Biggest welfare queen on the planet?

[the_tyrant]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

And I call BS (Biased Study). Upon reading the whole article it seems that the 'Democratic staff of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce' is guessing.

Okay, so Wal*Mart doesn't start basic service employees at ten bucks an hour. Can you show me anyone who does? It looks to me like they're being singled out for no other reason than that they are the biggest target in sight. Political grandstanding, and you're falling for it.

I agree, if their employees are full time workers at above minimum wage, and they still need welfare, its probably because the minimum wage is too low

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

I agree, if their employees are full time workers at above minimum wage, and they still need welfare, its probably because the minimum wage is too low

And how high do you think it should be? $10? $20? How much to think their prices should go up to cover that cost? Should a Big Mac be $10? Have you even thought about this, or are you just buying into what people tell you?

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

And how high do you think it should be? $10? $20? How much to think their prices should go up to cover that cost? Should a Big Mac be $10? Have you even thought about this, or are you just buying into what people tell you?

Have you noticed burgers at most of these places are much smaller? Heck, I ate at Wendy's the other day, been a long time and was shocked their burgers are about half the beef as before, but price was up.

Let's face it, Americans are competing with 3rd world wages and benefits and millions Americans have to take these jobs, but since they don't pay the bills, the have to use govt programs, food stamps, etc. The fact is as wages and benefits decrease across the board for Americans, the govt will keep growing bigger regarding needs programs to make up the difference.
If businesses can't pay a living wage, expect bigger govt, more debt and higher taxes.... or we can wait until millions of Americans are rioting in the streets as they are in Europe.

[the_tyrant]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

And how high do you think it should be? $10? $20? How much to think their prices should go up to cover that cost? Should a Big Mac be $10? Have you even thought about this, or are you just buying into what people tell you?

I don't know, and to be honest, don't care about the minimum wage issue. But I do know that when a company is paying its workers above minimum wage for a "basic" job that anyone can do, the fact that its employees need welfare should not be blamed on the company.

Corporate America is rolling in money, but they're many signs the good times could be coming to an end again. Corporations have cut wages, benefits, about everything to increase profits, but because of that, Americans can't buy their goods like before. Eventually this tactic will backfire in a big way.

I had to hurry to China a week ago because of a family emergency. However, from what I see, your mentality has to change. America is NO LONGER the market where many brands are pushing their product the hardest.

From my personal experience, prices in America are the lowest I can find, at the big department stores like Macys and JC Penny, you find that the famous brands are selling for much cheaper compared to major department stores in Europe and Asia. The same brands are much more expensive on the London high street. But compared to prices in Shanghai, Harrods looks cheap!

I was in China for a week, and during the time, my dad's friend (a huge importer) said that the margins for the major brands in Asia is MUCH higher than in the US. 1 sale in Asia makes the same profit as 5 sales in America. But Asians like American brands, thus for many of them, they would much rather focus on Asia than the US.


I would actually say, decimated sales in the US matters less than the increased cost for many of these brands.