Forum Post: Here comes the sun: 1st WALMART, NOW MCDONALD'S. Water's been building up behind this dam for a long time & now dam is cracking.
Posted 11 years ago on Nov. 30, 2012, 9:47 a.m. EST by therising
(6643)
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OWS supporters have been speaking up with a loud and powerful voice for the past 15 months and this helped (along with other factors) to embolden all kinds of groups and individuals to speak up too. When Walmart workers stood up, I think it really got a lot of the 99% thinking and talking. Hence McDonald's workers now pushing back for something that looks a little more like a living wage.
Privately, those in the 1% and their minions who are on the front lines of keeping wages and benefits down and productivity and profits up have to be beside themselves. They're not used to people standing up for themselves, especially collectively. That's what really scares them -- because the 1% knows quite well that they only rule if we the 99% are divided. When we start recognizing that we have more in common than we have dividing us, the corporatists will no longer be able to maintain the status quo.
Water has been building up behind this dam for a long long long time. And now the dam is cracking in a good way.
New York Times story on McDonald's - fast food workers walk off the job http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/nyregion/fast-food-workers-in-new-york-city-rally-for-higher-wages.html?ref=todayspaper
"It’s not just your teenagers with after school jobs. It’s mothers, fathers and families.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/11/29/fast-food-strikes-nyc_n_2213548.html
Here's how this might unfold big picture with more and more people around the country joining in this virtuous cycle to make this system serve the people instead of the people serving the system: http://occupywallst.org/forum/occupy-is-a-fleet-of-ships-and-there-is-no-they-in/
The water really is built up high behind this weak dam and most of the people in the country really do get this and feel it in their bones. All we Americans need then is to become emboldened to speak up. And that is something that really can become a virtuous cycle once the party of speaking up has started.
The key is that people are awakening to find they have more in common than they have separating them. That's what the 1% has dreaded all along. They keep us all tied up in knots of consumerism, cloud our eyes with mainstream media and feed the fires of division wherever possible -- Anything to keep the 99% from realizing they're all pretty much in the same boat. Over 50% of the wealth in this country is held by the top 1% and 90% of that is inherited. So much for all those lectures on pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps.
Reminds me of when President Bush congratulated the woman who was working three jobs to feed her family. "Wow, that's great," he smiled. "Uniquely American."
Most in the 1% have gotten so used to the other 99% putting up with income disparity that they never imagined Americans would awaken as the disparity grew and grew and real wages fell. They ought to remember that it's pretty quiet except for some rumbling right before a dam breaks. Then things move pretty fast.
In our case, pretty fast may be 10 years, but, relatively speaking, that's a short time to remove the corporatists that have held our republic hostage for so long. Believe me, for everyone's sake, I'd like it to be much faster, but I think we should be prepared for the long haul. The good news is that the sun is just over the horizon and soon we will feel its warmth on our faces instead of the cold wind of our current corporatocracy. Here comes the sun.
We have the power to put up guardrails, regulate and bend capitalism to the people's will until the system benefits humans instead of the needs of corporations....until it's so different that it must be called by another name. I am confident this can be done because a) I know the people have, can and will awaken and b) I know that once the 99% realizes it is the 99%, we'll be in a position to make decisions from a position of united strength rather than demands from a position of divided weakness. We don't have to scrap our republic to do it either. What we need is to eject the scoundrels who have hijacked our political system. Achieving these 8 goals would help quite a bit on that front: http://www.occupywallst.org/forum/you-may-have-seen-this-list-of-8-practical-goals-b/
All easier said than done of course but totally doable. First step, we Americans need to all wake the fuck up. Step two, wield our collective power.
I view OWS as being on the front lines of getting the fire started and fanning the flames on this decade long process. We are fortunate to be alive at this moment in history when the sun is rising.
(updated info on the push for fair wages here: http://occupywallst.org/article/thurs-dec-6-rise-new-york-smash-austerity-support/
Wal-Mart and the Gap's relentless greed ended in a huge fire in Bangladesh after the two companies rejected proposals to upgrade a facility for safety measures. 112 people died.
"Last year, Walmart reportedly decided against aiding factory upgrades that could have stopped fires like last month's blaze at a Bangladesh garment factory."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/05/walmart-bangladesh-factory-fire_n_2244891.html
Sad. How do the Walton's sleep at night?
Cuddled up to a body-pillowcase stuffed with money?
It is incredible how this type of news barely registers in America among us....the shopper-citizen-consumers .
tr buddy good to see you.
As I said to beautifulworld above, this is just astounding. The tragedy itself and the fact that major media ignored the news. "The Yes Men Fix the World" (as funny as it is) also does a great job addressing this corporate mindset. I'm blown away by the fact that this mindset not only exists today but is actually the norm. If there is such a thing as a kind hearted personal creator who is watching all this from the sidelines, he or she must just be wincing. Wincing wincing wincing. Scratching his or her head as he or she sits in some hip coffee shop in the sky with his iPad, checking the news and just wincing. In the words of the great James Baldwin from his novel "Just Above My Head" this creator my be thinking to him or herself, "Have you looked into the faces of [some of] these people lately? Oh baby. Shit. How did that happen?"
Seriously. We humans really veered off course. We fell into the trap described here: http://www.occupywallst.org/forum/one-of-the-worlds-greatest-authors-gets-to-the-hea/
Keep an eye out at this new post over here to see what the folks who are trolls really actually say when confronted with the truth. I doubt they'll answer seriously but the fact that they just read it may plant a seed :) :) http://www.occupywallst.org/forum/to-all-the-trolls-who-enjoy-themselves-on-this-sit/
Good Morning tr. You never know what may spark a personal awakening. It is good to continue to plant seeds that may well spring to new LIFE.
I agree :)
OWS and all Occupy groups have been very busy planting seeds - and they have been taking root.
It was announced on the local news yesterday that the Governor of Mn has stated that the State needs to raise taxes on the top 2% ( the top 2% ) - the conversation in this country has well and truly changed.
Down with trickle down.
Yes - I wish Americans would just collectively awaken from the dream of trickle down.
It is happening - you can tell when those in charge ( positions of power ) start talking about issues in the jargon of the protests that they have been trying desperately to ignore. The issues/protests have gotten strong enough to demand attention and redress.
So - We - Must - Continue - As We Have Been.
Well said. Like the frog, we need to keep paddling until the milk in our buckets turns to butter so we can emerge from the bucket into a larger and more fulling life. Albert Einstein said this:
“A human being is part of a whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
Very good quote.
I think that some individuals are able to see beyond/through their physical being/capsule to glimpse the greater truth. Then they have to do as best they can to explain what they glimpsed - in our limited state of being.
It's hard to put your finger on. I struggle with that. I think the Buddhists and those that follow Gandhi's philosophy would say that it's a long process that begins with seeing someone else filled with joy and being drawn to figuring out where it comes from. Or it starts with personal suffering. Or both.... Maybe we suffer personally and then encounter someone who seems deeply joyful yet light and free at the same time. "What are they tuned into?" we wonder.
And it begins there. I'm not sure that I have ever had glimpses of it from someone explaining it to me (though many books and cool people have probably done a lot to help cultivate a fertile field in which the seed could grow). If I think back to what I think of the minor glimpses, they've arisen from my own experience. And it took forever to get there.
Gosh, I'm making it sound harder than it needs to be. I just have a habit of taking the long route. I'm slow. Others are much better at this than me so it shouldn't take everyone 3 decades to have minor glimpses :)
No - one will never get a glimpse through an-others experience/glimpse - but having heard an experience can make one seek one of their own. I think that part of the ability/experience/glimpse comes from the seeking/looking. Some individuals just seem to be naturals at looking/seeking and so happening upon moments of passing/fleeting clarity/understanding enlightenment.
That's a great point. You put it beautifully. I think that is how it happens.
To Epiphany - and BEYOND........................{:-])
[-] 1 points by therising (4480) 9 minutes ago
Cheers ↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink
Cheers to that! :)
Thx
Cheers
Walmart's deathgrip on groceries.
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/15404-walmarts-death-grip-on-groceries-is-making-life-worse-for-millions-of-people
FYI and a well deserved ump for this excellent post.
To laugh or cry, DKA? I think I'll cry for those 112 people and for the Walton's. I pity them for their greed.
I will/do cry for all of the abused in this world - all of the needlessly dead/killed. The greedy ( I Believe ) will have their justice presented to them. I do believe there is more to life then the reality we all now share together here.
All true, DKA. We, human beings, can do better than this.
Yes - We - Can - and that is what I work for - as I know you do as well. The needed fundamental changes for the better will come through the involvement of the people - and the awakening is underway.
On a related note to other comment I made to the astounding info you posted on Bangladesh fire and how the 1% think, please keep an eye out at this new post over here to see what the folks who are trolls really actually say when confronted with the truth. I doubt they'll answer seriously but the fact that they just read it may plant a seed :) :) http://www.occupywallst.org/forum/to-all-the-trolls-who-enjoy-themselves-on-this-sit/
This is just astounding. The tragedy itself and the fact that major media ignored the news. "The Yes Men Fix the World" (as funny as it is) also does a great job addressing this corporate mindset. I'm blown away by the fact that this mindset not only exists today but is actually the norm. If there is such a thing as a kind hearted personal creator who is watching all this from the sidelines, he or she must just be wincing. Wincing wincing wincing. Scratching his or her head as he or she sits in some hip coffee shop in the sky with his iPad, checking the news and just wincing. In the words of the great James Baldwin from his novel "Just Above My Head" this creator my be thinking to him or herself, "Have you looked into the faces of [some of] these people lately? Oh baby. Shit. How did that happen?"
Seriously. We humans really veered off course. We fell into the trap described here: http://www.occupywallst.org/forum/one-of-the-worlds-greatest-authors-gets-to-the-hea/
Yes, Dostoyevsky understood it long ago. The universe is weeping at the state of affairs, is what I think. And, bringing humanity back to humans will be the first step in setting things straight. A friend and I often ponder whether we are humans on a spiritual journey or spirits on a human journey. Perhaps we should strive for the latter.
Why nothing on the news about 112 people dying at the hands of greed? Shameful.
It sure is. And I really like how you posed that question: Are we "humans on a spiritual journey or spirits on a human journey?". Excellent question. And I think how one answers it greatly determines the outcome of their life and their impact on this world. I agree, we should strive for the latter. It just makes more sense. Explains the discomfort and disconnection we sometimes feel.
I think the Buddhists would say we arrive home (and realize we were there all along) as soon as we stop seeking and just be. Once we slow down and tune in, the universe dances at our feet. "It has no choice," said Kafka.
Very nice. Indeed.
Cheers. Here's to making this place more hospitable to tuning in :)
Wal-Mart's new healthcare policy shifts burden to Medicaid and Obamacare. No shame:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/01/walmart-health-care-policy-medicaid-obamacare_n_2220152.html?utm_hp_ref=business
I am absolutely baffled as to why they'd be so outwardly two dimensionally greedy and mean. I mean, "How many yachts can they waterski behind?" to quote Bud Fox from the film Wall St. Don't their friends sort of smirk at them when they realize American taxpayer dollars are subsidizing those yachts. And the stupidest part is they'd still make a fortune without the subsidy!
I don't get it either, and in a way I pity them for their greed. What miserable people they must be.
I think that's just the right approach. It prevents the poison of hatred from taking us down and compassion for them may be the only mindset that is truly effective.
"Warehouse Workers Move to Name Wal-Mart in Wage-Theft Lawsuit"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/30/walmart-warehouse-workers-lawsuit_n_2218773.html?utm_hp_ref=business
"In the case amended Friday, six workers at a Walmart-contracted warehouse in Riverside, Calif., sued a series of subcontractors last year, claiming they were paid less than the minimum wage, required to work in excessively hot conditions and retaliated against by superiors as they loaded and unloaded trucks and containers. Although the workers said the products they handled were destined for Walmart stores, the mega-retailer was not originally named in the suit.
Worker advocates have argued all along that Walmart, as the top company in the contract chain, is morally responsible for the working conditions at the warehouses its goods pass through."
They are absolutely responsible. Can't hide behind subcontractor ruse.
Thanks for the link
Very nice.
I think the momentum is picking up. I'll be interested to see if low wage workers in other sectors of the economy are emboldened to speak up too. I'd love to hear the two words living wage pop up more and more in the mainstream media, at lunch counters, in churches and around the water cooler. For me, a living wage is the bottom line for any system. It has to start there.
I agree 100% re: a living wage. Very very important.
ABSOLUTELY - LIVING WAGE. FOR A HEALTHY LIVING ECONOMY.
Along With That - Environmentally Healthy Responsible Business.
Exactly. Imagine, a system built to be sustainable economically and environmentally while benefitting humans rather than just corporations.
My Dream. ( one of em anyway ) {:-])
What I Tweeted to get the thought in Circulation ( keep the thought in circulation ) :
SUPPORT - A LIVING WAGE - FOR ALL - TO SUPPORT - A LIVING ECONOMY - FOR ALL.
Graphic showing how big box CAN pay better
http://front.moveon.org/a-big-box-store-proves-you-can-take-care-of-your-staff-and-still-make-a-profit/?rc=daily.share
Well said therising.
'Tiger By The Tail'
Yes. I think most in the 1% have gotten so used to the other 99% putting up with income disparity that they never imagined Americans would awaken as the disparity grew and grew and real wages fell. They ought to remember that it's pretty quiet except for some rumbling right before a dam breaks. Then things move pretty fast. In our case, pretty fast may be 10 years, but, relatively speaking, that's a short time to remove the corporatists that have held our republic hostage for so long. Believe me, for everyone's sake, I'd like it to be much faster, but I think we should be prepared for the long haul. The sun is just over the horizon and soon we will feel its warmth on our faces instead of the cold wind of our current corporatocracy. Here comes the sun.
'Here comes the sun' - yes :) Great comment and post and very forward looking. Please also see - http://occupywallst.org/forum/item-poverty/ and http://occupywallst.org/forum/are-the-banks-still-in-business-is-wallstreet-stil/ . Help to open minds and hearts. Never Give Up! Occupy The Issues!
Walmart panicing over sales loss.
Because boycotts work!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/02/15/1187547/-WalMart-execs-panicking-over-lousy-sales?detail=email
Read this: The average McDonalds franchise owner should net about 10% of sales for each restaurant owned according to Mr. Franchise. The average McDonalds restaurant open at least a year had sales of $2.3 million in 2008. The highest performing U.S. McDonalds in 2008 hit $9.5 million in sales while the lowest performing restaurant clocked in at $491,000.
So someone who paid upwards of a $million for a fracnhise might make $200,000 and you are going to unionize against him? Good luck.
You idiots know so ittle about running a business. No one is fighting to own a Big Mac franchise, they arent exacty goldmines. Double the salaries of the workers, increase the prices of burgers and watch Mcdonalds fail everywhere.
Ahh yes. Hide behind the locals and plead poverty. Are you typing this stuff with a straight face? Are you really suggesting that people who work at McDonald's should be living below the poverty level just so you can feed your face with a terrible hamburger whose true cost is not reflected by its price on the menu board? Give me a break.
Re-Think Re-work Franchise corpoRATions ( ALL Business's in FACT ). Part of operating cost to be figured out prior to splitting profits = A proper Living Wage for the employees ( The Biological Equipment that runs the day to day business ). Yes - People make all business's successful - People make all business's possible - People do the work that makes a business possible.
So let me get this straight. Either raise the price of a burger to $15 or go bankrupt. Hmmm? I see lots of Macs shuttered. No one is going to go on the hook for a $1 million investment, just to make $75000 while unskilled workers get $30000.
BULLSHIT - you corpoRATists always repeat the same BULLSHIT
The business does not exist without employees/PEOPLE/workers. Reduce those profits - by redistributing/recalculating proper business expense - WAGES - LIVING WAGES.
Be Greedy All You Want - and watch what happens - You know - ECONOMIC MELTDOWN - ECONOMIC FAILURE AS YOU TRY TO STUFF EVERYTHING YOU CAN INTO YOUR OWN FACE.
JUST WTF DO YOU THINK IS HAPPENING TO THIS WORLD RIGHT NOW(?)
FAILURE - FUELED BY GREED - GREED AT THE VERY TOP
FORTUNE 500 WILL HAVE TO BE RENAMED - FAILURE/POVERTY 500 AS THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES CONTINUE TO ROCKET THE ECONOMY STRAIGHT INTO THE GROUND.
What a moron and a poorly read moron to boot. McDonalds are not owned by corporatists, they are run as small businesses by franchisees.
Geez you are dumb. But cute.
Cute? Thanks - I get that all the time along with adorable and such.....
Corporate Info :: McDonalds.com www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/our_story/Corporate_Info.html Your source for all information about McDonald's Corp., including company news, investor relations, franchising, careers, social responsibility, and more.
Hide behind the locals and plead poverty. That's pretty shameful for a corporate apologist.
You're like Scrooge. You are treating a living wage as somehow optional. Take a step back and think about this:. 5 members of the Walton family have as much wealth as the poorest 40% of Americans combined. And they're paying wages so low that 80% of their workers receive some kind of government assistance (a subsidy of a billion dollars a year for Walmart from American taxpayers). Walmart managers have prominent displays of public assistance applications in the break rooms. And Walmart has the nerve this holiday season to cut even more benefits -- dramatic cuts in fact -- and tell the majority of its workers 2 weeks before Thanksgiving "Guess what, you're working Thanksgiving Day.". What's next, are they canceling Christmas?
Nice strawman asshole. We are talking about McDonalds, which are typically owned by franchisees. Answer the question about McDonalds. Who would buy a frnachise for $1000000 if they only made a profit of $75000?
You failed to address the point. And that's because you don't have a good answer for why those who control a large corporation should grow richer while the workers are paid far below a living wage. Please try to type an actual response instead of an ad hominem.
Have have stopped to think yet?
The REAL assholes are the ones charging such an outrageous amount for a franchise.
A franchise that the granters will have almost NOTHING to do with, except for their own profit taking.
Duly fucking over not only the workers, but the owner/operators too.
They invest a Million dollars to get a 10% cut of the sales. The average Mac does $2.3 million or about a $230000 income. That isnt very good for a $1000000 investment now, if you double salaries and poof no profit at all.
Pay attention.
Nope. You didn't stop and think yet.
You should work on that.
Let's stay involved w/union brethren. Support decent hard working Americans.
http://www.nationofchange.org/walmart-strikes-fire-low-wage-workers-despite-setbacks-1354457072
Support Unions. They are good for all workers. Heres how!
http://cdn.front.moveon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/unions.png
Support decent hard working Americans.
http://www.nationofchange.org/strike-launches-largest-union-drive-us-fast-food-history-1354286307
Avoided the question. Asshole.
What question? Dickhead.
Who you callin' an asshole, and for what reason?
I posed a question: Should McDonalds raise the price of a burger to $15, or just close their doors? Who would but a franchise at $1000000 for a $75000 income?
If they have to, to insure WallStreet profits!
So be it.
You may be right.They should close down.Reopen a resturant that sells a decent burger.Why anyone eats there product is beyond me.It is total crap compared to my local mom and pop burger joint. Also someone that makes 200k /yr off a million investment can offord to pay a living wage.
Action Alert!! Join us in support of workers.
http://www.nycga.net/events/unorganized-workers-assembly/
FYI
Walmart added to lawsuit
http://www.nationofchange.org/walmart-added-lawsuit-alleging-wage-theft-california-warehouse-1357919184
There have been many posts on here about those who post on this site have no business experience. However, they think they know what's good for business.
It's laughable when a "aspiring actress" demands to get premimum pay when he doesn't have any job skills.
I wonder how many who work at these places could fill in all the slots when needed. filling in for management, being able to take inventory, being able to take care of customer complaints, and so on. I would think those who do have advanced and the rest are jealous.
That's just silly. You are calling a living wage "premium pay". 5 members of the Walton family have as much wealth as the poorest 40% of Americans combined. And they're paying wages so low that 80% of their workers receive some kind of government assistance (a subsidy of a billion dollars a year for Walmart from American taxpayers). Walmart managers have prominent displays of public assistance applications in the break rooms. And Walmart has the nerve this holiday season to cut even more benefits -- dramatic cuts in fact -- and tell the majority of its workers 2 weeks before Thanksgiving "Guess what, you're working Thanksgiving Day.". What's next, are they canceling Christmas?
Again dumb ass, this isnt about Walmart. Its about McDonalds. Are you really that lame. Maybe.
You failed to address the point. And that's because you don't have a good answer for why those who control a large corporation should grow richer while the workers are paid far below a living wage. Please try to type an actual response instead of an ad hominem.
Why would I address a point about Walmart in a thread about McDonalds? They arent even remotely similar.
Stay on the topic at hand or go away. In this thread i will address McDonalds topics. Now its your turn. In a thread devoted to Mcdonalds, answer my query about MCDONALDS.
Again you are avoiding the issue and hiding behind locals as a corporate apologist for McDonald's. Using your logic, the McDonald's corporation would never be responsible for anything and would blame an issues on individual franchise owners. Or was that the plan all along. As you are a self appointed apologist for the McDonald's corporation, I ask that you please answer the question. Boy, you and yours sure are sneaky :)
I dont get the question. The fact is, McDonalds IS a franchise structure and by law franchisors are restricted from internal franchisee decisions.
Ray Kroc never really saw McDonalds as a burger seller. He saw it as a real estate tool.
Another truth is that there is zero added value in service industries or very little. Unions would work in value added industries like steel production or coal mining or auto manufacture, but burger flipping or retail clerking or haircutting doesnt add much value to a product. Try and unionize Mcdonalds. It wont work but try anyways.
Its must be fun to agitate agiate against unfairness, but it helps if there is actually a solution, and not just YOU grandstanding.
You still haven't answered the question below: We can simplify this discussion because it really all boils down to one thing: if we make the minimum wage a LIVING wage then all of the previous discussion is rendered useless and we end up with a fair economy that benefits human beings as well as corporations.
We can simplify this discussion because it really all boils down to one thing: if we make the minimum wage a LIVING wage then all of the previous discussion is rendered useless and we end up with a fair economy that benefits human beings as well as corporations.
Who gives a damm about the Walton family. Let me ask you - are you successful - do you have a middle class income?
Why are you so obsessed with what others are making? All that energy you put into blaming others could be used to make yourself more successful.
Apparently you have no idea on what it takes to be successful on your own for if you did you wouldn't be complaining about the Walton Family.
The Walton family do not "earn" their money. They don't work. They exploit.
Tell me how did Walmart start out? Just like any other business it started out small and grew. How hard is that for anyone of you to understand that that's how you can become successful. Start your own business. If you don't like doing that then don't complain about those who have and are successful.
When corporations and their shareholders earn obscene profits while their employees earn such little pay that they are on food stamps it is clear that something is wrong. Sorry if you can't see that and you want to be the apologist for exploitation and greed.
You are so right on!
So, if you become a corporate executive or an investor you can also earn profits from your investments.
If you don't have investments to invest or can't become a corporate executive - figure out how to do it - become part of the solution to grow the economy instead of part of the problem by wanting to take away from the economy.
Then let's start taxing investments at the same rate as earned income. Great idea!
Yes - but at a higher rate then earned income - don't cha think? Money for nothing as compared to money for sweat blood and tears.
Sounds like a plan, lol.
Thx - I mean how else do we keep a dollars value at a dollar - instead of say having ten dollars that are only worth what a dollar used to be worth.
Good point.
Yah right then the people whom are investing in businesses both big and small will decide to take that money and look for other investment opportunities - that will really help the economy won't it?
People will invest wherever there is demand.
Some investments ARE taxed at the same rate as earned income. And some are taxed at individual rates depending on what you invested in-gemstones and collectible items (wine, stamps, antiques, etc) are taxed at 28%.
Investments held less than a year are taxed as normal "income". Investments held longer than a year-depending on what those exact investments are, are taxed according to where the "normal income tax rate" is. If the "capital you gain" is the only source of income you have-starting in Jan 2013 it will be taxed at either 10% or 20% based on how much capital you gain.
That's cool. I know it is very complicated, but in the end, investment income should be taxed at least as much as earned income in all instances, and, possibly, as DKA points out, even higher.
Thanks, Betsy, for always having substantial comments, even if we don't agree.
That wasn't very nice - you just threw me in front of the bus = Bitsey.
lol
Misconception alert.
Profit from investment is garnered not earned.
To be " earned" you should probably work for it.
The word "earned" is a relivent term - it's relivent to how its being used.
As defined - To acquire or deserve as a result of effort or action
relivent? Did you just make that up?
Please do tell, what did that Wallyworld heir make today?
Did he build a car? Did he bolt parts to one all day long?
Did he snake plugged up drains at 20 homes?
Did he pump out 5 septic tanks?
Did he flip and serve burgers all day?
NO!
He did none of those things, or any other labor to "earn" his money.
He sat around in a Mercedes and waited for the check to come in.
Sounds about like Reagans fabled welfare queen myth, personified to me.
TAX THE FUCK out them.
Well, let me give you the definition then you decide:
earn 1 (ûrn) tr.v. earned, earn·ing, earns
So as you can see, the term is "revelent" to how its being used.
You can "earn" respect, You can 'earn" income You can "earn" credits You can "earn" profits You can "earn" dividends
How hard is that to understand?
Not hard at all, however what I said to you must have been so difficult you for as to be opaque.
That's sad.
A - We can simplify this discussion because it really all boils down to one thing: if we make the minimum wage a LIVING wage then all of the previous discussion is rendered useless and we end up with a fair economy that benefits human beings as well as corporations.
B - You keep ignoring the fact that 1% of the population holds more than 50% of the wealth in this nation and 90% of that is INHERITED. And that wealth gap is ever increasing. And real wages are declining. Who gives a shit about that you say? I do. And so does the majority of people in this country.
Why are you concerned about the 1%. How about you and everyone else be concerned about making yourself wealthy like those who are wealthy did. Then you wouldn't have a problem with the 1%.
Somehow they did something right to make themselves rich - like starting a small business and making it grow. Think you might be able to do that?
Steve - You just fell apart on me. I offered two points (see A & B above) and you ignored both. Please reread and offer your response to A & B. I'm genuinely interested in your sincere response.
First off the government has determined that the "minimum wage" is a living wage but there are those who disagree.
With regard to the 1% - why should that even be a consideration when there are opportunities out there for people to become part of that 1%.
I disagree that 90% of that is inherited because I have known people who have inherited hugh sums of mone and within 5 years it was gone.
I dare anyone on this site to go and talk with executives or anyone who is successful and ask them the question - where did they get the money from. I guarentee you will find out that they didn't inherit it.
The wealth gap is increasing because the people of this country are becoming lazy and want something for nothing. This site is an example of that.
I will put my skills against anyone on this board with regard to getting a job because over the years I improved my occupational skill level and as a result have never been without a job.
The younger generation that includes part of the X generation don't understand that it takes time to accumulate wealth - they think it should happen overnight and the Housing Bubble Bust was a fine example of this.
But lets look at today - how many college grads are without work and have been for the past 5 years working for minimum wage.
They are complaining instead of looking to other areas to improve their job skills and get a better job
I talk with a lot of college grads working at Olive Garden, Longhorn, and all the other food chains with no desire to improve and are happy to get drunk on weekends and complain about not making decent money.
To make wealth, you have to have something to offer an employer, or start your own business, and have something to offer to either an employer or whatever it is you sell. In addition improve your job skills over your years.
Let's do this in parts. Part I -- You said, "The wealth gap is increasing because the people of this country are becoming lazy and want something for nothing. This site is an example of that." You can't be serious. You think people that work 2 or 3 jobs are LAZY?????
I'm also concerned that you appear to be spending a lot of time at chain restaurants. The food there is not healthy.
The people who are working 2 or 3 jobs are doing so because they have to - there are no jobs for them since everyone is buying chinese made products and could care about what's going on in America.
Now with that being said those people are "responsible" people who have responsibiility and need to work - they aren't asking for anything - they aren't asking for the government to provide them with their housing, college, and anything else.
Those people are far and few between. On the other side of the coin there are people complaining about not having a job because they won't put the effort into getting one.
Wait a second. Who shipped the jobs overseas? ? ? The 1%. That's who.
Damn - you just went and blew his little mind all to hell and gone with that statement.
You mean by lobbying congress for the ability to do so, correct?
Yes - buying, lobbying, however you want to put it :). Certainly we can also vote with our wallets. I don't think it's an either or. We need to push the 1% to stop making corrupt profits by shipping jobs overseas to countries without proper environmntal and worker safety protections and push ourselves to boycott companies who engage in such practices.
Wait a second - who's buying the shit that these companies are producing overseas? So don't point the finger at the 1% when the problem lies with the loyalty in this country - there isn't any.
People don't give a damm where what they purchase is made as long as they can get it cheap. Might I remind you Wallyworld was selling at the rate of 5000 sales per second on black Friday -
Those sales weren't cars or big ticket items they were all "electronic" items made in China.
So until the people in this country decides to do something by saying no to purchasing chinese made products don't blame the corporations for shiping jobs overseas.
You still haven't answered the question below about the toaster. Additionally, you still haven't given a direct answer to this: We can simplify this discussion because it really all boils down to one thing: if we make the minimum wage a LIVING wage then all of the previous discussion is rendered useless and we end up with a fair economy that benefits human beings as well as corporations.
Who said "hey we can make a quicker buck of we use labor from country's without labor laws and environmental restrictions? It wasn't Joe Smith USA going to Walmart to buy a toaster.
first you say there are no jobs, and it is obama's fault, and that repubs should do nothing and let unemployment rise (as they are fond to do) earlier today.
[-] 0 points by SteveKJR (-497) 7 months ago Not in the United States you can't. If the people here believe in what the OWS are doing there would not be 100's but 10 of thousands of people protesting. What does that tell you - it tells you that the vast majority of people in the United States are doing just fine and are making changes at the voting booth.
and you have been negative for months
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/08/22/the-lost-decade-of-the-middle-class/
It is nice you have earned back a few of your points, but really, if you think this is pointless, why are you hanging out here so much.
You are right - I have been negative - negative about those who won't take responsibility. There are jobs out there but it's easier for lots of people to "collect from the government".
Why do you think Obama extended the HC for families to allow their dependents to stay on it until they reach the age of 26 - it's called "dependency".
Since I made that statement regarding the vast majority of people doing fine I have come to realize that yes, a lot of people in this country are doing fine but you know what -
There is also a vast majority that are putting more of a burden on the working class and businesses because of their lack of wanting to support themselves.
Oh. You mean like how Walmart would rather 'take' from the government rather than accept personal responsibility? Like, rather than allowing their employees company healthcare coverage, they would rather their employees be on Medicaid and other welfare assistance, and let the government pay for that. Because of their lack of wanting to support themselves. You mean that kind of responsibility?
Who's 'putting more of a burden on the working class and businesses because of their lack of wanting to support themselves' again?
http://www.walmartsubsidywatch.org/
I think they did something wrong. I think they took advantage of desperate decent hard working Americans. They hire subcontractors who do so as well to meet Walton family demands and hopefully theyget sued.
http://www.nationofchange.org/warehouse-worker-lawsuit-targets-walmart-1354371936
Why we must fight walmart.:
http://grist.org/food/how-walmart-is-devouring-the-food-system/
The sad reality is this all just hastens our demise. Paying them a living wage when robots are cheaper is never going to happen. Prepare for more automated checkouts and food prepared by robots (they already have the robots and could have done it years ago).
NEW LINK RE UPDATED PUSH: http://occupywallst.org/article/thurs-dec-6-rise-new-york-smash-austerity-support/
Olive Garden Owner to Hold Off on Worker Changes
Olive Garden owner Darden Restaurants to hold off on worker changes tied to health care reform
By Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer | Associated Press – 20 hours ago
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/olive-garden-owner-hold-off-200230971.html
NEW YORK (AP) -- The owner of Olive Garden and Red Lobster says it won't bump any full-time workers down to part-time status, after its tests aimed at limiting health care costs resulted in a publicity backlash that took a bite out of sales.
At the same time, Darden Restaurants Inc. isn't ruling out relying more heavily on part-timers over the long haul.
The company, based in Orlando, Fla., is set to announce Thursday that none of its current full-time employees will have their status changed as a result of the new regulations. The move will come just two days after the company lowered its profit outlook for the year, citing failed promotions and negative publicity from its tests that used more part-time employees. The tests were aimed at keeping down costs tied to new health care regulations, which will require large companies to provide insurance to full-time workers starting in 2014. After Darden's tests were reported in October, the company received a flood of feedback from customers through its website, on Facebook and in restaurants, said Bob McAdam, who heads government affairs and community relations for Darden. Additionally, he said that internal surveys showed both employee and customer satisfaction declined at restaurants where the tests were in place.
"What that taught us is that our restaurants perform better when we have full-time hourly employees involved," he said.
McAdam declined to give specifics on the internal surveys but said the decline was "enough to make a decision." Beyond the first year of the regulation, however, the company said it still needs to see how costs and other factors play out to determine what its workforce will look like in following years.
For now, about 75 percent of the company's 185,000 employees are part-timers. Although that mix should hold for the time being, whether it changes in the future "will depend on how the business goes," McAdam said.
The company says its turnover rate is about 50 percent of employees a year, meaning it has significant flexibility to increase its use of part-time workers without changing the status of its current full-time workers.
Under the new health care law, companies with 50 or more workers could be hit with fines if they do not provide basic coverage for full-time workers and their dependents. Starting Jan. 1, those penalties and requirements could significantly boost labor costs for some companies, particularly in low-wage industries such as retail and hospitality where most jobs don't come with health benefits. Darden isn't alone in considering changes to its workforce as a result. CKE Restaurants, which owns Carl's Jr. and Hardee's fast-food chains, has said it plans to employ more part-time workers. McDonald's Corp., the world's biggest hamburger chain, has also noted that it was reviewing factors that impact its health care costs, including its number of full-time employees.
And earlier this month, Papa John's CEO John Schnatter wrote a column in the Louisville Courier-Journal after making comments that suggested business owners could find "loopholes" to get around the requirements, such as cutting hours. Following negative feedback, Schnatter's column clarified that it was a move he believed franchise owners and other small businesses would make, rather than the Papa John's as a company.
Darden's test began in February in four markets, although the company declined to say how many restaurants were involved. It included hiring more part-time workers and replacing full-time workers who left with part-time workers. In other cases, managers were told to ensure part-timers were given no more than 30 hours of work a week.
Darden's problems run deeper than the bad publicity related to the test, however. The company has been working to boost sales and attract customers at its flagship Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants, in part by putting a greater emphasis on value and updating menus. But on Tuesday, it noted that its recent promotions again failed to resonate with customers, and warned that it expected revenue at restaurants open at least a year to fall by 2.7 percent in its fiscal second quarter. The metric is a key gauge of health because it strips out the impact of newly opened and closed locations.
Beyond health care costs, Darden has made cutting labor costs a priority in recent years. In the most recent fiscal quarter, the company's restaurant labor costs were 31 percent of sales. That's down from 33 percent three years ago. The reduction has been driven by several measures.
Last year, for example, the company put workers on a "tip sharing" program, meaning waiters and waitresses share their tips with busboys, bartenders and other employees. This allows Darden to pay more workers a far lower "tip credit wage," rather than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Servers at Red Lobster also now handle four tables at a time, instead of three.
Andy Barish, a Jefferies analyst, on Wednesday cut his rating on Darden to "Hold" from "Buy," noting that the company's efforts to boost traffic have fallen flat. Sterne Agee analyst Lynne Collier backed her "Buy" rating but cut her price target by $8 to $55, attributing the company's weak second-quarter guidance to tough economic conditions and promotion-related mistakes. But at this point, she said the bad news is already reflected in the company's stock price.
Although Darden in part blamed negative publicity for the lower outlook for the year, it noted that the impact was hard to quantify. In the meantime, the company is hoping its assurances that its current full-time employees won't have their status changed in 2014 will allay customers' concerns and anger.
"In the midst of all the uncertainty, we thought it was important to say something declarative," McAdam said.
They're on the run! Now is the time to push even harder. http://occupywallst.org/article/thurs-dec-6-rise-new-york-smash-austerity-support/
The tide is slowly turning.
The corporations will only move if they are forced by public pressure.I am sorry to say that most of the public at this time does not give a crap.
It's the responsibility of everyone who gives a crap then to help awaken those who don't by all the means we've seen so far and more we haven't even dreamed of yet. The future of our country, our environment and our children and grandchildren depends on it.
True,the clock is ticking.
This revolution if successful is a probably a 10 year process. We're going to need every one of those 3,652 days. Lots to do.
These tragedies will hasten the change.
http://www.nationofchange.org/wake-factory-fire-us-labor-groups-attempt-blockade-walmart-imports-1356252012
Folks, Unite and Win!!!!
Labor lives. Support work stopages, strikes, boycotts, & unions
http://www.thenation.com/blog/173217/mcdonalds-guest-workers-stage-surprise-strike
FYI
Yes!
Bad Pizza AND bad labor practices!
http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/local/article_f3d0d63e-8d05-11e2-92a1-0019bb30f31a.html
(just more current labor action events, g'morning)
Institutionalized anti-labor brutality.
Never ending.
Only as long as WE let it.
Unite and Win, People!
I support unions and all labor.
(Bumped up again.)
Right on!
Years and years and years...
It's never too late!!
Unite and Win!
Right-ON - Takin it to the streets.
Despite its seriousness, this is also getting fun again.
What is fun - is seeing the people getting involved. The message is spreading - We The People Will Make The Fundamental Changes For The Better In This Society In This World. ( which people? ALL PEOPLES )
Right on! In some ways this is about momentum. Does it seem to you that momentum is picking up again?
Absolutely - A Push Forward - A Moment to gather another breath - Then Another Push Forward - With each repeat the momentum builds.
Minimum wage is what the people will tolerate.
Its about damn time for this.
I can't believe the 1% have been foolish enough to keep minimum wage so low for so long. I mean, even if out of self interest (and self preservation, they should raise it to a living wage.
Obvious - to those as can see - anyway.
I just don't understand it. These are otherwise highly intelligent people. And yet, they follow the logic of the infamous Mr. Burns from the Simpsons:
Homer: "Gosh Mr. Burns, you must be one of the richest men in the country."
Mr. Burns: "Yeeessss. But I'd trade it all for a little more."
Stupid. Asinine. Of they were smart they'd keep ticking that minimum wage up a little bit now and then to keep "the masses" assuaged. But they just push their fuckin' luck like a guy in Vegas on a temporary winning streak.
And now, it's all going to come toppling down because they were too dumb. It just sucks that so many have had to suffer so long with this absurd concentration of wealth.
I'm getting more and more pissed just thinking about it.
How many people do you know that ever faced/confronted death directly? On purpose or by accident? Hell most people don't believe they are gonna die even as they exhale for the last time. It is I think that many get lost in the dream that they will be saved by something other then themselves - a miracle. We need to continue to bring people face to face with reality. They are not likely to be the 1 out of 7,817,000 that is gonna win the lottery.
Don't get be pissed just be resolved to fighting a long and difficult battle. Let it feed your creativity.
Am I a nut?
Nope. I think you are exactly on target. It's fuel. Pure fuel. The good news is that we're not likely to run out of that particular fuel anytime soon. I've felt this way for roughly 25 years..... I get really pissed, , beside myself with frustration and then sometimes channel it into productive action.
What did Cornel West say? "Justice is what love looks like in public.". Yeah, we need more fuckin' justice. I'm more resolved than ever. Especially now knowing how many people in this country feel the same way. This dam is about to break in a good way. I can feel it.
That is the wave/current/flood I wanna ride. IF We Feed the will - THEN - it "will" happen. I have nothing more to live for then this - the growth - the maturing - the flowering of humanity.
I think that's the ticket. I really do. We fulfill ourselves by helping to make this ride better for others here today and for generations to come. There is so much good and beauty that will come if we can get that fuckin corporate foot off our collective neck.
So true - so fucking true - there is really nothing more at the heart of the strife and tyranny then GREED self fucking serving GREED. People awake - awaken Now - I want to see you all rise above - together - united - aware - and loving.
Materialism's a bitch. Ooo look a shiny object. Too many of us make the mistake of trading our lives, our hearts, our country and our children's future for a series of shiny objects. We need to remove the gauze of propaganda and nihilistic consumerism from our eyes and meet life where it is right here right now. There is a reality to confront. We can confront it joyfully and forcefully and win this battle against a system that feeds on human. A different world is possible. Indeed we must insist on it.
A pretty doodad is just that - a doodad - People please wake up and see the truth - That you - "YOU" - and those you love - THOSE YOU LOVE and Who Love YOU - and the time spent together is ( "IS" ) ALL that is TRULY TRULY TRULY IMPORTANT.
Right on!
Seems that some are not so enlightened. That is sad. But it is not to late for any who are truly looking.
You and me both. It just seems we need some kind of breakthorugh in consiousness - that this whole revolving wheel of human dysfuction just has to finally stop in the light of evolving consciousness!
I think we're in the middle of exactly that breakthrough in this world. The dam is about to break in a good way. You can feel it.
Amen!
May I live to see the flood that washes away the BULLSHIT.
Cheers to that. That beautiful day is on the way.
I would like to be standing next to "you" and "every good GR8 person" on this forum in those days - on this forum and in this world - to be standing next to ( in and among ) every good intentioned and working individual.
99% of the people get it in their hearts and the other 1% will discover it eventually.
I pray. People do not be late to the discovery of truth. Come together - let LOVE reign.
Dostoevsky wrote the following in the Brothers Karamazov (all of the following paragraphs are Dostoevsky). It's as relevant today as it was so many years ago.:
"Today, everyone asserts his own personality and strives to live a full life as an individual. But these efforts lead not to a full life but to suicide, because instead of realizing his personality, man only slips into total isolation. For in our age, man has been broken up into self-contained individuals, each of whom retreats into his lair, trying to stay away from the rest, hiding himself and his belongings from the rest of mankind, and finally isolating himself from people and people from him.
And while he accumulates material wealth in his isolation, he thinks with satisfaction how mighty and secure he has become, because he is mad and cannot see that the more goods he accumulates, the deeper he sinks into suicidal impotence. The reason for this is that he has become accustomed to relying only on himself; he has split off from the whole and become an isolated unit; he has trained his soul not to rely on human help, not to believe in man and mankind, and only to worry that the wealth and privileges he has accumulated may get lost.
Everywhere men today are turning scornfully away from the truth that the security of the individual cannot be achieved by his isolated efforts but only by mankind as a whole.
BUT AN END to this fearful isolation is bound to come and all men will understand how unnatural it was for them to have isolated themselves from one another. This will be the spirit of the new era and people will look in amazement at the past when they sat in darkness and refused to see the light. . . . . . Until that day, we must keep hope alive, and now and then a man must set an example, even if only an isolated one, by trying to lift his soul out of its isolation and offering it up in an act of brotherly communion, even if he is taken for one of God's fools.
This is necessary to keep the great idea alive."
How - Wonderful - Hey? To Think That because technology was not so advanced that Humanity could not be more advanced - and yet not understood or accepted or celebrated - There is the true measure of growth - LOVE - Understanding of self and recognition of others - all the SAME - not in individuality but in essence. We are so much the same in spite of what makes us each unique. Technology is an addition - it is not an other - it is an extension. We need to be us. Together though we are different - as that is the music of being.
It is like a tapestry. I'm watching the 3 1/2 hour documentary of Wooddstock right now. And the crowd, as eclectic as it is, has a collective flavor. That's how humanity feels when it has its groove on. And it's coming around again. We're getting our fuckin groove on again. It's about damn time. It's about time we (as Dostoevsky said "set an example, even if only an isolated one, by trying to lift his soul out of its isolation and offering it up in an act of brotherly communion, even if he is taken for one of God's fools. This is necessary to keep the great idea alive."
Let's keep the great idea alive.
"...The end of this solation is bound to come and all men will understand how unnatural it was for them to have isolated themselves from one another. This will be the spirit of the new era and people will look in amazement at the past when they sat in darkness and refused to see the light. . . . . . "
The best opportunity I have seen out there for people who want to own their own franchise is at chick fillet. If you will put forward a $5k deposit, and graduate from there 3 week course (approx. I cant remember). They will build you a million dollar store, and all you have to do is share the profit 50 - 50.
I don't know much about that. I've just read in countless sources that McDonalds is really a real estate company (leasing the store to their franchisee) and that for them the food is just a vehicle.
a vehicle - that keeps delivering gravy - until the economy dies - then the real estate won't even be worth anything.
This really is a fucked up system. All the wrong people and entities receive rewards for all the wrong actions. The wrong things are incentivized.
What do you think of a rolling jubilee type action to launch and support class action lawsuits ( Lawsuits in general ? ) for the PEOPLE.
Would involve an enormous amount of planning and logistics to do it right but of that were surmountable, it would be pretty damn huge. I love it.
Law-firms/lawyers already exist it would be a matter of retaining a good one that could organize/pursue the effort of initiating suits and forwarding them through the courts. The Peoples responsibility would be in donating to fund the suits - as well as bringing forward actionable items.
It might all be kicked off with one major issue/item and expand from there.
Here's someone who has quite a bit of experience and success in working 'for the people' with class action lawsuits.
http://deadpeasantinsurance.com/about/
Forward that info with your inquiry. {:-])
Will do!
Hey L. That insurance should be illegal. People would be surprised at how widespread the practice is. It sometimes even occurs when you buy an automobile, believe it or not. I bought a used truck from a new car dealer's lot years ago and buried in the two dozen forms I filled out was one for this type of insurance. I didn't know what it was at the time and just wanted to get the hell out of there after spending half a day there, so I just signed the forms without reading all of them. What a scam! The big lesson, of course, is to understand ALL the forms you sign, sometimes a daunting task.
Yes - I think it would need to begin with one major issue that could be a real win if money was put behind it.
I submitted the idea to this forum site - perhaps you could do the same - show that there is real interest here.
Probably better (if you're so inclined ) to start a post and get a lot of people talking about it and agreeing with it and then submit. Would be more persuasive.
There could also be a post or a few or a dozen? or more? I will put one out now. {:-])
Cool
Done - it has been posted - have a look - is it tweet worthy?
Great. Will check it out.