Walmart and Plan B medication

[Brandon]

I know it is old news but what did everyone think of Walmart refusing to sell Plan B?

 

[Furious George]

Corporate responsibility is dwindling.

 

[Brandon]

Could you elaborate a little more? I am not sure if I understand fully what you are implying.

 

[Furious George]

I haven't really read up on the issue, but I know for a fact that Wal-Mart has always puts it's profits before Customer Service/PR/etc. There are a bunch of organizations out there campaigning to shut down Wal-Mart. I just assumed this refusal to provide Plan B medication is just another example of their lack of responsibility.

 

[Brandon]

Plan B is a post-coitus contraceptive. Wal-mart is run by conservatives. Hence Wal-mart did not sell Plan B.

 

[sarah]

what strikes me about what both of you have said is that although Wal Mart is a conservative company, they did sell the ammunition used in the Columbine school shooting and continued to do so for some time after the incident... they feel moraly correct in selling ammo, but not a contraceptive. interesting.

 

[Brandon]

Your really talking about two different idea's Sarah. Ammo can be used for other purposes other than murdering other humans (hunting, skeet, target, etc...). While plan B only has one reason for its existence.

Walmart is a privately owned business. Keeping that in mind, they should be able to carry (or not carry) products they choose to sell (or not sell). If we followed the logic from the group (NARAL) that demanded Walmart to sell Plan B, I can demand that a gas station MUST sell diesel or that Dunkin Donuts MUST sell a certain type of donut. If everyone wants a heathcare example; CVS pharmacy MUST carry Viagra.

The other thing that aggravates me is one of the comments made about this issue. I can't remember the source, but I heard that it was "damaging to women's health to not have Plan B available". By not taking Plan B you are doomed to what? Pregnancy! Last time I checked pregnancy is NOT a disease. Becoming pregnant could be damaging to someone's finances but it is not a disorder. It's completely normal and natural.

Can everyone see the lunacy involved in their arguement. Next time you want a company to sell something but doesn't, just go to another store.

 

[palefrost]

Plan B is a post-coitus contraceptive. Wal-mart is run by conservatives. Hence Wal-mart did not sell Plan B.

I think your starter post left out a lot of information on the subject Brandon so it confused people.

Overall wal-mart is very conservation and i wouldnt at all say its not for its employees. If anything its been on of the few companies that try and give back though profit sharing and an open door policy back to the employees. Of course the original visionary for the company Sam Walton passed on and a lot has changed i still admire what the company "tries" to stand for.

I dont know how i feel about the matter of plan B. If they have a drug store inside the wal-mart they should be made to sell all the products that need to be sold. No company should worry about morals..i mean its kinda laughable if you look at it that way..I'm sure if i thought about it i could catch them in a few hypocritical situations if they want to hide behind morality....

 

[vicki2]

Well, I read through the posts, and while I don't like the Waltons for a few reasons other than their stores, I think it's up to them to sell what they want to sell. Plan B isn't exactly a life giving drug even if Wal Mart is the only pharmacy in town. I doubt there'd be the same outcry if it was Joe's Pharmacy down the road that decided not to stock it.

 

[sarah]

Your really talking about two different idea's Sarah. Ammo can be used for other purposes other than murdering other humans (hunting, skeet, target, etc...). While plan B only has one reason for its existence.

I know, but I felt like throwing that one out there to see how people would react.

 

[capitalist_junkie]

What frustrates me is that Wal-Mart pharmacies do distribute birth control pills, but they do not distribute Plan B. BOTH prevent pregnancy. BOTH are contraceptives. In my opinion, they should sell both or neither.

 

[sarah]

What frustrates me is that Wal-Mart pharmacies do distribute birth control pills, but they do not distribute Plan B. BOTH prevent pregnancy. BOTH are contraceptives. In my opinion, they should sell both or neither.

I think the company views plan B as killing a life, which is in its earliest stages, whereas birth control keeps that life from existing. I know it is splitting hairs, but I bet that is the companies logic.

 

[capitalist_junkie]

I suppose it is, but a lot of people who take plan B aren't even sure that they've conceived anything. Fertilization may or may not have occurred. How can you even tell?

 

[sarah]

there is no way to tell if conception happened or not at the point plan B would be effective.

 

[Paula62]

Next time you want a company to sell something but doesn't, just go to another store.

Bingo, Brandon. Therein lies the problem and the outcry abotu Wal-mart not carrying versus Joe's Paharmacy not carrying it. In many cases Walmart has caused the demise of any other store within a reasonable distance (and in the American southwest distances between towns can be huge, and sometimes when you get there the only store is another Walmart!). The Wal-mart business model is designed with the GOAL of wiping out the competitors. So with that in mind, Walmart positioning itself as the only pharmacy in town and then deciding what people will have available is just plain stinky. A pharmacy is not like a regular retail outlet.