07-29-2017, 04:46 PM
(07-29-2017, 09:51 AM)SickBeast Wrote: Look, ocre, you and I have completely different world views. You're from the deep south and I'm from Canada...let's just say that we're both surrounded by completely different societies. I can disagree with your opinions and still walk away with a lot of respect for you. What you have just posted is completely reasonable. The post of mine that you just quoted was directed at Rollo, who has shown repeatedly that he has a complete disdain for the poor and also "slackers" as he calls them.
You say I don't understand the poor in the USA, that's a fair point, I haven't really studied it, I just know what I know based on what I have seen. Talk to any Canadian that has visited the States, they will all tell you that the ghettos there are unlike anything seen in Canada. The burnt out buildings, the boarded up windows. People are actually *living* in those conditions. You call that a life?
Maybe things are a bit different there. Perhaps people can get by on a minimum wage living. That is simply not possible here, the cost of living is simply too high in our cities. Like I said before, the people making minimum wage are our most vulnerable. They are working and contributing to society, not sitting at home collecting social assistance. Economist after economist has touted the benefits of raising the minimum wage. The only ones opposed to it are the businesses. They have to meet their bottom line and they have to maximize their profits to their shareholders, I get that. However I would much rather see that money in the hands of the thousands of people at the bottom as opposed to the single CEO making $20 million a year. Actually I would suggest that the vast majority of the corporations affected by a higher minimum wage could simply cut their executive salaries and they would probably even come out ahead.
What I find interesting is that people are just wired different politically. I don't think you and Rollo can see it any other way, nor should you really. This diversity is really what makes democracy great and it's what makes our systems work. You guys are right about some things, guys like me are right about others. I have a lot of compassion for the less fortunate. Heck, I have *been* that person before in my life, I know how hard it is.
Like I said before, my post was directed at Rollo, not you. I do appreciate our discussions on ABT. Things are always civil and I feel like I'm having an intellectual conversation with you.
"Look Ocre I just want to criticize Rollo"?
A. Who are you to say what CEOs should make? How would you like it if they said YOU make too much money?
B. As noted, higher minimums are a big problem for small business, and small business is half our jobs, a leader in jobs creation, the origin of many big corporations, and way for families to obtain wealth and independence outside of the corporate world. Your view is almost like communism, "Everyone works together for the big effort and the workers wages are raised, management is lowered, because everyone's job is just as important!".
C. I've been poor as well, to the point I actually got food stamps. (govt assistance) I did not have the heart to use them and did not, but I have been poor. You know what I found? It was a really good motivation to try and get ahead.
D. The working poor here already are subsidized with health care, food stamps, rent assistance. You want them to be paid more as well?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/food...05db4d1364
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...ty/516861/