Nearly Half of Americans Are Low-income

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So, you don't think at any time the suits went to the union and said something like, "This company is going into the ground. We cannot sustain at this rate. In order to pull out, we have to stop paying every single worker $30/hour and a HUGE pension."

What was the union's response? "NO!" And then they justified it by saying, "Well, you make $1.2 million a year."

You got it all twisted, bro. What happens is the exact opposite. Unions have, time and again, agreed to cuts in pay and benefits to help companies survive. This does not tend to happen in the executive suites, however. Remember 2003? When American Airlines wrestled $1.8 billion dollars worth of compensation concessions out of the unions while the executive compensation plan was upped and amended so that executive pensions would be shielded in case the company goes through a chapter 11? That's what's outrageous. Those behind the wheel should be the first to lose their pensions and benefits if the company they manage goes bust, not the last that lose them.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

So, you don't think at any time the suits went to the union and said something like, "This company is going into the ground. We cannot sustain at this rate. In order to pull out, we have to stop paying every single worker $30/hour and a HUGE pension."

What was the union's response? "NO!" And then they justified it by saying, "Well, you make $1.2 million a year."

The fact is, the union was just as responsible for GM's demise as any suit at the top. When we can buy cars made overseas - even with huge import tariffs - for cheaper than we can buy cars manufactured here, there's one reason. Greed.

Greed is what makes companies topple. Not just greed from the top. Greed from everyone. Workers included. And greed is what's bringing this country down. We see it evidenced above. "I'm going to lose my place to live." Well, that's probably because you live in your own apartment in a nice part of town. If you're poor, you can't afford to do that.

US will always be home of innovation. Then we'll outsource production because Americans think they need $17/hour to solder components together. "But I went to community college for two years! I can't live on this! I can't pay my bills on this! $11? Come on! I went to college for two years!"

Why would the union take a pay cut if the suits are giving themselves raises and bonuses when the company is tanking? I mean would you give yourself a bonus for doing ####### work? The guys on the floor do the work they are told to do. They don't come up with the designs, engineering and marketing. That's what the suits get paid the big bucks for.

The UAW has taken pay cuts in the past and they took a big one when the Big 3 were tanking a few years back. When sales went up and they got got back on their feet again the suits gave themselves big fat ####### raises and bonuses again...this happened this year, yet the union didn't get anything back. If your paid the big bucks to do your job and you fail miserably at that job somethings wrong.

[Susita 175]

Speaking of my personal experience alone, I thought I had a somewhat stable job, have been promoted 3 times in the past three years, and have a decent savings account. However, every time I turn around now, the government is "shutting down" and layoffs are being proposed. Up until this morning, I didn't know if I had a job on Monday. All this because our congress can't do its' job; not because I can't do mine. As for changing careers, I'd have to start all over again as my experience doesn't transfer easily over to the private sector.

In my husband's case, another company recently purchased the company he works for and laid off a bunch of people. He was lucky to not be one of those people... the jist we got was that they want to do the same amount of work and squeeze every little ounce out of every employee they have to cut costs. Getting a day off there is close to impossible, even when you're sick. There's just no one to cover your shift. And even if there was, they don't want to pay any overtime. Only when my husband went to work with a fever and basically passed out doing physical work, did they send him home sick.

I can tell you right now, even with savings and 2 fully paid vehicles, very frugal spending habits and very little debt, a job at McDonalds or any minimum-wage job, would not suffice. Maybe 30 years ago, when things were different. Our country really has taken a turn for the worse, no longer by the people, for the people... but by the corporations, for the corporations.

[106206 15]

Are they counting kids in that figure?

So if you have a family of 6 and dad loses work then you have 6 of 6 living in poverty?

Also what is the definition of poverty? Is it the annual income or the quality of life?

I would argue many got a quality of life in the 2000s that came from leveraging credit that shouldn't have been extended.

HELOCs, credit cards, cash advances, flipping houses that were overvalues, buying cars, taking trips, etc.

Not saying that those are all bad things to do but the few that I know that got hit were $15/hr factory workers before, during, and after the bubble.

With all that loose credit they got to live like $35/hr workers for a few years.

Edited December 16, 2011 by caterino

[mawilson 2,133]

Our country really has taken a turn for the worse, no longer by the people, for the people... but by the corporations, for the corporations.

It's not the country, hon. The world is different now. There isn't anything any politician can do to magically "fix" it.

[Susita 175]

It's not the country, hon. The world is different now. There isn't anything any politician can do to magically "fix" it.

It's quite sad, and you're right.

[Nina~ 431]

It's not the country, hon. The world is different now. There isn't anything any politician can do to magically "fix" it.

No magical fix. But they sure can invest more money in higher education, research & technology to give Americans a fighting chance in this changing world instead of handing out corporate welfare.

[mawilson 2,133]

No magical fix. But they sure can invest more money in higher education, research & technology to give Americans a fighting chance in this changing world instead of handing out corporate welfare.

I agree.

[MyLittlePony 340]

Free ebt cards is keeping America fat and lazy.

[Susita 175]

Free ebt cards is keeping America fat and lazy.

The problem is, food stamps & temporary cash assistance are supposed to be temporary programs to help people get back on their feet, or programs for those who cannot physically work. (For example, many of the unemployed may find themselves in a situation where they may need assistance and that is understandable, or a person who finds themselves disabled and is no longer able to work. I speak from experience, as I have an uncle who is a paraplegic. He worked his entire adult life as a carpenter, and a sudden car accident has taken away the use of the entire bottom half of his body). For some reason, many who don't need to are allowed to remain on these programs long-term, which goes against the whole idea of the program. Something has to be done about that.

As far as fat & lazy goes, many initiatives have been introduced, such as a program which allows farmers' and community markets to accept EBT. WIC also has such a program.

I thought this article was interesting: Food Stamps, Now Paperless, Are Getting Easier to Use at Farmers’ Markets

[mawilson 2,133]

As far as fat & lazy goes, many initiatives have been introduced, such as a program which allows farmers' and community markets to accept EBT. WIC also has such a program.

Why not just send them food? The gov't can partner up with FreshDirect and send people fresh fruit and veggies.

Don't want vegetables? Want to buy soda and disgusting greasy fast food? Get a JOB!

[Susita 175]

Why not just send them food? The gov't can partner up with FreshDirect and send people fresh fruit and veggies.

Don't want vegetables? Want to buy soda and disgusting greasy fast food? Get a JOB!

I wouldn't go against that. In theory, that's actually what the WIC program does. It gives pregnant & nursing mothers food that will nourish their baby. Each voucher has a specific food group attached to it... so basically you can get milk, cereals, nuts or beans, fruit juices, fresh produce etc. There's also a baby formula/baby cereal program. Only specific items and only specific brands are eligible (no Lucky Charms or Cap'n Crunch LOL). You still go to your local grocery store, but instead of just shopping for whatever, you have to pick out these specific items.