Wal Mart Vs. the Morons...

[subllibrm]

WalMart's profitability is artificially propped up by the government providing the services that the employees can't afford with the pay they receive. Most WalMart employees are eligible for Medicaid, housing assistance, food stamps, reduced school lunches. And yes, this includes those who are full time workers.

Right/wrong? idk but it isn't some brilliant business mind that says "hey let's build our business with indirect government subsidies for our workers keeping our payroll low". Corpfare anyone?

What should shelf stockers get paid?
How about people who collect up shopping carts?
What about they who sell the watches at the jewelry department?
What about the guy/gal who greets you at the door?
These are hardly skilled labor.
You could pay them all $12 an hour and they'd still be poor in today's economy.
With fuel, food and lodging prices the way they are, $12 and hour just aint making it.

And this refutes my point how?

How?  SKILLED LABOR!!  you pay a person based on their skill set. 

Sounds cruel to some but would YOU pay someone 15 an hour to flip burgers or push baskets?

My point if your or 16KJV11 had bothered to read what I wrote was in reference to the idea that the WalMart business plan is brilliant. A business plan that pushes overhead to the government is not the poster child for free enterprise. It is the definition of corporate welfare.

American businesses are going down this road because it is the only way to compete with the world. To soften the blow (that great sucking sound) the government is underwriting the cost of doing business by providing what the workers can't afford on the global pay scale. Many larger companies have staff social workers that guide employees to government aid as an "employment service". "No Mr. Smith, we can't give you a raise but if you contact this number they will help you get food stamps". Unless WalMart is paying enough taxes to cover the cost that their employees impose on the system, then they are a net consumer of government spending. CorpFare!

 

[Bruh]

WalMart's profitability is artificially propped up by the government providing the services that the employees can't afford with the pay they receive. Most WalMart employees are eligible for Medicaid, housing assistance, food stamps, reduced school lunches. And yes, this includes those who are full time workers.

Right/wrong? idk but it isn't some brilliant business mind that says "hey let's build our business with indirect government subsidies for our workers keeping our payroll low". Corpfare anyone?

What should shelf stockers get paid?
How about people who collect up shopping carts?
What about they who sell the watches at the jewelry department?
What about the guy/gal who greets you at the door?
These are hardly skilled labor.
You could pay them all $12 an hour and they'd still be poor in today's economy.
With fuel, food and lodging prices the way they are, $12 and hour just aint making it.

And this refutes my point how?

How?  SKILLED LABOR!!  you pay a person based on their skill set. 

Sounds cruel to some but would YOU pay someone 15 an hour to flip burgers or push baskets?

My point if your or 16KJV11 had bothered to read what I wrote was in reference to the idea that the WalMart business plan is brilliant. A business plan that pushes overhead to the government is not the poster child for free enterprise. It is the definition of corporate welfare.

American businesses are going down this road because it is the only way to compete with the world. To soften the blow (that great sucking sound) the government is underwriting the cost of doing business by providing what the workers can't afford on the global pay scale. Many larger companies have staff social workers that guide employees to government aid as an "employment service". "No Mr. Smith, we can't give you a raise but if you contact this number they will help you get food stamps". Unless WalMart is paying enough taxes to cover the cost that their employees impose on the system, then they are a net consumer of government spending. CorpFare!

I agree but I do not think Wal-Mart needs to pay their employees 15 or 16 an hour. 

I heard someone say that minimum wages needs to be 20 an hour.  That's ridiculous if it ever gets to be that high I think I may work at the local McD's in the morning and then Burger King for about 4 hours after I leave McD's.  That would be a good living.   

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

BIG PROBLEM! WALMART PUTS THE LITTLE AMERICAN GUY OUT OF BUSINESS AND PAYS EMPLOYEES PEANUTS.

So should the government intervene and limit their profits in favor of the small business?

Ask the people where that's been done and see how they feel.....Cuba, North Korea....formerly China....but they are opening their economy to capitalistic principles so it can survive....and it's working for them.

Communism and socialism only work on paper....NEVER have they had success in real life.

Where did I say otherwise? (governmentally, of course. )

You asked - should the government intervene? 

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

The government should purchase Walmart. 

That would certainly kill their growth, profitability and success! 

 

[Tim]

The government should purchase Walmart. 

That would certainly kill their growth, profitability and success! 

Maybe. But, I would enjoy the free food, law chairs, and eye wear!

 

[rsc2a]

Might as well make minimum wage $100/hr if you want to ignore the effects of wage inflation.

 

[Tim]

Might as well make minimum wage $100/hr if you want to ignore the effects of wage inflation.

I think the real issue is people being underpaid and desperate. An individual company choosing to pay people better really has nothing to do with minimum wage, but taking responsibility for those they need. You can pay a cashier $8.50 or $16.50 .... but in the end, what value do you place on them? If you value them little, don't mind paying them little, and figure they are too stupid to better themselves and find higher paying jobs - fine, be that way. BUT! The higher moral ground would be to pay more, build trust, and take an active role in each individuals life. Might not make the CEO rich, but certainly will make him less of a SOB and more of a role model respected by many.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

BIG PROBLEM! WALMART PUTS THE LITTLE AMERICAN GUY OUT OF BUSINESS AND PAYS EMPLOYEES PEANUTS.

So should the government intervene and limit their profits in favor of the small business?

Ask the people where that's been done and see how they feel.....Cuba, North Korea....formerly China....but they are opening their economy to capitalistic principles so it can survive....and it's working for them.

Communism and socialism only work on paper....NEVER have they had success in real life.

Where did I say otherwise? (governmentally, of course. )

You asked - should the government intervene? 

Rhetorical and somewhat said with sarcasm.

 

[Ransom]

Pay them $16.95 per hour .... with benefits. You wanna be the world leader in selling goods, fine, be also the world leader in treating your people fair.

All fine and well, until tradesmen, skilled labour, and white-collar workers realize that their work is now undervalued, and start demanding more.

Frankly, there are a number of jobs in the workforce that simply aren't intended as a lifelong career - or shouldn't be. They're suited for teenagers or college students paying their way through school.  There's also going to be a perennial need for labour requiring no particular skills or education, and a pool of workers willing to do it.

If I was a business owner, and it was mandated that I pay my employees a minimum of $16.95/hr. plus benefits, I'd make a bachelor's degree a job requirement.

 

[rsc2a]

Pay the burger flipper $10.10/hr and your value meal goes up to $12.

 

[christundivided]

In principle, I reject the idea of a minimum wage. But.... practically speaking... its needed in a capitalist system. Sometimes monopolies are generated. Said monopolies then take advantage of employees. They should receive some form of protection. Either way, the employer always has the right to demand more for what he pays.

 

[Tim]

Pay the burger flipper $10.10/hr and your value meal goes up to $12.

And I would be fine with that. Stinking dollar menus only encourage low wages and larger waistlines anyway. Pay a fair wage and naturally the product will take a hit. If this was across the board things would iron out.

 

[christundivided]

Pay the burger flipper $10.10/hr and your value meal goes up to $12.

And I would be fine with that. Stinking dollar menus only encourage low wages and larger waistlines anyway. Pay a fair wage and naturally the product will take a hit. If this was across the board things would iron out.

I'm of the opinion... the older you get... the fatter you need to be. It helps pull the wrinkles out.

 

[Tim]

Pay the burger flipper $10.10/hr and your value meal goes up to $12.

And I would be fine with that. Stinking dollar menus only encourage low wages and larger waistlines anyway. Pay a fair wage and naturally the product will take a hit. If this was across the board things would iron out.

I'm of the opinion... the older you get... the fatter you need to be. It helps pull the wrinkles out.

I'll need to remember that one next time I see my doc. LOL

 

[rsc2a]

Pay the burger flipper $10.10/hr and your value meal goes up to $12.

And I would be fine with that. Stinking dollar menus only encourage low wages and larger waistlines anyway. Pay a fair wage and naturally the product will take a hit. If this was across the board things would iron out.

You missed the point.  Your burger costs more.  Your groceries cost more.  Your clothes cost more.  Your house costs more.  Your car costs more.  Your plumber costs more.  Your...

In short,  nothing has changed,  well except that America is even less competitive in the global marketplace.

 

[kaba]

Pay the burger flipper $10.10/hr and your value meal goes up to $12.

And I would be fine with that. Stinking dollar menus only encourage low wages and larger waistlines anyway. Pay a fair wage and naturally the product will take a hit. If this was across the board things would iron out.

You missed the point.  Your burger costs more.  Your groceries cost more.  Your clothes cost more.  Your house costs more.  Your car costs more.  Your plumber costs more.  Your...

In short,  nothing has changed,  well except that America is even less competitive in the global marketplace.

You hit the nail on the head rsc2a

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

Pay the burger flipper $10.10/hr and your value meal goes up to $12.

And I would be fine with that. Stinking dollar menus only encourage low wages and larger waistlines anyway. Pay a fair wage and naturally the product will take a hit. If this was across the board things would iron out.

You missed the point.  Your burger costs more.  Your groceries cost more.  Your clothes cost more.  Your house costs more.  Your car costs more.  Your plumber costs more.  Your...

In short,  nothing has changed,  well except that America is even less competitive in the global marketplace.

You hit the nail on the head rsc2a

You'd have to change just about everything to make the economy work properly.  Here are just a few of my suggestions (and many of the have to be done simultaneously, or else they'd just make things worse). 

1.  Eliminate the income tax.  Substitute a national sales or consumption tax (NOT a VAT tax, though). 
2.  Eliminate the minimum wage entirely.  If the employer offers too little, don't take the job. 
3.  Eliminate employer-based cover-everything health insurance, which drives up the cost of all aspects of health care.  Catastrophic care insurance would be very affordable.  Pay for your own meds, doctors and procedures and let competition determine the price.  Make the loser pay lawyer/court costs in malpractice suits to minimize frivolous malpractice suits (tort reform). 
4.  Stop over-regulation.  Let the buyer beware. 
5.  And so on...

 

[rsc2a]

I'm fine with1,2,4, &5. I don't want to tell employers that they cannot offer a certain benefit,  but I agree they should go after more consumer-dependent route.  I also like the idea of losing plantiffs paying attorneys fees,  but it would have to be regulated somehow.

 

[subllibrm]

In short,  nothing has changed,  well except that America is even less competitive in the global marketplace.

And since "we" have decided to play that game, "we" need to quit complaining about the ramifications of globally competitive pay rates. "We" can't have it both ways.

I will say it again; globalization is not bringing the world up to meet us, it is bringing us down to meet the world. That is how this competition is playing out.

 

[Tim]

Pay the burger flipper $10.10/hr and your value meal goes up to $12.

And I would be fine with that. Stinking dollar menus only encourage low wages and larger waistlines anyway. Pay a fair wage and naturally the product will take a hit. If this was across the board things would iron out.

You missed the point.  Your burger costs more.  Your groceries cost more.  Your clothes cost more.  Your house costs more.  Your car costs more.  Your plumber costs more.  Your...

In short,  nothing has changed,  well except that America is even less competitive in the global marketplace.

However the real world evolves and changes is far form my actual concern - I exist in it and do my best. BUT, I will say this ... In my opinion cheap products, service, and labor are hurtful to the economy. The whole "throw away" society is a crime. We should pay people well, sell quality products that last, and keep cheap imports out.