Bassmasters and their main sponsor Citgo have
been headline news, with alot of trashing of
Bassmasters and Citgo. Lets look at the other
BIG sponsor out there, Wal-Mart the main sponsor
of FLW. Before I start, I want everyone to know
that I support anglers that choose either organization. I am not a bleeding heart liberal
by any means, in fact I am pretty much conservative on most issues. I can assure you that Hugo Chavez and his rants, political ties
to Castro, etc, has nothing on Wal-Mart and the
Walton family. Chavez and Citgo are small fry when compared to the LARGEST company in the world, Wal-Mart! After reading Septembers issue
of Fishing Retailer magazine, and my own experience with the retail giant Wal-Mart, I did
some investigation. Earlier this week, my 76 year
old mother told me about a movie she had watched
with a friend called, Wal-Mart, The High Cost Of
Low Price. I got the movie and watched it. It was
so disturbing that at one point I had to turn off
the DVD to regain my composure. I did some more
research, and comfirmed the following statistics.
Wal-Mart is estimated to save Wal-Mart shoppers
$2,300 a year with low cost products. Wal-Mart
costs the american taxpayers $1,557,000,000,00
to support its employees with public assistance.
That is about $2,103 per employee. Wal-Mart received $1.008 billion in development subsides
as of 2004, making it the leader in corporate
welfare. In 2004 Wal-Mart was fined $3.1 million
by the EPA, the LARGEST fine ever for a retailer,
for Clean Water Act violations including violations in Texas. In fact they have received
fines every year since 1999 from the EPA for multi-state violations of the Clean Water Act.
Many of which have happened in Texas. Wal-Mart imported $18 billion from China in 2004, most of
which were produced in sweatshops under horrible
conditions. The cost of for Wal-Mart factory worker to assemble is $0.18, retail cost at Wal-Mart averaged $14.96. Wal-Mart cheated Texas workers out of $150 million dollars, and a class
action suit was filed. Over 4,172 children of
Wal-Mart workers are on taxpayer funded Childrens
Health Insurance Program, making Wal-Mart the largest employer in the State of Texas whose dependents use this program. Wal-Mart is currently facing lawsuits in thirty-one states for wage and hour abuses involving hundreds of
thousand workers. The Federal proverty level is
$17,650 for a family of four. The average hourly
sales associate at Wal-Mart brings home $13,861 a
year!

Each of the Walton family members is worth $18 billion a piece, making them the 4th,5th,6th,
and 7th richest in the country as listed by Forbes. The Walton family, led by Alice Walton
of Fort Worth Texas made $3.2 million in political contributions in 2004. Meanwhile, the
Walton family donated just 1% of their personal
wealth to charity. Bill Gates is the WORLDWIDE
leader with 58% of his personal wealth going to
charities, many of which YOUR children receive
through the donations of equipment to schools.
The Walton family received a FEDERAL tax cut of
$91,500.00 per HOUR in 2004, bringing the total
to $190,367,803 in 2004 alone!

These stats are only the tip of the iceberg. Wal-Mart leads the WORLD in cooporate greed and human
labor abuses. I don't even think that Chavez and
Citgo can top that! I don't think that people should boycott organizations like BASS or FLW
in order to make a statement. They should directly boycott the sponsors themselves by refusing to buy their products. I for one will NEVER give Wal-Mart another PENNY, nor will I purchase Citgo gas. I will however continue to support tournament anglers regardless of what
trail they choose to support. Take your frustrations out on Citgo and not BASS!

Lane, that was well written and well documented. I would suspect a background in journalism? Also noticed that you found the forum through a good friend of mine (J.P.). I enjoyed the read and appreciated the ample reference that you provided for your information resources. You make a very good point and a valid arguement. I however, have been typically like so many other Americans and buy where the best prices are most often found. When it comes to groceries and produce it's hard to beat Walmart's prices. As for anything else such as clothing, paint, tackle and other commodoties? I usually get them elsewhere because I am a bit "brand" conscious.
For Gasoline, there again the price usually dictates my buying activity. More often than not it will be from Quick Trip, or RaceTrack. As I understand, these companies buy from independent wholesale companies who buy from whoever has the best deal at the time.

With regard to Chavez and BASS? I don't mix sports and politics. The bassfishing sport has hit new elevations in terms of $$$$$. I guess they have to get the sponsors from somewhere and, as it's been said already, it comes from whoever has the checkbook open.

The bottomline is that you don't have to buy from anyone that you don't like! That's what's really sweet about being an American. You can even complain about anybody or anything and you won't get imprisoned or shot for it! God Bless our Troops, our President, The U.S.A. and the Great State of Texas, BASS, FLW, The TFF and the Cast-A-Way Bass Club. May you buy whatever your wallet and your heart will allow you!

Bob,I don't have a background in journalism. I am
a microbiologist, with a flare for law. I don't
mix politics with sports either. Wal-Mart was
not the only, "big box" retailer that I investigated. I researched other big retailers of sporting goods, such as, Cabelas,
Bass Pro, Gander Mountain,etc. I can then make educated purchases based upon my values,income,etc. Each person has to decide what
is right for themselves. I posted the information
of Wal-Mart, because Citgo is not the only bad
boy in town! I don't think that it is productive
to boycott organizations such as BASS,FLW, etc,
based solely on who their who their sponsors are.I have to admit that I rarely shopped at Wal-Mart anyway. Our family unit supports the mom and
pop hardware stores, etc. I do shop at Bass-Pro,
so I was happy to learn that they are are limiting the amount of tax abatements,etc. In fact they are cutting
WAY back. They do not abuse their employees,and offer affordable health coverage, etc. I support
the american dream and family values! Yes, JP is
a friend who happens to run a forum that I support.

That's a fair position, and I certainly can't argue your logic! LOL! Between you and me, that's a great sig! "Fishing Goddess and PETA's WORST NIGHTMARE!"

No.

As mentioned earlier in this thread it appears as though Bassmaster is cutting ties with Citgo. See Bassfan for details about the 2008 Elite Series.

The only thing I buy from Wal-Mart is the FLW Arkansas Beaver and the FLW Finesse worms. I can't find them anywhere else or I would not buy from Wallyworld.

So you are principaled to a point but do make exceptions.

I stopped my support for Bassmaster, when they would repeatedly send me hardbound books, and yearly daily planners, saying....."if I like the book, please send us $$$ dollars, or kindly return the book to us, so others can have a chance to enjoy the offer". Since the FTC has said that anything sent to you without your permission can be kept, without charge, I laughed and enjoyed the books.

For 5 months, I would recieve notices about sending them back if I wasn't going to buy them, each one a little stronger in it's language. I finally called and told them to take a leap, and read them the law regarding unsolicited goods. I haven't heard from them since.

I quit supporting bassmaster mainly cause they quit supporting me, the weekend angler. Since ESPN took over, it is all about tournaments. That's okay if that is your thing, and I enjoyed reading about it once in a while, but not everyone goes fishing to make money, or compete. The other straw were the viagra type ads and commercials. I don't need to explain to my 9 year old daughter what E.D is.

As far as Citgo, I don't buy gas there since the person most profiting wants all of us dead. Wal-Mart may be greedy and unethical, but they want me alive to buy more. (although Lane, you make good points, its just that the only other super center is Target-a French company, so what do you do?)

I've read this post 2 or 3 times to hear people's opinions. I do support BASS, and will continue to support BASS. BASS has stepped up to the plate for angler's rights, for that alone I will continue to support them. I would like to see the FLW step up and support the rights and fight the fight for us anglers that make up their program.