In Turkey Fight, Kroger Should Have Asked: "Which Dickens Character Are We?"

MikeWestEast

Who is the stupid and wimpy one? The guy that gave the same turkeys to the same poor people via a different channel or the guy crying that he did not get to be the channel? Please!! Who is screaming Me!Me! during the holiday? Mr. Carraway received disrespect. Big deal. He get better get used to it. After he gets term limited and the May elections are over, few people will return his calls. No invitations to forums or boards or projects. No one will want his wisdom and experience. He will return to the obscurity that he so richly deserves.

He should keep the number of those groups giving away free turkeys. Next Thanksgiving he may need one.

ivyhall

Turkeys are dangerous unpleasant miscreants. They have a violent "pecking order" and been known to terrorize old ladies, school children, pedestrians and bicyclists, often traveling in flocks (gangs) to create maximum mayhem. They can peck through plate glass windows, run after victims @ 20 MPH and fly as fast as 55 MPH. They are the" Bill Sikes" of the bird world.

(abcnews.go.com>money Nov 18,2013, Rampaging Turkeys.)

WhiteWhale

So what Dickens character is Dwaine? Fagin or Sikes

Sharon_Moreanus topcommenter

If I was Gary Huddleston...I would of donated belts to Dwaine.

SlimJim

Yawn, Jim. Why no mention of Kroger's donations this year to the North Texas Food Bank? Feeling sorry for those who utilize DO as a news source.

RTGolden1 topcommenter

Did anyone ask Carraway if he donated any turkeys? And, if he did, was there a follow up question regarding conflict of interest?

JimSX topcommenter

Free turkeys for poor people at Thanksgiving is "a shakedown?"

.......................................................................................................................

“At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,” said the gentleman, taking up a pen, “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.”

“Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge.

“Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

“And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge. “Are they still in operation?”

“They are. Still,” returned the gentleman, “I wish I could say they were not.”

“The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?” said Scrooge.

“Both very busy, sir.”

“Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,” said Scrooge. “I’m very glad to hear it.”

“Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,” returned the gentleman, “a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?”

“Nothing!” Scrooge replied.

“You wish to be anonymous?”

“I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge. “Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don’t make merry myself at Christmas and I can’t afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned—they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.”

“Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.”

“If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides—excuse me—I don’t know that.”

“But you might know it,” observed the gentleman.

“It’s not my business,” Scrooge returned. “It’s enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people’s. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen!”

bmarvel topcommenter

Lots of Scrooges writing, below.

Myrna.Minkoff-Katz topcommenter

The Head Suer seems to be disinterested in this silly little fight.

riconnel8

I believe Kroger still donated turkeys. They just didn't donate them through Caraway. That makes Kroger look like scrooge... because why? I think you have a very different take on this than I do. No one is required to donate to or through anyone they choose not to. I know I don't give Christmas gifts to people I don't like regardless of the reason I don't like them.

Would I prefer paper to plastic as a requirement? Yes, but if it is that much of a preference I'd probably be carrying my reusable bags to the stores I shop at in the first place. I don't see any plus side in trying to demean Huddleston (who was the spokesperson for all the retailers) when WalMart probably does at least twice the volume....all in plastic bags. How many turkeys has WalMart donated this year? How many did they donate through Caraway? Why aren't we talking about them?

MattL11

As long as there are fewer plastic bags flying around and enough turkeys for those who need them, I couldn't care less about the rest of this shit. However, Kroger should know better than to get in a pettiness battle with and old pro like Caraway. There are few who can challenge him in that arena.

ThePosterFormerlyKnownasPaul topcommenter

Really? Just what did Mr. Caraway expect Kroger to do?

That is wonderful that Mr. Caraway has obtained more turkeys for his constituents.

All I can say, is this is just another example of 14-1 being the worst of ward politics with none of the advantages.

wcvemail topcommenter

Interesting and simile-rich take on the situation, and Kroger didn't cover themselves with glory on this one. That said, since Kroger is donating the turkeys through another program, and since Caraway got more turkeys than ever before, this is just a jejune contretemps, you know, a tempest in a teapot.

This turkey give-away is an established shakedown that benefits Caraway's standings with the recipients, and coincidentally helps Kroger's taxes as well as name recognition. (in that order, I see what I've done)

Caraway and Kroger will both survive. And along with the Ghost of Christmas Past visiting the Kroger high-horse rider, wouldn't it be fun if Arthur and Archie made a return to Caraway.

JSSS

Why give Dwaine Caraway any more ink? Continuing to act like these guys (and women) on the CC benefit anyone other than themselves and their associates really is irresponsible. Things will never improve unless some real public servants actually get elected in Dallas.

Voot

It looks to me that Kroger demurred on a Chicago-style shakedown. Plastic bags were only introduced into the stories by those writing them.

Montemalone topcommenter

You're wrong Mr. S.

This bag ban/tax is wrongheaded in so many ways.

The trash in South Dallas isn't deposited on the streets by Kroger.

mavdog topcommenter

@ivyhall

good thing we slaughter them by the 10's of millions.

JimSX topcommenter

@Sharon_Moreanus Not aprons?

JimSX topcommenter

@SlimJim In fact I do mention Kroger's generosity, above, and may I point out that this isn't really about Kroger being generous or stingy so much as it is about Kroger being stupid. Withholding food from poor people because you lost a fight and now you're going to be a poor sport about it? Tell me how that builds the brand. This move by Kroger was stupid and wimpy.

TheCredibleHulk topcommenter

@RTGolden1

I've got money on "Zero" turkeys donated personally by Caraway.

And the followup question would just be redundant. Dwaine Caraway is a walkin' talkin' conflict of interest.

RTGolden1 topcommenter

@JimSX What turkey giveaway for poor people?

level of income is not a requirement according to the official flyer:

http://dallascityhall.com/government/citycouncil/District4/misc/turkeygiveaway.pdf

wcvemail topcommenter

@JimSX

Maybe my 9th-grade direction of "A Christmas Story" forever cynicized me. Still, though, I'm always willing to take a shame-faced hanging of the head if morally wrong.

That said, yeah, any time a pol gets his name associated with free stuff from a third party, then the continuing free stuff is dependent on a delicate dance between shaking down and "reminding you of our holiday tradition."

Voot

@JimSX How many have you given them, Jim?

Here, let's do this: I propose Jim Schutze give Dwaine Caraway every turkey Kroger didn't so that Dwaine can now give them to poor people.

What's great about this as it doesn't muddy the waters with grocery bags.

Me? I'm Scrooge. I'll stay Scrooge. And until you fork over, Jim, you're Scrooge, too. Bill gets a pass because he's so old and needs every penny he can get for maintenance.

kduble

@riconnel8 We aren't talking about them because they weren't stupid enough to put themselves in such a bad situation.

realtalk214

@wcvemail why are you so worried about whether or not someone got a free turkey?

ThePosterFormerlyKnownasPaul topcommenter

@JSSS

You may change the City Council at the next election, but City Hall will still be City Hall.

Montemalone topcommenter

@JSSS

Real public servants don't have the little envelopes filled with cash to hand out to ensure voters are directed to pick them at the polls.

James080

@Montemalone

I may have to question your police work there Monte. Paddle up White Rock Creek and you'll see about a dozen plastic grocery bags every 100 yards or so.

ivyhall

@mavdog @ivyhall Yes indeed-- and in my house we can't get rid of the evidence fast enough (yum,yum)--pass the gravy. please! Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Sharon_Moreanus topcommenter

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=12UciT0TUYE

Sharon_Moreanus topcommenter

Kroger didn't withhold food from poor people. They changed thier donor from DC to NTF because of a business deal.

It won't hurt thier brand because there isn't a Kroger in a South Dallas.

I still shop K...have 3 within 2 miles of me.

RTGolden1 topcommenter

@TheCredibleHulk @RTGolden1 point, set, match to Hulk.

mavdog topcommenter

@RTGolden1 @JimSX

thanks for the flyer link RT, it is interesting...

HEB and Costco, two retailers who do not have any stores in the Councilmen's Districts, or in the southern portion of the City of Dallas, apparently donated the turkeys.

also note the inclusion of free health screenings, which can be very beneficial to those who otherwise would not have access to this service.

IDK, to me this is just the type of positive event a Council member is able to coordinate by virtue of their position. few people would be capable of getting this done.

do the Councilmen get some benefit? yes, but certainly not as much benefit as those who receive the turkey and health screening..

RTGolden1 topcommenter

@Voot @JimSX On target.

riconnel8

@kduble The "bad situation" being that they had donated in the past? Like I've heard said before...no good deed goes unpunished.

Notes to self:

Never do any charitable act more than once. When any charitable act is done more than once the dysfunctional will come to expect it..in fact demand it (and will exploit) rather than appreciate what you've done and say thank you.

Be glad your name isn't known and you can still treat those who openly and vigorously oppose your interests as the enemy.

Some people aren't above using the poor and/or children as hostages to get their demands met.

wcvemail topcommenter

@realtalk214 @wcvemail

Not worried a bit, although I could expand on that free turkey idea to talk about paternalistic creation of expectant dependency through these programs. I was just pointing out that it's a shakedown and a corp accounting thing, and they each deserve each other's tantrum tiffs.

Also, it gave me a chance to use "jejune contretemps," which you've gotta admit, doesn't get used nearly enough.

Do you have another question?

buckbucky

@Montemalone @JSSS It's not like city council races are hotly contested and cost a ton of money. Most of these buffoons get elected unopposed.

If the real public servant didn't have envelopes of money-- they could do it the old fashioned way and go door to door or other ways of actually getting in front of voters.

RTGolden1 topcommenter

@James080 @Montemalone and how many of those bags did Kroger, the store, put there? Not its customers, but the store itself?

Montemalone topcommenter

@James080 @Montemalone

better ban bottled water

and all bottled or canned beverages

and fast food

and newspapers

and magazines

and clothes

and shoes

and toys

and tires

and shopping carts

and...

cuz all these things and more can be found in creeks all over Dallas

mavdog topcommenter

@Sharon_Moreanus

I can't find anything about Kroger and NTFB and turkeys, wouldn't one expect that if Kroger did make a sizable donation they would be sure to get the PR?

here's the NTFB twitter feed, lots of cos. mentioned but not Kroger....https://twitter.com/ntfb

I'm sure Kroger does support the NTFB as all the major grocers do, but...

RTGolden1 topcommenter

@buckbucky @Montemalone @JSSS Not in Carraway's district. You'd have to go church to church and thicken the gravy in the collection plates a bit.

kduble

@RTGolden1 If Kroger hands out free stuff to people regardless of whether they even want it, then yes, Kroger bears some responsibility when some of it gets tossed aside.

James080

@RTGolden1 @James080 @Montemalone

When you purchase a tire for your car, you are charged a tire disposal fee, because people....not the tire store....like to toss old tires in rivers and illegal dumps. When you buy a new car battery, your are charged a battery disposal fee, because people...not parts stores...like to dump old acid lead batteries in rivers and illegal dumps. Is any of this making sense to you?

kduble

@Montemalone What you're really saying: We can't have a perfect world, so it's no use trying.

RTGolden1 topcommenter

@Montemalone @James080 maybe we should just ban stores altogether. What with traffic congestion, litter, depressed property values they don't seem to be contributing much to our society....

RTGolden1 topcommenter

@mavdog @Sharon_Moreanus From the NTFB web page, under community partnerships, the Kroger entry: "

Support for NTFB includes event sponsorship, nutritious product donations, financial gifts, volunteerism, and a commitment to fighting hunger"

Maybe because I don't have twitter?

http://web.ntfb.org/page.aspx?pid=253

Sharon_Moreanus topcommenter

They went with KLTY-FM and North Texas Food Bank event this year.

buckbucky

@RTGolden1 @buckbucky @Montemalone @JSSS Well sure, it's not like anyone is going to run against him. He's sticking it to whitey and that's all that matters to racists in his district. It's enough to get 15 of them out of the welfare office to vote.

Montemalone topcommenter

@kduble @RTGolden1

How about "people" exercise some personal responsibility.

If they don't want a bag at Kroger, or elsewhere, they state the fact.

And rather than toss it on the ground after use, perhaps reuse, recycle, or at least dispose of properly?

Trash begets trash.

RTGolden1 topcommenter

@James080 @RTGolden1 @Montemalone Yes, i get the logic of a disposal fee. But with the disposal fee, or core charge, on some items, you can recoup part of that if you turn in the item being replaced.

With tires you can't. Which is why there are more tires lining creeks and dotting woods than car batteries.

The whole deposit/tax/ban, as Monte said is wrongheaded. it's trying to get shit back into a goose.

Montemalone topcommenter

@kduble @Montemalone

No, that's not at all what I said.

kduble

@RTGolden1 The issue is litter. It's possible to sell things without duking out free stuff to people who often prefer not to even have it.

mavdog topcommenter

@RTGolden1 @mavdog @Sharon_Moreanus

come on RT, get with the twits.....the more twits the better.

My point was there is nothing about Kroger and donations of turkeys. Huddleston was very clear in his comment about donating turkeys although not to Caraway. As I said above, "I'm sure Kroger does support NTFB...".

kduble

@RTGolden1 If you don't want things tossed by the wayside, quit handing out free stuff. Makes sense to me.

RTGolden1 topcommenter

@mavdog @RTGolden1 @Sharon_Moreanus There is a mention on their twitter feed about kroger and a radio station and $2500 for the purchase of turkeys.... which would still make you correct, no mention of kroger donating turkeys. And it was posted 21h ago, after your post here.... maybe you spurred them into action...