%
Microsoft:
13%
13%
NFL:
6%
6%
Goldman Sachs:
3%
3%
None of the above:
2%
2%
What Do You Think?
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- Wal-Mart is a blight on the world. I have NEVER purchased anything at this preditors store nor will I ever do so. If you shop there I hope I do no business with whoever employs you.
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- There is a lot to be said for Walmart being a corporate symbol of America. The company started as a dime store and built up to one of the most successful companies in the world.
By way of there success Walmart is doing a great deal towards Charitable Giving, Disaster Relief, Economic Opportunity, Employment and Diversity, Health Care, and Sustainability.
Wal-Mart?s FYE 2009 giving breakdown:
In the U.S., Wal-Mart gave more than $378 million in cash and in-kind gifts, up from $296 million in 2007.
In international markets, Wal-Mart gave $45.5 million in cash and in-kind gifts, up from $41 million in 2007.
Globally, Wal-Mart?s customers and associates gave more than $106 million through in-store giving programs that benefit local charities.
In total, Wal-Mart, its Foundations, its customers and its associates supported communities around the globe with nearly $530 million in charitable contributions during FYE 2009.
Here is the page to view fact sheets and news items regarding this: http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/FactSheets/ - Reply to this comment
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- Its not as good as you think. I started working for wamart in 2007 as a part time employee. I was able to save $100.00 per mo. Plus pay my rent and bills and the cost of my medical insuance. Now I do none of the above. They might be big but most of their part time help are no longer making a living, and their new policy is no more full time people. From 32 to 40 hours Aug 2008 to 19 to 12 hours in Oct 2009
and there really are not many jobs to be had. Thanks wallmart its like having no job at all.
- Its not as good as you think. I started working for wamart in 2007 as a part time employee. I was able to save $100.00 per mo. Plus pay my rent and bills and the cost of my medical insuance. Now I do none of the above. They might be big but most of their part time help are no longer making a living, and their new policy is no more full time people. From 32 to 40 hours Aug 2008 to 19 to 12 hours in Oct 2009
- What a crummy survey. Pathetic.
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- This poll is a bunch of crap. What is the "none of these" button???
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- Which woman? Uugghhh! Who Let The Dogs Out? Woof!
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- Who is Tom Brady?
Barack Obama has identity crises (is he black or is he white)
Springsteen (Born In U. S. A.) only claim to fame
George Clooney handsome but looks fade but dumb is forever
So I had rather be me. - Reply to this comment
- For the Obesity the answer is simple - Physical Education classes should be in every school 5 days a week. Run the stats, when PE was cut back Obesity increased.
Best company? Ford hands down. no bail out kudos to them! WalMart??? Please everything is made in China... Dont shop there.
Bring jobs back to the USA --- take a look at the last American Flag you purchased... where was it made?? - Reply to this comment
- so this is how far 60 min. has fallen! When they refused to back their reporters on the tobacco story and then punished their reporter for telling the truth on draft dodger george they started losing all credibility. Now it's nothing but entertainment and fluff. I suppose Katie Kuric will finish out her career as an ace reporter for 60 Minutes - starting next year I hope. A two year contract should suffice.
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- I think a company like Halliburton best symbolizes us!
Always skirting responsibility, greedy, unjust, no conscience, shady, shadowy, hubris... - Reply to this comment
- The fact that the majority of the merchandise sold in WalMart is made in China, is one of the largest problems facing America today!
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- Your list of companies is very limited. You should expand it by adding at least Enron, AIG and Blackwater.
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- I cast my vote for Waste Management.
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- Ford definitely represents america, they are cheap, unreliable, and made in foreign countries by cheap foreign workers. Oh and the car dies almost immediately after 150.000 miles. And they cannot compete with foreign cars.
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- I'm surprised that Harley Davidson didn't even make the list.
The Harley brand is about freedom and America.
Harley is also about quality ... which I think most Americans would say is what we are about. - Reply to this comment
- Our little town's 5 and dime never lost this American Spirit. It never left the family. It never went "corporate" ... it's closed on Sunday mornings! But the owner will open it after hours if your kid has a science project due the next morning and forgot to get the poster board for it. Find the Mom & Pop stores in your community and make them your destination of choice for anything you need. Not the maga boxes who only buy from China.
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- If you live in the Southwest it's no longer Ford, Walmart and everything the American's built this country to be. It's now how do we get it back to what it used to be and stop changing everything you see into something from Mexico. Walmart is no longer Walmart but Supermercado de Walmart. Almost everywhere you go everything is in English and Spanish. There are almost as many local Mexican tv stations than there are English speaking stations. If you're not Mexican in the Southwest you're not American.(or illegal)
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- WalMart...are you serious???? Nearly everything in those stores is imported! When my husband and I were pondering this question...Ford was the only company we could think of that truly signifies America today. They haven't taken a penny of our tax money and continue to do business with American workers. Without a doubt...they are it.
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- www.johnsonvillebrats.com
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- I believe the company that best represents America is Johnsonville Sausage Company. They are a family owned business, and seels product throughout the United States. In addition, does not ship in product from other countries like WalMart does. Every product is made by Johnsonville. Not only that they treat their employee's like family and believe and support the improvement of all their employees. This includes offering college courses, company health club, excellent pay and excellent insurance package. Whereas, WalMart has much lower standards, and encourages employees to us state funded help such as food stamps, because of their low pay. I hope & pray my voice is heard!!!!!
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- When I think of Wal-Mart, Wells Fargo, McDonalds, I think of companies that would exploit anyone anywhere to improve the profit line. Wal-Mart is the giant of exploitation of third world contries and communist countries like China for low prices.
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