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>When Bernie said "Walmart employees are so low paid they're on welfare" I don't think that's what Bernie meant. Being on welfare in the US isn't really someth
by deafpolygon 4y ago
>When Bernie said "Walmart employees are so low paid they're on welfare"
I don't think that's what Bernie meant. Being on welfare in the US isn't really something that is healthy nor sustainable - you don't have money to buy healthy foods, better clothes to improve your station in life, or get good healthcare.
Being on welfare pretty much means you can't go anywhere else, except work in Walmart jobs.
- astrange 4y agoIf they weren't on welfare they'd be even worse off though. Giving money to people causes Walmart to pay them more, because it gives them more negotiating power. It'd be true for wage subsidies (giving Walmart money), and of course it's also true for programs with welfare cliffs (work requirements or those horrible SSDI asset limits). I don't think the programs he was talking about have that issue though. Of course the real problem with trying to solve everything with wage increases is that it doesn't help non-workers like children and elderly people.
- deafpolygon 4y ago> because it gives them more negotiating power Correct. Because they're not tied to a job for income, and leaving said job does not endanger their livelihood - they're capable of forcing Walmart to pay them proper wages. I think we agree. > Of course the real problem with trying to solve everything with wage increases is that it doesn't help non-workers like children and elderly people. Why should they be any different? Just provide teenagers with a fraction of what an adult would get, and increase it every year. Elderly people ARE people, right? If not, I have some serious concerns for myself in the next few decades. :)