SIGN IN to access the Harper’s archive
ALERT: Usernames and passwords from the old Harpers.org will no longer work. To create a new password and add or verify your email address, please sign in to customer care and select Email/Password Information. (To learn about the change, please read our FAQ.)
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today!
Create a login here. Forgot password? Forgot email? More help here.
Citigroup Inc. lowered its rating on Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to hold from buy on Tuesday, citing concern that legislation intended to make it easier for employees to unionize would raise the retail giant’s labor costs and hurt its competitiveness. Deborah Weinswig, a Citigroup analyst, cut her price target on the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer to $48 from $53…
The proposed Employee Free Choice Act, a top priority for unions this year, was formally introduced Tuesday by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa., and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif.
Wal-Mart would be the “primary target” if any such bill were to be passed, especially because the U.S. food retail industry has historically been unionized with the exception of Wal-Mart, which is the largest food retailer, she said.
Update:
John Duncan writes, “Very interesting, considering Wal-Mart hasn’t been at 53 in a couple of months. So Citibank is lowering its “target” from something that wasn’t very achievable to something close to where Wal-Mart is currently running, claiming that it’s the scary unions that are causing the problem. I call BS.”
More from Ken Silverstein:
Commentary — July 25, 2012, 2:20 pm
Washington Babylon — September 29, 2010, 11:37 am


Amount of cash CNN reporter Peter Arnett says he wore sewn into his clothes while covering the Gulf War:

Babies prefer to look at attractive people.

A woman testified that prostitutes at the “bunga bunga” parties thrown by former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi had dressed up as President Obama.
“This is the heart of the magic factory, the place where medicine is infused with the miracles of science, and I’ve come to see how it’s done.”