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proverbialwisdom

(4,959 posts) Mon Apr 13, 2015, 09:16 PM Apr 2015

Report: US Taxpayers Bear 'Hidden Cost' of Poverty Wages

Source: by Lauren McCauley, Common Dreams

Published on Monday, April 13, 2015

Stagnant wages and declining employer-provided benefits mean that low-wage workers in the United States are increasingly reliant on federal and state-run public assistance programs.

In fact, U.S. taxpayers pay roughly $153 billion each year to supplement employers who refuse to pay a livable wage, according to report published Monday by the University of California, Berkeley, Center for Labor.

U.S. taxpayers "bear a significant portion of the hidden costs of low-wage work in America," said report authors Ken Jacobs, Ian Perry, and Jenifer MacGillvary.

According to the report, The High Public Cost of Low Wages (pdf), 73 percent of those enrolled in the country's major public support programs are members of working families. The Berkeley study examined state spending for Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program and Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), and federal spending for those programs as well as food stamps (SNAP) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/04/13/report-us-taxpayers-bear-hidden-cost-poverty-wages

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Report: US Taxpayers Bear 'Hidden Cost' of Poverty Wages (Original Post) proverbialwisdom Apr 2015 OP

Walmart workers spend their food stamp money at......Walmart Skittles Apr 2015 #1

Very but its not just Walmart doing this though they are probably one of the biggest if cstanleytech Apr 2015 #4

So very true and it's national. The GOP business model is a scam. They ran on 'jobs' but work freshwest Apr 2015 #2

Socialize the costs, privatize the profits hibbing Apr 2015 #3

American Dream? Not so much anymore. Martak Sarno Apr 2015 #5

Skittles

(153,193 posts)

1. Walmart workers spend their food stamp money at......Walmart

Reply to proverbialwisdom (Original post)

Mon Apr 13, 2015, 09:38 PM

Apr 2015

meanwhile, the Walton heirs have what percentage of the wealth in America?

HOW F***ED UP IS THAT

cstanleytech

(26,319 posts)

4. Very but its not just Walmart doing this though they are probably one of the biggest if

Reply to Skittles (Reply #1)

Tue Apr 14, 2015, 05:56 AM

Apr 2015

not the biggest offender its most companies, hell even Publix which pays decently and is considered one of the best stores to work for doesnt pay a living wage to alot of its employees.
To be honest though I see atm two solutions, one is we make it illegal again for the companies to buy off the politicians which in the long term would help alot of us with wages the other option is the one the French used awhile ago which atm is looking pretty dang good imo.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)

2. So very true and it's national. The GOP business model is a scam. They ran on 'jobs' but work

Reply to proverbialwisdom (Original post)

Mon Apr 13, 2015, 11:14 PM

Apr 2015

to kill the middle class by going after unions and workers trying to get better conditions, denying them healthcare to be able to continue to work, and the social safety net they pay in to help them through the rough spots.

hibbing

(10,109 posts)

3. Socialize the costs, privatize the profits

Reply to proverbialwisdom (Original post)

Tue Apr 14, 2015, 12:51 AM

Apr 2015

American "capitalism" at its best, you can see it all through our economy.

Peace

Martak Sarno

(77 posts)

5. American Dream? Not so much anymore.

Reply to proverbialwisdom (Original post)

Tue Apr 14, 2015, 06:36 AM

Apr 2015

Forget the American Dream. It's been replaced by the Corporate Dream.

Their ideal Dream?

Having laborers work for them 60 to 80 hours per week for no pay, no benefits, no healthcare, no vaction (paid or otherwise), certainly no pension or retirement provisions and the Corporate Rights to the children of said laborers for mandatory work at the corporation while keeping all profits for themselves.

Maybe a new Magna Carta in a few dozen decades will come about.

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