General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWalmart’s Food Stamp Scam Explained in One Easy Chart
http://www.jwj.org/walmarts-food-stamp-scam-explained-in-one-easy-chart
June 25, 2014
Walmart, the nations most profitable corporation, may also be the greatest beneficiary of the taxpayer-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps.
But how has Walmart managed to make so much money off of taxpayers? For the short answer, take a look at the chart below where weve illustrated the scam. For the long answer, keep reading.
Step One: Pay your employees so little that they are forced to rely on food stamps to survive.
Even at Walmarts definition of a full-time job, an employee earning the companys average wage of $8.81/hour makes just $15,500 per year, placing them well below the federal poverty line for a family of four. With such low wages, even when working full-time hours, many associates are forced to depend on taxpayer-funded assistance such as food stamps and Medicaid to survive. In other words, Walmart is shifting responsibility onto the public for ensuring their associates basic needs are met. One study showed that a single Walmart can cost taxpayers anywhere from $904,542 to nearly $1.75 million per year, or about $5,815 per employee for these programs all because one of the worlds most profitable retailers is paying substandard wages and benefits. A more recent report by Americans for Tax Fairness revealed that Walmarts reliance on programs like food stamps cost federal taxpayers an estimated $6.2 billion a year.
Snip: The same company that brings in the most food stamp dollars in revenue an estimated $13 billion last year also likely has the most employees using food stamps.
FULL story at link.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)At least Walmart has decent food prices for those on food stamps.
Got some corner stores near my house that people in poverty walk to get their groceries. Poor people don't have cars & people usually walk to pick up some food. Their food prices are triple! what walmart charges. nothing is fresh foods except some sad looking fruit in a basket that are a dollar each.
Not quality foods either, I think the stores owner goes to the dollar store and then marks up for more profit. I've bought milk there that went bad a day after it was opened.
Two 'corner stores' right across the street from each other (both owned by the same person!)
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)good article and interesting. I hate going to walmart, haven't been there in years.
I blame the number of people in poverty on Congress and Mr. Boehner! They can raise the Federal minimum wage today if they cared to.
Republicans want more Americans to be in poverty, get their federal/state benefits and spend that federal money in our stores!
Makes the stocks go up for any business that receives millions/billions of income.
.
McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Bickle
(109 posts)People forget that the Clinton's are extremely corporate friends, and got moving a lot of our job exodus
Sitting on Wak marts board is a ten year sentence in my ok, and that's assuming you out at least 3 more on the executive level in jail
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Dustlawyer
(10,493 posts)LittleGirl
(8,261 posts)is why I boycotted Walmart and have for over a 15 yr period. Will never step foot in one again.
nolabels
(13,133 posts)I got at least that many years into it also If the brothers and sisters in our unions were at the same percentages they were back in the 60's Wallmart would have been run out of town on rail.
Just that they make inferior products on purpose would be enough for me.
Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002665701
barbtries
(28,702 posts)something's gonna give. i don't think it will be the people. that's assuming that greed doesn't destroy the planet first.
Omaha Steve
(99,074 posts)Thanks.
OS
icarusxat
(403 posts)are in the same category as those people who are covered in leeches and buy iron supplements...from walmart...along with an extra box of leeches...
Lancero
(2,984 posts)The poor people are to blame?
NickB79
(19,114 posts)Which make shopping at Walmart cheaper than most other stores around. So, while it's easy to call them idiots for supporting such a fucked up system with their hard-earned money, at the end of the day their families still need food and clothes.
icarusxat
(403 posts)$1.59 at Walmart (although I never will) or I can buy eggs and flour and salt, and with a little education, (which I provide as often as I am able, and in Utah for less than half of what the rest of the country is happy to pay) make the same amount of pasta, better tasting and more satisfying in its creation than just boiling water will ever be, at a tenth of the cost. What people need is a life worth living. It is not about, nor should it be, about just surviving.
JEB
(4,748 posts)funded by tax payers.
tooeyeten
(1,074 posts)What a huge success for the party of Reagan, fund the rich while eviscerating the entire middle class through legislative representation.