You may not like Wal-Mart - indeed, you may even actively dislike the world's largest retailer - but what the state of Maryland is trying to do in forcing the company to either increase spending on employee health care or pay a similar amount in higher taxes is simply, well, unfair and discriminatory.
The law, which was written so that it applies only to Wal-Mart, is nothing less than extortion.
Creating a tax penalty in order to punish the company for failing or refusing to acquiesce to state-mandated expenditures on health benefits is nonsense. It would set an outrageous precedent for other states if a federal court finds the state law valid.
If the law is upheld, we would be surprised if it isn't gradually expanded to include all larger corporations and eventually smaller companies as the state seeks ways to reduce its growing Medicaid bill. Where would such state mandates for company health-compensation packages end?
Requiring Wal-Mart to provide increased health-care benefits for employees not only could drive up the expense of doing business for the retail giant everywhere, but would force consumers in other states to pay more for the products they buy from the company's Supercenters and stores. That is unfair. The Maryland law should be stricken.
Wrong stand
We believe Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Jim Talent and Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill are both wrong in giving their support to a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban flag burning.
Thankfully, the proposal has died, though we are sure it will be brought up again during another election cycle. Still, there seems a genuine difference in the positions of the two Missouri senatorial candidates.
Sen. Talent has a track record of supporting the flag amendment. He apparently believes that making a federal offense of burning Old Glory would serve as a deterrent. And, according to The Associated Press, he regularly brings up the issue in his appearances around the state.
McCaskill's prepared statement smacked of political opportunism. She says she opposes flag burning and supports the amendment. But then she criticized the GOP-controlled Congress for scheduling a vote on the amendment because the issue "is not even close to a pressing problem in this nation."
We agree with her that flag burning is not a big problem and that the amendment proposal is hardly at the top of the nation's priority list. We also think the amendment is unnecessary, overkill and an invitation for more wackos to use the courts as a forum for what Andy Warhol described as everyone's 15 minutes of fame.
One would think, however, that a genuine supporter of the amendment, as McCaskill suggests she is, would have applauded the prospect of a vote and hoped for its passage.
Opinion
In our view: Wal-Mart attack
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: Victims should come first
Millions of dollars in donations have poured in from around the world since the May 22, 2011, tornado. Those donations represent money from lemonade stands, charity auctions, corporate gifts and celebrity checks, just to name a few. In fact, one year later donations continue to come to Joplin.
-
Beth Meeker, guest columnist: Same-sex marriage battle a quest for equal rights
I would like to take a moment to reply to guest columnist Anson Burlingame’s, “The Marriage Debate” (Globe, May 13).
-
Sunday Forum: 2012 graduation speakers key on tornado, mall school and president’s visit
Editor’s note: In addition to speeches by President Barack Obama and Gov. Jay Nixon, Joplin High School’s top students addressed graduates, faculty, parents and other guests packed into the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the Missouri Southern State University campus. Following are the text of those speeches.
-
Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Pack mentality takes truth as a casualty
President Obama’s Joplin graduation speech Monday showed that while there’s the political “right,” there’s also a very active “rabid” political right.
-
Your View: ‘Study’ can mean anything
A few evenings ago, I watched a television program on the science of marriage.
-
Our View: Support for museum
How can you tell the story of Joplin without the accounts of its mining history?
-
Our View: Finding middle ground
The G-8 summit held last week in Camp David ended as expected.
-
Anson Burlingame, guest columnist: Class of 2012 upholds character, hope
My oldest granddaughter was part of the class of 2012 from Joplin High School, and I attended the ceremony on Monday night.
-
Scott Charton, guest columnist: 'Deadline in Disaster' film a story about storytellers
Local newspapers are at their best when they help their communities confront, understand, endure and overcome shared challenges.
-
Our View: Make voting easiser
This year’s ballot will not include a proposed constitutional amendment that photo identification be required at the polls in Missouri. Good.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Our View: Victims should come first
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
