WAL-MART: ONLY THE BEGINNING



In a spectacular affirmation of this website's message the State of Maryland has enacted its Fair Share Health Care Act.  The new law imposes upon Wal-Mart (and effectively no other business in the state – for now) the legal duty to spend at least 8 percent of its payroll on health insurance or pay any shortfall to the state.  Details are reported here in the January 13, 2006 edition of The Washington Post, which earlier characterized the law as "a legislative mugging masquerading as an act of benevolent social engineering."

Of course, it's much worse:  It's the tip top of a slippery slope leading to socialized health care subsidized by business in Maryland.    Ronald W. Wineholt of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce says, "Enactment of this legislation is poor public policy and it damages Maryland's business image."  True enough, but business prospects in the State of Maryland do not depend on the state's image alone.  Instead, the corrupt business-toxic  culture that controls the state must be neutralized.

Is that possible? Sure, but don't bet your business on it. An excellent OpEd piece in Opinion Journal explains why.