Posted on 05/17/2014 8:54:15 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
When I woke up to see the news, I could hardly believe it: President Obama is planning a visit to the Mountain View Wal-Mart where I work.
But the excitement quickly passed when I found out the store would be shutting down hours in advance of his visit. I wouldn’t be able to tell the president what it’s like to work at Wal-Mart and what it’s like to struggle on low wages, without the hours I need. I am living at the center of the income inequality that he speaks about so often, and I wanted to talk to him about how to change this problem.
My situation is not unlike that of many of the 825,000 Wal-Mart associates – and many other Americans – who are working hard, but just can’t keep up. Most of us aren’t even paid $25,000 a year even though we work at the largest employer in the country and one that makes $16 billion in profits.
I wanted to tell the president what it’s like working – and living – like this.
Things have always been tight. After four years working at Wal-Mart in Mountain View, I am bringing home about $400 every two weeks (I’d like to get more hours, but I’m lucky if I work 32 hours a week). That’s not enough to pay for bills, gas and food. All I can afford to eat for lunch is a cup of coffee and a bag of potato chips. I’ve always done everything possible to stretch paychecks and scrape by. Sometimes it means not getting enough to eat.
But then I got some bad news that made stretching my budget impossible.
Two months ago, I started feeling ill. My doctor told me I needed to take a week off to have a series of medical tests. Every day for a week I went to the hospital and had to pay $30, $60 or $100 in co-pays for each appointment, test and X-ray.
With these additional expenses and without a paycheck for the week I was out, it pushed me over the edge. I didn’t have enough money to pay the rent.
Right now, I don’t have a place to call home.
I sleep on the floor of my son’s living room because I can’t afford my own place. All of my belongings are in my car. I don’t know where to send my mail.
I used to think, “At least I have my health and my family.” But my doctor thinks I may have colon cancer, and with all of the money I still owe the hospital, I’m not sure how to finish the tests and get treatment. Even though I do have insurance through Wal-Mart, the co-pays are more than I can afford with only $400 every two weeks.
I wanted to tell the president I am scared. I am scared for my health. I am scared for the future for my grandkids. And I am scared and sad about the direction that companies like Wal-Mart are taking our country.
I don’t wish the struggle I’m facing onto anyone. But sadly, my situation isn’t unique. I know that I am one of many living in the Wal-Mart economy who has no financial stability. We expect to work until our deaths because we don’t have any retirement savings and are concerned about the future in front of our children and grandchildren.
There are so many of us who have it so hard – trying to live paycheck to paycheck. While the president is here visiting my store, I want him to look inside at what is really happening at Wal-Mart.
I want the president to help us and tell Wal-Mart to pay us enough to cover the bills and take care of our families. That doesn’t seem like too much to ask from such a profitable company, a company that sets the standard for jobs in this country. And I hope it’s not too much to ask from a president who believes that income inequality is the defining challenge of our time.
Anyone who lives near a free or almost- free college as highly rated as Foothill— and with such a vast number of courses and programs — and doesn’t take advantage of it, especially when the college is open- door so anybody and everybody are welcome to attend — a person who doesn’t table advantage of this incredible resource to improve their qualifications and earning capacity in the job market— is foolish. It’s that simple. Http://www.foothill.edu/news/fh-facts.php
He must have been ex-military. A can of tuna, some mayo, crackers and cheese is still a favorite of mine.
I think it's the fault of the government for letting in so many unskilled immigrants that employers can choose to hire part-timers instead of being forced by tight labor markets to hire them full-time.
Excellent point, FHC.
On top of all this, the Merc today said that unemployment in Silicon Valley has continued to drop to low levels. Companies are hard pressed to find qualified talent — I know this for a fact as I’ve had difficulty hiring for two positions.
It just takes some drive, grit, determination to better yourself, long hours, dedication and commitment. Many of us have done it and did it without any whining. That’s why there’s so little sympathy here for her plaints.
Palo Alto, yes, is extremely expensive. East Palo Alto, however, a separate city on the bay side of Hwy 101, tends to be a slum. Twenty years ago, it was known as the murder capital of the country.
People came from all around the bay for food in Mt View, and stopped in E Palo Alto to buy drugs.
Oh, not to knock the points you are making about work and education, but you should note that the writer of the article seems to be an older woman.
Hey Pam.....so you must know how warehousing and inventory works...get a Fork Lift certification and some night classes on business and aim for warehouse clerk as a stepping stone to manager....good luck.
I won't just call BS, I'll say it HAS to be BS. No doctor will tell you he "thinks" you have colon cancer after a few appointments and an x-ray. The diagnosis process takes weeks at best, and not until there has been CT and PET scans and biopsy and pathology results. Only then will they say the words. Take it from me: the patient is the last to know, and no MD or RN or radiation tech will tell you anything -- not even a theory -- until it is confirmed.
And $400 every two weeks? That makes her eligible for food stamps and medicaid and obamaphone, and everything else the fedgov has to offer.
This is not even close to a true story.
“One wonders if Ms. Ramos may have had some “assistance” in writing this.”
One also wonders how much state and federal goodies she is shoveling in while “she wrote” this sob story.
Her salary would qualify her for food stamps at least and no food pantries or soup kitchens around? Bag of chips and a cup of joe=$2. You can make a nice lunch for that. Just bought boneless, skinless chicken breast for $2.00 lb. 5 oz baked chicken breast, rice and beans plus some corn = $2. Livin’ large. That’s how I do it every day.
Older women are highly sought after in California community colleges. They are open door. Anybody’s welcome. But then they add special tutorials and organized clubs and cohorts and focused classes specifically designed to help assure success for at least three groups she probably belongs to: women students, older “ re- entry-” students, and Latino students. Each group typically gets their own counselors, extra focused “ success skills development” classes, special extra study tutoring, etc. And if she happens to be a lesbian that’s yet another special help group she can take advantage of. Tons of extra taxpayer resources are added to help these people succeed at California community colleges. But if she hadn’t tried to succeed, then she’ll never know — will she? Ps: too much crime in east PA. Don’t send her there. .
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink ... - Matthew 25:32
In the 19th century workers were Shanghaied. Now they’re Walleyed. I’m more and more amazed daily at how dumbed-down American society has become. The Marching Morons.
How homophobic of you to bring that up!
WalMart jobs were not supposed to lead to a career there. Burger King jobs were not supposed to lead to a career there. On and on.
Well...all was true until the Reagan era. This massive growth of service sector jobs...lead onto service sector careers. So, ask yourself...where does the BK french fry guy go onto? Where does the cashier at WalMart go onto?
I look around now in the local town near where I grew up. When I left...there were two mom and pop restaurants, four gas stations, a grocery, a drug store, and maybe 150 low-paying jobs in the local area. Today...bulked up since 1977...there’s around ten restaurants (McDonalds, KFC, and several others arrived). There’s maybe fifteen more business operations in the town, and maybe a total of 400 low-paying jobs. The only way you could escape this route is higher education. If you don’t do that? You stay for forty years...as the french fry guy.
There’s something wrong, but to say the government can fix it....I don’t think that’s possible.
Hopefully she’s not the Greeter.
You can get a two-pound roast for ten bucks or so; cook it up and have a quarter-pound roast beef sandwich every day of the week for lunch.
This woman hasn't a clue how to prioritize her affairs. And she's probably some kind of substance abuser to boot.
A lot of the problem IS needless regulation.
In America people used to be able to dream big. You thought you could sell something more attractively than the next guy, well you worked as you could and you scrimped and saved until your doors could open, and you tried it. And it didn’t always work, but frequently it did.
Now big dreams mean big collision with Uncle Sam. The only thing I can see that doesn’t, is intellectual property where you’re pretty much the sole producer... like software or songs.
She abuses hopium?
That and being a useful idiot plus being an idiot plus being a liar plus being a dem shill.
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