Wal-Mart Relies On Taxpayers To Subsidize Low Wages

Business Insider ^ | June 1, 2013 | Emily Coyle

[steelhead_trout]

According to The Huffington Post, Congressional Democrats released a study Thursday that demonstrated how Wal-Mart’s wages are so low that many of its workers must rely on food stamps and other government aid programs, costing taxpayers as much as $900,0000 at just one Wal-Mart Supercenter in Wisconsin.

The report, “The Low-Wage Drag on Our Economy,” was produced by Democrats with the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

[zencycler]

Just who is subsidizing whom? The truth is the opposite of what this article suggests.

The only thing that Walmart "relies upon" is the value it provides to its customers in order to supply the revenue base from which it can pay both taxes and wages. It is then up to each individual employee to decide if the job being provided by Walmart is providing sufficient income for their needs, and then to consider whatever alternatives are available, which could include changing jobs, subsidizing that income through a second job, seeking a better job elsewhere, seeking more hours or (through hard work) promotion at their current job, or seeking government assistance if it is available.

Hence, Walmart is not relying on the government to subsidize anything. The government is simply providing an easy out to those employees who need more money to avoid doing all the work that all those other alternatives mentioned would entail.

In fact, it is the government that is relying on Walmart, and other profitable corporations, to provide a base of revenue that it can tax in order to be able to offer those benefits.

In fact, it is the government that is relying on Walmart, along with all other taxpaying businesses and individuals, to subsidize not only benefits but to pay ALL the wages and benefits of everyone the government employs.

[McGruff]

I talked with a Walmart checkout lady the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I asked if she had to work on Thanksgiving. She said yes but wasn't angry about it. Apparently Walmart paid them double time and served them food while they were working.

[Lazamataz]

Curiously, Willie, *I* (in that timeframe) had a job paying *8.25* an hour.

WHILE I attended college.

And I did it without unions or light rail!

Wonder how I did that. Hmm. Maybe I had a marketable skill, and then met the needs of an employer.

[Alas Babylon!]

Keep in mind most new jobs created are part time, low wage, no benefit, no future types.

I think you should ask yourself, "Why is that?"

Business in this country is overtaxed, over-regulated and over-demonized by the Leftwing media and politicians needing a whipping boy to get elected.

If we could drop the megaton of regulations and taxes on doing business today--things like not having the government shut down business or let them expand due to onerous environmental concerns, not allow the Keystone Pipeline to be built (the government's not building it, private companies want to do THAT, but the government won't issue the permits), closing coal generated electrical power plants, when our nation is the Saudi Arabia of coal, stupid OHSA regs, highest corporate tax rate in the developed world, et cetera, et cetera, we would have many more GOOD jobs--probably running into the millions of decent jobs.

[AppyPappy]

If they raise the Min Wage to $9 an hour, no one is obligated to pay it. They can just fire the employee.
So raising the Min Wage doesn’t get people off Welfare.

[Mears]

“Walmart pays so low that the state subsidizes most of the wages and benefits to its employees. “

__

It’s a disgrace——what the state does,not what Walmart does.

.

[khelus]

Oh look! Another Seminar/paid poster! This thread is a troll-magnet!

As a fellow STEM worker does that mean you have no problem with government interference with the job market for STEM professionals in the form of H-1B's, L-1's, J-1's, and illegals in the form of visa overstays? Or with the fact that many pay no or marginal taxes ?

Link

[C. Edmund Wright]

….I wondered if that was where you were going……..

[Lazamataz]

You are even using the same terminology as your other troll account. Interesting.

[Mase]

Tell you what, send me all of your fake money and I'll make sure it's put to good use. If it's fake, like you claim, then you should have no problem parting with it.

Again, anyone who was alive in 1973, and older than 12, only has to look around them to realize that we have a lot more wealth today than we did back then. If you happen to be blind, then having someone read the real family income today vs. 1973, or at household net worth today vs. '73, for you will dispel any myths to the contrary.

The original post that I replied to was made by an economic illiterate who should look for companionship and fellowship at DU.

[steelhead_trout]

Or maybe the parable of the talents means the third servant is a “whistle-blower” who has “unmasked the ‘joy of the master’ for what it is, the profits of exploitation squandered in wasteful excess.” He is punished for speaking the truth, not for failing to make a profit. But Christ wasn’t speaking literally about economics. He used allegory to make a point about faith. Traditionally, the parable of the talents has been seen as an exhortation to Jesus’ disciples to use their God-given gifts in the service of God, and to take risks for the sake of the Kingdom of God. It’s not about the virtues of compound interest versus literally stuffing your money in a drawer.

[Mase]

Definitely a sock puppet.

[Lazamataz]

the profits of exploitation

Good Lord. You are a straight Communist.

[SZonian]

I don’t believe it’s W-M’s place to adjust for inflation or any other failed monetary policy of our government and then pay their employees...the problem as I see it is that folks have been conditioned to believe that they’re worth more than they really are.

I knew going in that I had absolutely NO experience in my new job...and obviously, my employer knew that as well...why should they have been forced or coerced into paying me more based on inflation, something they had no control over?

Again, there is a mind set being created by use of the vocabulary and these folks are conditioned to believe it...because it’s so oft repeated and then sugar coated with examples of wealth and the OWS nonsense.

I barter with my employer...he uses his cash to gain my skills, effort, knowledge and work...W-M is doing the same, it’s not their fault their employees are either too stupid or too dumb to realize this.

[Lazamataz]

You think that these paid, seminar trolls would at least switch up posting styles a little.

I thought they created software to do just that?

[steelhead_trout]

“the profits of exploitation”
Good Lord. You are a straight Communist.

---

No, I was playing devil’s advocate to show how that parable could be interpreted in different ways, and I pointed out that Christ wasn’t speaking literally about economics, but rather about faith.

[C. Edmund Wright]

Good Lord. You are a straight Communist

…yep…and sadly, Huckabee, and to an extent, Santorum, have said the same thing from time to time……pro life commies.

[C. Edmund Wright]

He was speaking about both…….

[Lazamataz]

Socialists love playing 'devils advocate'. How the hell you are still posting here defies my understanding, Elizabeth-Warren-Fan-Number-One.

But sometimes it takes Admin Mod a little time to nail the troll.

[khelus]

Re:Keep in mind most new jobs created are part time, low wage, no benefit, no future types.

I think you should ask yourself, "Why is that?"

Business in this country is overtaxed, over-regulated and over-demonized by the Leftwing media and politicians needing a whipping boy to get elected.

If we could drop the megaton of regulations and taxes on doing business today--things like not having the government shut down business or let them expand due to onerous environmental concerns, not allow the Keystone Pipeline to be built (the government's not building it, private companies want to do THAT, but the government won't issue the permits), closing coal generated electrical power plants, when our nation is the Saudi Arabia of coal, stupid OHSA regs, highest corporate tax rate in the developed world, et cetera, et cetera, we would have many more GOOD jobs--probably running into the millions of decent jobs.

First that is an interesting assumption, to wit I haven't asked myself why.

While a measure of what I have bolded is true don't forget that corporations, particularly international corporations are quite comfortable with regulations and taxes that can be used to suppress competition from small business and new business. In fact many regulations are written with 'help' of 'experts' from corporate.