Quote:Why don't you come down from soap box and tell us what you do for a living? And how hard you've worked doing it?
How is he on a soapbox? Because he got an education and put himself where he is and can give advice about it he's on a soapbox? I don't think so.
Quote:I guess I value people more than others do.... If left to their devices the "free market" would drive down wages into oblivion. That is why protections are in place. We've been through this. Even though wages go down due to free market economics the demand for jobs is still up. People have to take jobs regardless of whether the wages are low or not.
The problem is profits go up and wages do not. COL goes up and wages do not. This reduces the percentage of jobs able to provide living wages while the numbers in the workforce to not go down. This has been a problem for decades.
I'm on my phone so I'll have to link it later but there's been reports and studies that have shown there is a direct correlation to low paying jobs of big corporations and welfare subsides by government. For example walmart keeps wages low and encourages employes to seek welfare assistance, without the welfare assistance the employees would never accept the low wages offered by Walmart. You see it's not the free market manipulating low wages it's crony capitalism using welfare as a form of tax payer subsidies to reduce operating cost.
Quote:I'm on my phone so I'll have to link it later but there's been reports and studies that have shown there is a direct correlation to low paying jobs of big corporations and welfare subsides by government. For example walmart keeps wages low and encourages employes to seek welfare assistance, without the welfare assistance the employees would never accept the low wages offered by Walmart. You see it's not the free market manipulating low wages it's crony capitalism using welfare as a form of tax payer subsidies to reduce operating cost.
But somehow there are companies like Costco and Trader Joe's that chose to offer their employees living wages and full benefits to full time employees.
Quote:But somehow there are companies like Costco and Trader Joe's that chose to offer their employees living wages and full benefits to full time employees.
Poor people shop at Trader Joe's and Costco? :no:
Quote:Poor people shop at Trader Joe's and Costco? :no:
What does that have to do with anything? Because "poor people don't shop at Trader Joe's" they get the pay their cashiers a living wage?
Quote:What does that have to do with anything? Because "poor people don't shop at Trader Joe's" they get the pay their cashiers a living wage?
I think he's talking about Trader Joe's higher prices have to do with paying a better wage to their employees. Walmart wouldn't have low prices if they paid Trader Joe wages.
Quote:I think he's talking about Trader Joe's higher prices have to do with paying a better wage to their employees. Walmart wouldn't have low prices if they paid Trader Joe wages.
Thanks! :thumbsup:
Businesses are not jobs programs, the idea that they are is what's wrong with this whole picture. They exist to make the owners money, not to keep people employed or to pay them more than they are worth.
Have you ever been to a Trader Joe's? When a Trader Joe's opened in Tampa, one of the local news stations did a comparison between Trader Joes, Publix and Wal Mart to see who has the best price. The four items they did milk, eggs, butter and bread. Trader Joe's was the cheapest for three of the four.
Quote:Have you ever been to a Trader Joe's? When a Trader Joe's opened in Tampa, one of the local news stations did a comparison between Trader Joes, Publix and Wal Mart to see who has the best price. The four items they did milk, eggs, butter and bread. Trader Joe's was the cheapest for three of the four.
Traders just opened down the street, the prices dont compare to Walmart or Publix here. More like Whole Foods and Fresh Market.
Quote:For like items?
I have 4 kids, I'm careful with my food bills.
Quote:I have 4 kids, I'm careful with my food bills.
I have 2 kids and am careful with my food bills as well. I shop mostly at Publix and Trader Joe's. The only thing I have bought at Wal Mart in the last year I can remember is an air filter for my car.
Quote:Have you ever been to a Trader Joe's? When a Trader Joe's opened in Tampa, one of the local news stations did a comparison between Trader Joes, Publix and Wal Mart to see who has the best price. The four items they did milk, eggs, butter and bread. Trader Joe's was the cheapest for three of the four.
In retail all companies have hook prices, perhaps Trader Joe's hook is their dairy prices. I don't really know, but I'm sure most would agree Walmart is on average much cheaper then most retailers, they do that by controlling cost and pay roll cost is the #1 item they teach you to control in management. It's not right or wrong it's just a business model.
Personally I try not to shop at Walmart for that reason, but I end up there plenty of times for the savings. Doesn't make me a bad or good person, it's just business.
Publix for example is much more expensive than Walmart, but plenty of people shop their because they're friendly, cleaner, and they treat their employee's better. But the point was Trader Joe's and Cosco's have higher prices on average, that's directly related to them paying their employee's better.
Quote:In retail all companies have hook prices, perhaps Trader Joe's hook is their dairy prices. I don't really know, but I'm sure most would agree Walmart is on average much cheaper then most retailers, they do that by controlling cost and pay roll cost is the #1 item they teach you to control in management. It's not right or wrong it's just a business model.
Personally I try not to shop at Walmart for that reason, but I end up there plenty of times for the savings. Doesn't make me a bad or good person, it's just business.
Publix for example is much more expensive than Walmart, but plenty of people shop their because they're friendly, cleaner, and they treat their employee's better. But the point was Trader Joe's and Cosco's have higher prices on average, that's directly related to them paying their employee's better.
I would (and probably have already ) debate you that Publix is "much more expensive" than Wal Mart.
Quote:I would (and probably have already ) debate you that Publix is "much more expensive" than Wal Mart.
I seem to remember that debate, I know Publix is more expensive for meats and produce, but it's better than the cheap stuff at Walmart. For boxed, frozen, or bagged goods Walmart is cheaper and it's not even close.
I think it all depends what we need on where we go.. example, walmart is always cheaper on canned goods and toiletries, so we go there for those. Meats and produce is Publix by far..
Quote:In retail all companies have hook prices, perhaps Trader Joe's hook is their dairy prices. I don't really know, but I'm sure most would agree Walmart is on average much cheaper then most retailers, they do that by controlling cost and pay roll cost is the #1 item they teach you to control in management. It's not right or wrong it's just a business model.
Personally I try not to shop at Walmart for that reason, but I end up there plenty of times for the savings. Doesn't make me a bad or good person, it's just business.
Publix for example is much more expensive than Walmart, but plenty of people shop their because they're friendly, cleaner, and they treat their employee's better. But the point was Trader Joe's and Cosco's have higher prices on average, that's directly related to them paying their employee's better.
Isn't Wal-mart bumping up their pay to $10.00/hour soon though? (And $9.00/hour for new associates?)
Quote:Isn't Wal-mart bumping up their pay to $10.00/hour soon though? (And $9.00/hour for new associates?)
I believe so, just more evidence the market not regulation sets labor floors.
Quote:Artificial floors reduce demand for jobs, that's economic law. Again, I've never hired an employee for the minimum wage because my employees are worth more, that's the law of you get what you pay for. Anyone only worth the minimum wage is not skilled enough to work for me. Your issue is job availability, not the wage paid for the jobs, and job availability is influenced by the artificial factors placed on the market by the government, not the employers.
Is there evidence that having a minimum wage has reduce total number of jobs?