You Will Be CENSORED

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by n david

I support local farmers and farmer's markets. But first and foremost is my family. I'm not spending twice the amount for the same products.

It's not virtue signaling. Believe me, I'm not into virtue signaling. My philosophy concerning Walmart is due in part to having worked at a Walmart distribution center years ago, coupled with the fact I seem to NEVER find what I'm actually looking for there, plus the service is atrocious. When I do go I try to always use the self checkout line, and I avoid trying to ask any employees for help.

I support local businesses because I support family businesses in my local area when I can. Stewardship involves more than just "me and mine". The "mine" is a larger group than just the folks under my roof, in my opinion.

Internet shopping however has changed the scenery completely. A lot of times I simply can't find what I need in a brick and mortar store at all. When someone develops a model that delivers online purchases to the home within 24 hours, they'll be richer than Bill Gates.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Gimme a break. I support the local farmers markets and do shop a few small, local stores.

My moral center is to provide and be a good steward for my family. That's my moral center. If you want to spend twice as much for the same products just to stick it to the man, that's you.

I can respect that.

Per usual, your scenario here is well overblown and not accurate.

First, PT employees do get benefits (including healthcare), so that's just wrong. Also wages are typical and on par with most box retail stores and for the type of work being done.

Most part time employees do not get benefits. I know plenty of people who are worked 38 hours a week, and are not offered anything but health insurance... at a rather high cost. And that is only because of the ACA. Once completely repealed, no business will be required to provide any benefits to PT employees.

It's ridiculous that you believe a greeter should make more than minimum wages for that line of work. Just asinine.

I never said that. I was only pointing out that a man who once owned a family shop (perhaps a third generation family shop) was reduced to being a minimum wage greeter at Walmart. It's sad to see. That's all I'm saying.

Also, a lot of people qualify for food stamps and government assistance. I work in state government and know a lot of co-workers who are on food stamps and assistance programs -- or who have passed up promotions because they pay increase would cause their food stamps to be cut off. This isn't a Walmart thing.

I have trouble believing that. Most pay steps in city, state, and municipal governments pay more than most states allow to qualify for food stamps. Now, if they are single and have more than two kids, maybe. But I don't see it and I work for the government too and am a member of the AFSCME. Also, due to union contract, most promotions are step increases, they cannot be "passed up". So, I'm not sure what you're talking about, you'll have to elaborate.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Oh good grief.

Buy American, or move to China, ya trader. LOL

(Don't take me so seriously.)

[Aquila]

Okay, okay, the virtue signal stuff was funny. lol

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I have trouble believing that. Most pay steps in city, state, and municipal governments pay more than most states allow to qualify for food stamps. Now, if they are single and have more than two kids, maybe. But I don't see it and I work for the government too and am a member of the AFSCME. Also, due to union contract, most promotions are step increases, they cannot be "passed up". So, I'm not sure what you're talking about, you'll have to elaborate.

I work in state government here, so that's my point of reference. There are no unions. As a state employee, we do not get performances or cost of living raises. A common complaint in leadership meetings is pay. People have worked for my agency for years and are making the same amount as when they started. Meanwhile, general cost of living has increased, our pension contribution has increased and our insurance premiums have increased the past two years. I've been trying to get into a government or even a city position for over a year, both of which pay more and offer pay increases, but have been unsuccessful so far.

I previously worked with immigration from 2000-2003, as a government employee. I received both performance/incentive raises and an annual cost of living increase in that job.

I know over a dozen employees just within my local agency office who are currently receiving food stamps or other state assistance, such as ahcccs (state medicaid) or childcare.

I had a worker who was Six Sigma certified. There was a position that came open which I sent to him, encouraging him to apply. He was a single father with two kids. He was on food stamps and received state assistance for childcare.

Again, we have no unions, this is a right to work state.

I asked him if he had received my email and had applied for the position. He told me he thought about it, but decided not to, because it would have caused him to lose his food stamps and childcare assistance.

I know childcare is crazy expensive. But he was making about 26K a year and the other position would have paid him approx $50K a year!

He ended up quitting because the state assistance income level dropped a little and would have caused him to lose his benefits.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

I work in state government here, so that's my point of reference. There are no unions. As a state employee, we do not get performances or cost of living raises. A common complaint in leadership meetings is pay. People have worked for my agency for years and are making the same amount as when they started. Meanwhile, general cost of living has increased, our pension contribution has increased and our insurance premiums have increased the past two years. I've been trying to get into a government or even a city position for over a year, both of which pay more and offer pay increases, but have been unsuccessful so far.

I previously worked with immigration from 2000-2003, as a government employee. I received both performance/incentive raises and an annual cost of living increase in that job.

I know over a dozen employees just within my local agency office who are currently receiving food stamps or other state assistance, such as ahcccs (state medicaid) or childcare.

I had a worker who was Six Sigma certified. There was a position that came open which I sent to him, encouraging him to apply. He was a single father with two kids. He was on food stamps and received state assistance for childcare.

Again, we have no unions, this is a right to work state.

I asked him if he had received my email and had applied for the position. He told me he thought about it, but decided not to, because it would have caused him to lose his food stamps and childcare assistance.

I know childcare is crazy expensive. But he was making about 26K a year and the other position would have paid him approx $50K a year!

He ended up quitting because the state assistance income level dropped a little and would have caused him to lose his benefits.

Wow. If you don't mind me asking, what state is this?

I'm a member of AFSCME. We're pretty set. The union has had to compromise some due to budget constraints, but for the most part, these jobs are still some of the best around my parts.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Wow. If you don't mind me asking, what state is this?

I'm a member of AFSCME. We're pretty set. The union has had to compromise some due to budget constraints, but for the most part, these jobs are still some of the best around my parts.

AZ

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by n david

I work in state government here, so that's my point of reference. There are no unions. As a state employee, we do not get performances or cost of living raises. A common complaint in leadership meetings is pay. People have worked for my agency for years and are making the same amount as when they started. Meanwhile, general cost of living has increased, our pension contribution has increased and our insurance premiums have increased the past two years. I've been trying to get into a government or even a city position for over a year, both of which pay more and offer pay increases, but have been unsuccessful so far.

I previously worked with immigration from 2000-2003, as a government employee. I received both performance/incentive raises and an annual cost of living increase in that job.

I know over a dozen employees just within my local agency office who are currently receiving food stamps or other state assistance, such as ahcccs (state medicaid) or childcare.

I had a worker who was Six Sigma certified. There was a position that came open which I sent to him, encouraging him to apply. He was a single father with two kids. He was on food stamps and received state assistance for childcare.

Again, we have no unions, this is a right to work state.

I asked him if he had received my email and had applied for the position. He told me he thought about it, but decided not to, because it would have caused him to lose his food stamps and childcare assistance.

I know childcare is crazy expensive. But he was making about 26K a year and the other position would have paid him approx $50K a year!

He ended up quitting because the state assistance income level dropped a little and would have caused him to lose his benefits.

So, he preferred 26k plus welfare instead of 50k and no welfare? That's ridiculous. Well, it's other than ridiculous, but I'd like to be nice about it.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esaias

So, he preferred 26k plus welfare instead of 50k and no welfare? That's ridiculous. Well, it's other than ridiculous, but I'd like to be nice about it.

There's no way he's spending $24k on child care. Nor is there any way he's pulling $24k in food stamps. lol

I could be wrong. I just don't see it.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

There's no way he's spending $24k on child care. Nor is there any way he's pulling $24k in food stamps. lol

I could be wrong. I just don't see it.

He's not. The problem is he's been on assistance so long that the mere thought of having to pay it on his own scared him.

DES childcare here is incredibly cheap. In an average month with 20 working days, he was paying $40 for his kids, compared to $1,400 for those who don't get state assistance.

He's a classic democrat. Raised in a single income home by his mother, on government assistance since birth. Once his girlfriend ran off and left him with the kids, he did what he knew growing up -- applied for state assistance.