Posted on 01/18/2006 10:18:18 AM PST by Graybeard58
If politicians owned companies and ran them the way they run their governments, they'd be out of business in short order. Reckless and impulsive, they are famous for spending wastefully, charging too much for what they deliver and maxing out their credit lines, and then having the gall to dictate repeatedly how private businesses should be run.
Overriding a gubernatorial veto, Maryland lawmakers last week passed the Fair Share Health Care law, which orders companies with 10,000 or more workers to spend 8 percent of their payrolls on employee health benefits or put equivalent sums in the state Med-icaid fund.
This law is an unsubtle shot at Wal-Mart, the bane of unions and others who believe profits are evil health-care insurance is an entitlement. Among their allies is WakeUpWalMart.com, which is dedicated to "changing the way Wal-Mart" does business by substituting failed socialism for spectacularly successful capitalism.
Wal-Mart won't abandon Maryland over this, but it certainly will be less eager to expand there, and it will have to restructure its work force and rework its employment practices. Layoffs, hiring and wage freezes, and job losses for lower-income workers will be among the consequences. Price increases also are possible.
The law also will hamper economic development by sending a message to large employers that labor-loving legislators are gunning for them. This law is bad for business, but worse for low-wage workers.
All this is relevant to Connecticut because it will be one of the 30 states where Fair Share will be introduced this year.
Recall last year how our socialist legislature failed to approve an anti-jobs bill that would have taxed employers of 20 or more if their health benefits were not as generous as those of state employees. A bill more specifically targeting Wal-Mart would have a better of passage chance in a state renowned for its anti-business attitude.
Fair Share is the first step toward forcing businesses to bestow costly public-employee-style benefits on all their workers. Once enacted, the law can be amended to capture smaller companies, dictate coverage throughout the private sector and increase the amounts companies must spend on insurance.
Politicians may be horrendous fiscal administrators, but they are skilled incrementalists.
America is overdue for a sane, comprehensive discussion of health-care reform. Fair Share only makes a bad situation worse and hurts the very people it is supposed to help.
Kinda like a sales tax or a consumer tax or "Fair Tax" Health care insurance should be mandatory!
Fair/unfair--Subjective.
Right/wrong--Objective.
Neither...Wal Mart didn't create any jobs...Wal Mart is selling products that other American retailers used to sell to Americans, made by Americans
... Your arguments are the same as every socialist Wal-Mart basher who comes along.
Like it or not, without a little socialism, you'd be driving to work on wagon trails and your neighbor's sewage may be running down the trail in front of your house...You love a little bit ot socialism just like everyone else does...You just want someone else to pay for it...Or would you really enjoy living in China (outside of the gated communities)???
You are repeating what I said at the beginning...If Wal Mart pays, the taxpayer has the choice on whether to pay by buying Wal Mart products, or not...
Somehow, I'm not the least bit surprised. I'd describe him as a "former troll and current socialist", though.
You are dead wrong. I am not the one advocating taxing Wal-Mart for being successful - you are.
The Wal Mart family makes billions...Their upper echelon managers make scores of millions of bucks
What is that? Jealousy?
Excellent article.
This entire issue is starting to get very interesting..........it's amazing how so many don't see the big picture, because this targets the big Evil WalMart and so that is good.
I accidently omitted a word. That should have read: Former poster, socialist "typos" is history
So does every other retailer in the country. Why not put in place a law that mandates ALL employers spend 8% of payroll for helaht insurance, why just WalMart?????
I know the answer, I wonder if you do.
Not this nonsense.......again.
It's starting to sound like echoes of broken records around here.
WalMart has not destroyed American jobs........idiotic laws like this destroy American jobs.
This has now set a precedent, until it is overturned by a court, and there will be no stopping these legislatures from continually dropping the number....now it's 10,000 and generally only hits WM, but what's to stop them from dropping it to 5,000 or even 500 or maybe even 5 employees.
Talk about destroying jobs..........
And if it doesn't destroy jobs, it will wipe out the concept of employers providing ANY benefits to employees for fear they will be next.
Wal-Mart hire millions of 'part time' employees to avoid paying any benefits...That includes insurance and unemployment benefits...
Instead of what I had, apologies.
But the rest of my comments still stand.
Any body who chooses to employ should be required to provide a basic health care plan no different than providing liability insurance. Take your work to China or India and pay a fair tax at customs. Thats the way it should work.
Be realistic. Do your kids claim their allowance at income tax time?
That's utterly ridiculous.
Nope...Without Wal Mart paid benefits, you and I pay for state sponsored health care for these people whether we shop at Wal Mart or not...
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