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Shouldn't the voters be responsible for that instead of Walmart. This looks like a way to blame Walmart for ignoring your democratic duties.

by rtx 6y ago

pas 6y ago
Blaming Walmart while lamenting the shortcomings of the system can be done at the same time. Usually blaming big corps is a bit more effective than trying to untangle US democracy/politics (first past the post, healthcare/education costs skyrocketing, employment and health insurance too strongly entwined, race, religion and ideology takes the center stage not poverty, because path dependence of the affected groups).
oarsinsync 6y ago
So who do you vote for if you want to ensure fair living wages for all? How do you align that particular interest with all the other interests you have? What if you're an MAGA supporter, against tax cuts for the rich, in support of equal treatment of all ethnicities and religions, believe in additional rights and protections for police, pro life, pro gun-control, pro living wages and universal healthcare. What is your democratic duty? Who do you vote for? Which candidate enables you to vote for everything that matters to you? Every issue cannot simply be distilled down to which candidate you voted for. Especially if the issues you care about are unlikely to be handled properly by either candidate, if only because the executive branch doesn't wield unlimited power (thankfully), and the branches of government are no longer demonstrating any willingness to work together (unfortunately). The issue remains systemic, and instead of targeting the individuals "for ignoring [their] democratic duties", the system itself would benefit from meaningful changes.
Johnny555 6y ago
In the USA, wealthy companies have a big voice in politics too, and they don't want a higher minimum wage. Their voice comes not just in money paid to candidates, but they fund groups that play ads warning voters that higher minimum wage will cause higher unemployment and force companies into bankruptcy. McDonalds used to do this, but they've backed off recently: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/03/27/mcdonalds-says-its-done-lobbying-against-raising-minimum-wage/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/03/27/mcdonalds...

Shouldn't the voters be responsible for that instead of Walmart. This looks like a way to blame Walmart for ignoring your democratic duties.

by rtx 6y ago

Shouldn't the voters be responsible for that instead of Walmart. This looks like a way to blame Walmart for ignoring your democratic duties.

pas 6y ago

Blaming Walmart while lamenting the shortcomings of the system can be done at the same time. Usually blaming big corps is a bit more effective than trying to untangle US democracy/politics (first past the post, healthcare/education costs skyrocketing, employment and health insurance too strongly entwined, race, religion and ideology takes the center stage not poverty, because path dependence of the affected groups).

oarsinsync 6y ago

So who do you vote for if you want to ensure fair living wages for all? How do you align that particular interest with all the other interests you have? What if you're an MAGA supporter, against tax cuts for the rich, in support of equal treatment of all ethnicities and religions, believe in additional rights and protections for police, pro life, pro gun-control, pro living wages and universal healthcare. What is your democratic duty? Who do you vote for? Which candidate enables you to vote for everything that matters to you? Every issue cannot simply be distilled down to which candidate you voted for. Especially if the issues you care about are unlikely to be handled properly by either candidate, if only because the executive branch doesn't wield unlimited power (thankfully), and the branches of government are no longer demonstrating any willingness to work together (unfortunately). The issue remains systemic, and instead of targeting the individuals "for ignoring [their] democratic duties", the system itself would benefit from meaningful changes.

Johnny555 6y ago

In the USA, wealthy companies have a big voice in politics too, and they don't want a higher minimum wage. Their voice comes not just in money paid to candidates, but they fund groups that play ads warning voters that higher minimum wage will cause higher unemployment and force companies into bankruptcy. McDonalds used to do this, but they've backed off recently: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/03/27/mcdonalds-says-its-done-lobbying-against-raising-minimum-wage/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/03/27/mcdonalds...