Henry Ford & the Ford Motor Company V. Walmart

The Ford Motor Company under the direction of founder Henry Ford was the largest US employer of it's day.

it was the Walmart of it's day, but unlike Walmart, Henry Ford did something that was unprecedented. Henry Ford paid workers just graduating from high school the equivalent of $50.00/Hr in today's dollars, Gave workers 8 Hour shifts and weekend and holidays off, offered very generous retirement package, comprehensive healthcare benefits and paid time off.

he was a man ahead of his time not only in the auto industry but in how he treated his employees. Henry Ford jump started what would become known as the Middle Class during the 40's, 50's, and 60's, before long many other large employers took notice and followed suit. it led to the greatest concentration of wealth among the working class from the 40's to the late 70's. homelessness and poverty we're at an all time low.

Then Reaganomics came onto the scene. Then after Ronald "Ronnie Raygun" Reagan things have never been the same and have been getting worse every since. homelessness, poverty, untreated mental illness have been exploding at an exponential rate along with the national Debt and a crumbling infrastructure. massive wealth inequity and massive trade imbalances have compounded these effects.

the Republican answer? more austerity, more union busting, more anti worker billionaire friendly regulation, more massive consolidation reducing competition.

i sit and think to myself what would happen if Walmart the USA's (and possibly the Worlds) largest employer would stop screwing over workers by walking in the footsteps of Henry Ford? i bet there would be a social and economic revolution. this country would see a massive economic bounce back, and we would likely balance the budget and not only that have a surplus to start paying off the national debt!!!! this by no means is the total answer to all the problems faced by this country but it certainly would be a really great start. the other stuff which needs to be done are beyond the scope of this rant. i could write a book on how to fix the country and economy.