[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by rp001

Clearly there are some with negative opinions of workers in this country. The fact that they aren't even considering that minimum wage places a worker as a head of household in an untenable position. In the business climate today the "fat cats" are bloated and it has become fashionable to blame the workers for their personal plights. I find it disgusting that the wall street types and corporate big shots make so much money at the EXPENSE of their loyal and dedicated workers that can't do better because of the "market" artificially created by corporate greed. AND WALL STREET GROWS TO RECORD NUMBERS while the workers are doing less than they did in the 1960's. How sad and disgusting the greed is in this country now.

There seems to be a lot of misconceptions as to why there is a disparity between the poor and the rich. Those that point to the greed of Wall Street types have forgotten that they are likely painted by the same brush.

If you have a pension, you are likely in cahoots with those Greedy Wall Street types for it is the shareholders (investors)(pension funds) in companies that push for ever greater and greater short term profits often at the expense of R&D, reinvestment into equipment and increased wages for employees.

[ivanhoe]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

lotsa 20 somethings are gonna stay on mommy/daddy's insurance until they turn 26!

Holy Molly! Ain't ya gettn' it. The idea is to bring in non-paying to help the non-doing.
That age 26 will be on the chopping block and soon!!

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by ivanhoe

Holy Molly! Ain't ya gettn' it. The idea is to bring in non-paying to help the non-doing.
That age 26 will be on the chopping block and soon!!

yeah i got it - it's in my post!

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by janmcn

So are you saying it's better for these 20 somethings to not have any health insurance and just show up at the emergency room when they need healthcare? What is the alternative plan?

These 20 somethings could have insurance now, and quite cheaply, but most choose to spend their money on other things. You will soon find that most of these will choose to pay the penalty rather than the premium, especially when they see what the deductibles are going to be.

[Monkei]

I only mind corporate greed when they find ways to skip out on taxes or even get refunds from IRS while somehow they convince us that our real problem is food stamps, welfare and social security.

Other than that greed away.

The real successful business find ways to satisfy their employees needs. Other take advantage in hard times.

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

yeah i got it - it's in my post!

NJBCHBUM......you are hearing the "talking points".

This new law, which even those who pushed it won't discuss,will bring severe financial stress to this country.

Not a new prediction for sure, but I sure wish the "ins" at the time had at least talked privately with the "outs" to prevent what is coming.

And you are not hi jacking....any discussion on min wage or anything having to do with jobs, etc. must go through this new law.

[Monkei]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

These 20 somethings could have insurance now, and quite cheaply, but most choose to spend their money on other things. You will soon find that most of these will choose to pay the penalty rather than the premium, especially when they see what the deductibles are going to be.

Quite cheaply? Are we still talking about those on minimum wage!

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

This is the first time in my life I have heard big business referred to in such a way. My husband worked for one of the ten largest corporations in the world at one time for 52 years and climbed the ranks. He worked hard for them and they rewarded him with good benefits and a decent salary and some mighty nice perks over time. He started in a lowly positon breaking down big shipping boxes in the union and climbed to a position that he enjoyed and that he did a great job in.

I never thought of them as greedy. I am astonished to move here and run into this attitude and generally it is from people who have not worked in a business for profit situation all of their life. They may have worked for the government or in academia.

It is just how business works and it isn't that some fat cats are making a killing. If the company is in a for profit situation and is making a good margin, they can and do hire more people, give them benefits and a chance at a good life like we have had.

There are unethical and underhanded people in all walks of life. I have never run into this bias before.

Gracie, I agree 150%. My husband started as an hourly employee and after 40 years and many, many hours of hard work ended his career as a director of a Fortune 500 company. This didn't happen by chance or luck or greed. He worked his A** off and was rewarded as such. Minimum wage is a "starting" salary. It is up to you what happens after that. The President of McDonalds started with that dreadful minimum wage. Oh, and btw when my husband needed experience on his résumé at the beginning of his career, he offered to work for free but the company paid him minimum wage and hired him only because he wanted it bad enough to work for the experience only.

[Patty55]

Originally Posted by janmcn

So are you saying it's better for these 20 somethings to not have any health insurance and just show up at the emergency room when they need healthcare? What is the alternative plan?

I think the alternate plan is they get job that provides health insurance or bust their butt and make enough to pay for it.

There are companies that offer health insurance. My niece worked at Starbucks while in school, now that she has a "real job" she still works PT at Starbucks for the benefits. She gets health care for $30/month, stock options and a free pound of coffee a week. I think Publix gives benefits. Yet, people complain about the prices at these two places, DUH, you can't have it both ways.

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by Monkei

Quite cheaply? Are we still talking about those on minimum wage!

The 20 somethings that are supposed to be buying insurance, now or later, are definitely not the ones earning minimum wage. That is just not going to ever happen unless the employer can find a way to afford it. But the point is that most 20 somethings, regardless of their incomes, have no interest in health insurance. They are invincible and their disposable income goes for fun.

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

The 20 somethings that are supposed to be buying insurance, now or later, are definitely not the ones earning minimum wage. That is just not going to ever happen unless the employer can find a way to afford it. But the point is that most 20 somethings, regardless of their incomes, have no interest in health insurance. They are invincible and their disposable income goes for fun.

Yup!

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I think that most healthy 20 somethings might be better off buy inexpensive catastrophic insurance and paying for their rare doctor's visits and prescriptions out of pocket. I'd guess that most of them would save money.

[buggyone]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I think that most healthy 20 somethings might be better off buy inexpensive catastrophic insurance and paying for their rare doctor's visits and prescriptions out of pocket. I'd guess that most of them would save money.

You also know that a call placed to Mom and Dad will take care of those doctor visit and prescription costs, too.

You probably are right about buying the catastrophic insurance.

[Suzi]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

Who knows, but I think it has more to do with owner greed than hurting the economy. The poor folks will spend the extra pay and that would help the economy

Unless you have owned a business, you really have no idea. There are many business owners that don't make $15/hour themselves. Does that surprise you? Well, if you consider the hours that it takes that nobody sees (like the book keeping, cleaning, laundry, ordering, counting stock etc, etc) it is a huge amount of time. How about evenings and weekends - most small businesses are run by the true grit of the owner. When all else fails - its the owners job. Someone doesn't show up for work, now the owner does their work and the employees work....its got to get done somehow. After all, the other employees are depending on their job to survive. So the small business owner sucks it up and does what needs to be done. This once great nation was built on this premise.......greedy my foot!

[dotti105]

Last summer we were fortunate to spend several weeks in Australia. What a beautiful, clean and safe country. We loved every minute.

We spoke to many locals who did not understand how our nation is in the shape it is financially. I must admit, it gave us pause.

They have national health care and have had for years. People our age are very happy with the system and did not understand why it is controversial here.

They have a living wage for all workers. The minimum wage is about $16-18/hr. There is no tipping. None expected.

They have a federal budget SURPLUS and when we were there, they were concerned that the surplus was a few billion less than expected. Banks pay 5%.....not 0.5% interest on CDs.

It was an amazing country to visit and we enjoyed the natural beauty of the great barrier reef, the fantastic contrast of historical and modern architecture of Sydney.

I must admit, it made us wonder how 2 countries so similar in so many ways could have such a financial contrast.

I don't have any answers. Just lots of questions........