Nickle and Dimed to be debunked tonight on 20/20 (income, employees, kids)

[jojajn]

Originally Posted by pghquest

So does that make it wal-marts problem that people working there are happy to collect welfare and not demand better benefits, or does that make it the tax payers problem because without "welfare", their employees would be demanding benefits because many would need insurance?

If you think wal-mart is to blame for the governments willingness to insure everyone upon their behalf then your sadly mistaken..

This is a crystal clear expample of why our country need Universal Health Care!

[jojajn]

Originally Posted by Greatday

And, where is the responsibility for a company / employer to pay an employee wages to pay the employees cost of living?

It is the employees responsibility to find employment with a wage that satisfies their needs.

Greatday, Just wondering, have you heard about the unemployment rate lately?

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by jojajn

This is a crystal clear expample of why our country need Universal Health Care!

Because WalMart does not provide insurance benefits??

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by jojajn

Greatday, Just wondering, have you heard about the unemployment rate lately?

Has nothing to do with the the content of my post.

[jojajn]

Originally Posted by Yeledaf

I disagree. Unless one's standards are especially low, "Nickled and Dimed" is not a "wonderful book." Like most of Ehrenreich's writing, it contains a very clever idea that peters out in the telling as the author runs out of steam and forfeits her promises.

For example, "Nickled and Dimed" contains Ehrenreich's promise to stick it out as a minimum-wage worker and (a la George Orwell in "Down and Out in Paris and London" published in the late 1930s), actually live the life of the indigent/underemployed long enough to truly walk the walk --- but she merely dabbles long enough to pick up and relate some pithy episodes. It is an exercise in voyeurism by a wealthy and educated womam seeking to vicariously experience the frisson of need while also making a buck. A typical two-fer.

I recently finished Ehrenreich's latest book "Dancing in the Streets" (and recommend it to those interested in an innovative way to look at social history). A clever and fresh look at collective human psychology, even this book is flawed with Ehrenreich's chronic lack of staying power, and seeming inability to maintain her edge and follow through with what is a potentially powerful thesis. She lazily falls back on popular wisdom and urban mythology in her summary, and ends up being wryly amusing rather than inspirational or truly thought-provoking.

"Nickled and Dimed" (much like its sequel, "Bait and Switched"), displays Enrenreich at her most annoying: clever but not wise, slick but not scholarly, poignant but not persuasive.

For the real deal, give me Orwell's social 70-year-old criticism -- or even Michael Harrington's "The Other America" --- any day. They remain much more readable, and to the point, than Ehrenreich will ever be...

Yeledaf, I challenge you to do what Ehrenreich did for just 2 weeks!!!

[jojajn]

Originally Posted by pghquest

I would guess that they considered cutting from the top but then decided against it. Cutting from the bottom ususally ads to the profitablity much more than any cuts at the top, but dont let the math of doing so get in the way of your false argument.

Thats their perogative with being at the top. Those at the bottom who disagree with the choice should move to the top and change the policies or start their own competitive company and cut from the top, i.e. their own salaries..

If they cut too much from "the bottom", no one will be able to buy whatever it is that "the top" is selling.

[pghquest]

Originally Posted by jojajn

This is a crystal clear expample of why our country need Universal Health Care!

Sorry, dont see what makes that so clear

[wordsmith680]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Totally disagree - inasmuch as those employers have to pay into those UHI systems - almost more expensive than here

You are an ins agent, are you not?

[jojajn]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Has nothing to do with the the content of my post.

Your Post:
"Originally Posted by Greatday
And, where is the responsibility for a company / employer to pay an employee wages to pay the employees cost of living?

It is the employees responsibility to find employment with a wage that satisfies their needs."

How is an employee able to find employment with a wage that satisfies their needs if there are no jobs?

[jojajn]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Totally disagree - inasmuch as those employers have to pay into those UHI systems - almost more expensive than here

Back this up with facts please.