Like giant suckers from an alien, octopus-like spaceship, when you see a national chain in your neighborhood know that they are extracting wealth from you and your community that will never return
Each Wal-Mart store costs the local community more than $400,000 to provide food stamps and rent relief and healthcare assistance to company employees who seldom make a living wage and seldom have comprehensive medical insurance. That is $400,000 times 4756 stores or $1.9 billion dollars that goes from local taxpayers to the Walton family. With a subsidy like that competitors have no chance at all to succeed. It is also reflective of the burden that small businesses have in providing medical insurance for their employees in the only industrialized nation that lacks universal health care. A business with fewer than 30 employees pays medical insurance rates that are more than double that of medium size businesses.
"Morbidly Rich". Instant classic. Potent and digestible messaging. Brilliant.
Thom, you are the honorary head coach of humanity. This particular piece really lifts the spirit from the dirt. I'm forever grateful for the "what we can do about it" inclusion in ALL your work. Sometimes it isn't much, but it's always there. That's one of the greatest elements setting you apart from most every other voice I respect on the issues.
This way to lift-up people and build communities will only work if we have some kind of government health care. It is time to take that power back from the employers, large or small. People are literally stuck where they work due to their own health or that of a loved one. When I say power, it also entails the fact workers have absolutely no say in the kind of insurance they must take or what it covers. Many big corporations "shop" every year for plans. Not knowing from year to year what or how much will be covered is a living hell for people who desperately need coverage for chronic conditions. Leaving or losing your job and COBRA is a nightmare too, as is worker's comp.
We need that minimum wage hike and a decent labor board; that way everyone knows what the cost of running their business will be before they make that leap.
I have said before that for a nation that grew-up playing Monopoly, we have not been very smart about using our laws to prevent one lately.
We really are at a crossroad, and amazing people are working on solutions. Some have even turned that into a business!
Each Wal-Mart store costs the local community more than $400,000 to provide food stamps and rent relief and healthcare assistance to company employees who seldom make a living wage and seldom have comprehensive medical insurance. That is $400,000 times 4756 stores or $1.9 billion dollars that goes from local taxpayers to the Walton family. With a subsidy like that competitors have no chance at all to succeed. It is also reflective of the burden that small businesses have in providing medical insurance for their employees in the only industrialized nation that lacks universal health care. A business with fewer than 30 employees pays medical insurance rates that are more than double that of medium size businesses.
"Morbidly Rich". Instant classic. Potent and digestible messaging. Brilliant.
Thom, you are the honorary head coach of humanity. This particular piece really lifts the spirit from the dirt. I'm forever grateful for the "what we can do about it" inclusion in ALL your work. Sometimes it isn't much, but it's always there. That's one of the greatest elements setting you apart from most every other voice I respect on the issues.
This way to lift-up people and build communities will only work if we have some kind of government health care. It is time to take that power back from the employers, large or small. People are literally stuck where they work due to their own health or that of a loved one. When I say power, it also entails the fact workers have absolutely no say in the kind of insurance they must take or what it covers. Many big corporations "shop" every year for plans. Not knowing from year to year what or how much will be covered is a living hell for people who desperately need coverage for chronic conditions. Leaving or losing your job and COBRA is a nightmare too, as is worker's comp.
We need that minimum wage hike and a decent labor board; that way everyone knows what the cost of running their business will be before they make that leap.
I have said before that for a nation that grew-up playing Monopoly, we have not been very smart about using our laws to prevent one lately.
We really are at a crossroad, and amazing people are working on solutions. Some have even turned that into a business!