Is Walmart a robber baron company?
The owners/inventors of Walmart are robber barons!
In business they're two different ways we describe business owners and their corporations. We call them either "robber barons" or "captains of industry". When running or making a business their are a lot of different business tactics each founder can use. Some of theses tactics can be good and helpful, were others can be negative towards their workers/costumers. When deciding if a company is a robber baron or captain of industry each person has their own opinion and own perspective; not everyone is going to agree with you. Before I explain why Walmart is a robber baron company, you need to learn more in depth about robber barons and captains of industry.
Robber barons are people or business owners that gain wealth through ethically questionable tactics. Some of these tactics include workers being forced to work long hours, keeping workers wages at a minimum and reducing wages as they felt fit, forced children to work to make their families survive, etc. Cornelius Vanderbilt is an example of a robber baron. This is because he is known for building the railroads and steamboats. Vanderbilt's business tactic started as lowering the prices of train tickets to drive other railway owners out of business. Once he owned all the railroads he jacked up all the prices! In addition to this Vanderbilt paid his workers very little compared to the long and dangerous hours they were forced to work.
Captains of industry are people or business owners whose personal fortune positively impact the country in some way. Some examples of these tactics could be not allowing workers strikes and having secret agreements with other businesses. Andrew Carnegie is an example of a captain of industry. Carnegie is known for forming the U.S. steel company. He started out as a poor Scottish immigrant who basically got lucky and became rich! Carnegie used his money as a way to give back to others. He donated money to form Carnegie Hall, founded the Carnegie Institution to fund scientific research, and gave money to towns and libraries he helped build.
Now that we know a little more about robber barons and captains of industry, let's talk about why the company Walmart was owned and invented by robber barons. Walmart was invented by the Walton family, most importantly Sam Walton. Walmart is known for "saving money and living better". Little do most people know about the poor treatment their workers receive. Walmart workers have low wages, no benefits, and unreliable hours. Most full-time workers don't make enough to provide for a family and end up needing food stamps and financial aid help. With the low pay Walmart owners give their workers you would think the owners are not as "rich" or financially stable, WRONG! The owners of Walmart are LOADED and instead of paying their workers better or trying to improve their company they keep their money for themselves and their own selfish purposes.
Everyone has a different opinion and perspective on whether a business is a robber baron or captain of industry. We are not all going to agree with other peoples opinions. What we all can agree on is the fact that robber barons are business owners who "rob people/businesses of opportunity", and captains of industry are business owners who uses their wealth for the better. Walmart owners are robber barons who take advantage of their workers and selfishly keep their income to themselves!
Citations:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Cornelius_Vanderbilt_three-quarter_view.jpg
https://media1.britannica.com/eb-media/54/76654-004-29AE2F6C.jpg
http://www.campaigncentre.com.au/_client/_images/WESTWOOD0978/outlet/logo/walmart.jpg
In business they're two different ways we describe business owners and their corporations. We call them either "robber barons" or "captains of industry". When running or making a business their are a lot of different business tactics each founder can use. Some of theses tactics can be good and helpful, were others can be negative towards their workers/costumers. When deciding if a company is a robber baron or captain of industry each person has their own opinion and own perspective; not everyone is going to agree with you. Before I explain why Walmart is a robber baron company, you need to learn more in depth about robber barons and captains of industry.
Robber barons are people or business owners that gain wealth through ethically questionable tactics. Some of these tactics include workers being forced to work long hours, keeping workers wages at a minimum and reducing wages as they felt fit, forced children to work to make their families survive, etc. Cornelius Vanderbilt is an example of a robber baron. This is because he is known for building the railroads and steamboats. Vanderbilt's business tactic started as lowering the prices of train tickets to drive other railway owners out of business. Once he owned all the railroads he jacked up all the prices! In addition to this Vanderbilt paid his workers very little compared to the long and dangerous hours they were forced to work. 
Captains of industry are people or business owners whose personal fortune positively impact the country in some way. Some examples of these tactics could be not allowing workers strikes and having secret agreements with other businesses. Andrew Carnegie is an example of a captain of industry. Carnegie is known for forming the U.S. steel company. He started out as a poor Scottish immigrant who basically got lucky and became rich! Carnegie used his money as a way to give back to others. He donated money to form Carnegie Hall, founded the Carnegie Institution to fund scientific research, and gave money to towns and libraries he helped build.
Everyone has a different opinion and perspective on whether a business is a robber baron or captain of industry. We are not all going to agree with other peoples opinions. What we all can agree on is the fact that robber barons are business owners who "rob people/businesses of opportunity", and captains of industry are business owners who uses their wealth for the better. Walmart owners are robber barons who take advantage of their workers and selfishly keep their income to themselves!
Citations:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Cornelius_Vanderbilt_three-quarter_view.jpg
https://media1.britannica.com/eb-media/54/76654-004-29AE2F6C.jpg
http://www.campaigncentre.com.au/_client/_images/WESTWOOD0978/outlet/logo/walmart.jpg
It's shocking to know how WALMART being of the cheapest companies doesn't treat their workers they way they are supposed to with good wages. Walmart has the money for that but they just don't do it... But overall, I love how you explained at first what robber baron and captains of industry meant in the beginning. It was a really interesting topic to talk about as it's still going on in the present day.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Do you feel like Walmart should be called out for their unfair treatment to their workers? Should this company be out of business?
I believe that Walmart has gotten some attention from the media about their poor treatment, but I think they're so many people out there that have no idea what secrets they are hiding from there costumers. I don't think this company should necessarily be put out of business, but I believe with some major company changes it could be a beneficial business.
DeleteBased on how people now and back then treat workers semi the same seems really messed up. However, there's probably a lot of behind the scenes stuff that goes on at Walmart. Also, they have to at least make minimum wage and since there are labor laws now, they can't work more than 12 hours without signing up for more. I agree that Walmart is like a robber baron company, their workers should get better benefits and pay seeing as how they deal with the public every single day. You did really well with the explanation and your thesis statement was very strong.
ReplyDeleteThank you I thought putting an exclamation at the end of my thesis really emphasized my point! I defiantly that it is really messed up how we still semi treat workers the same as back then. I understand that they are legally not allowed to work over 12 hours but, if your full time job is to work there and you only get minimum, and you are expected to provide for a family, there is no way that small of income will support you.
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