Similarities Between Walmart And Jim Hightower

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The two articles that will be analyzed in this essay, “Farmer-in-Chief,” by Michael Pollan, and “Wal-Mart vs. Jim Hightower,” by Jim Hightower, both take a behind the scenes look at what is actually going on in major industries today, and how not everything is what it seems. Michael Pollan goes in depth on the agricultural side of things, and how our food is processed and produced. He also uncovers a very disturbing farming method known as “factory farming,” and how it is now a common practice that most large food companies use. The other article by Jim Hightower, takes a look at the superstore known as Wal-Mart, and dives into unethical strategies that makes the large company so successful. Every day we as people consume food, but when …show more content…

Some people may wonder how, with such low prices, Wal-Mart can sustain such a large profit margin. Well according to Jim Hightower, that answer lies within Wal-Mart’s workforce. Hightower believes that Wal-Mart is tricking its workers into thinking they are, “one big, happy family,” when in reality those workers are being exploited. According to Jim, Wal-Mart is diverting their workers from the actual issues such as, “fair wages, hiring discrimination, or unionization.” This is backed up in the 2004 documentary aired by PBS called, “Is Wal-Mart Good for America?” The documentary starts off with a Wal-Mart shareholders meeting, which seems more like a pep-rally. It then goes on to show workers having another so called pep rally in the morning, where they finish with the Wal-Mart cheer. This common tactic of pep rallies is no coincidence, it is essentially a way for Wal-Mart to brainwash its workers. Giving those workers false hope that they actually mean something to the company, when in reality they are just pawns in Wal-Mart’s grand scheme of things, and are merely replaceable when it comes down to it. Hightower did a great job battling through Wal-Mart’s propaganda to uncover the truth on how the company really …show more content…

“I write… because there is some lie that I want to expose, some facts to which I want to draw attention.” This is Orwell’s point of view on writing and it really resonates with the two articles by Pollan and Hightower. Pollan uncovered the dirty truth on how today’s foods are processed and produced. He exposed how larger food companies run their business, and their blatant negligence when it comes basic farming ethics. Hightower exposed Wal-Mart and showed how they really treat their workers. He dug through Wal-Mart’s propaganda and lies to prove his point on how they are practically brainwashing their