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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBill Moyers: Low-Wage Employers Are the Real ‘Welfare Queens’
http://billmoyers.com/2014/10/19/low-wage-employers-real-welfare-queens/Weve noted before that low-wage employers shift some of their labor costs onto the backs of taxpayers by encouraging their workers to apply for public benefits. These employers are the true welfare queens, their profits indirectly subsidized by the public, which allows them to keep prices artificially low. Weve argued in the past that this is one of several reasons why conservatives who oppose spending on the social safety net should favor raising the minimum to a point where workers can get by on their own labor.
A report released this week by the Economic Policy Institute quantifies just how much taxpayers would save by raising the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, as Barack Obama has proposed. The full report can be downloaded at the Economic Policy Institutes website. Heres an infographic that summarizes its findings..
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)Welfare Queens - the phrase - is to plant in peoples minds the idea that these people on welfare don't deserve their money. But I would argue that the people do merit this increase in their wages.
Bryant
dsc
(52,166 posts)I read it that way the first time as well.
shenmue
(38,506 posts)That would equal probably 50-60K today.
Last year, I made about $14K. In today's money. And it's been that way for a lot of years.
DallasNE
(7,403 posts)A typical worker made about $1.65 and hour in 1960 or roughly $3,500 for the year. Minimum wage was $1.25 per hour. 17k adjusted for inflation would be roughly 200k today.
Fair enough. I stand corrected.
Pharaoh
(8,209 posts)should have to live on it for 3 months...............
Thank goodness for Bill Moyers, Amy Goodman et all.
cstanleytech
(26,319 posts)You can be paid 10 bucks an hour but if your employer screws you over with 12 hours only per week your still bringing home a poverty level wage.
rufus dog
(8,419 posts)first thought was, what the hell is wrong with Moyers!? Employers, not Employees!
appalachiablue
(41,177 posts)the last few years due to demand. I get emails of the programs- topics so well selected, expressed and produced. He's given us much, will miss him indeed.
indepat
(20,899 posts)service message daily by every media outlet regulated by the FCC.