Forum Post: The True Cost of Everything

This is not a government vs. corporations issue; I think both sectors contribute to this problem.

I feel as if most of us are divorced from the true cost of what we purchase. That doesn't just mask whether or not we can afford the things we buy (sustainably) but what we should pay other Americans for their services.

For instance, the government subsidizes giant factory farms, driving down the price of corn (and corn syrup), so it costs less to eat fast food than fresh vegetables. That's the government skewing competition in favor of large corporate farms (and their lobbyists).

On the other hand, my hospital charges my insurance company $1000 for an ER visit which ends up requiring nothing more than a bandage. That's the private sector driving up the cost of health care.

And it's no secret that we're not only facing massive unemployment, but underemployment. The national minimum wage, worked 40 hours per week, comes out to about $15000 per year. That doesn't give a minimum wage worker much purchasing power to buy basic essentials.

It's hard to buy shoes that weren't made in Indonesia, probably under substandard living conditions. To buy better shoes requires a whole lot more money. My family pays for medical insurance every month, and when we need to take the kids to the doctor or the hospital, we don't get hit with the ludicrous charges that get passed on to the whole system. Our insurance plan gets more expensive, and then the company sends us a letter suggesting we buy cheaper drugs. Maybe they're right - maybe it's unsustainable. Or maybe they're just greedy. But it's very hard to constantly police every product you purchase every day, while feeling that the prices of everyday goods don't take into account what they really are worth, when you consider how much Burger King would cost if the government didn't subsidize its raw materials or how much that little car from Toys R Us would cost if an American living wage had been paid to build it.

Now why is this, perhaps, a core issue that this movement should address?

Because one reason the economy nosedived might be that there was all this imaginary wealth that was suddenly rendered valueless.

So should OWS not just address Wall Street excess, but tackle this problem: what would it REALLY cost to live in America today? And shouldn't THAT be a benchmark for a "fair wage"?

I'm no economics student. If someone can explain why I'm wrong, great; if not, I'd love a lively discussion.