HuffPo: Why Bernie Sanders And Tucker Carlson Agree On Food Stamps They have a common enemy: Amazon.

[TomCADem]

Walmart has about 4 times as many employees as Amazon and it has long been anti-union, yet Bernie Sanders has suddenly focused on attacking Amazon just like Donald Trump. What's up with the #ihateamazontoo? Perhaps it is just another attempt by Bernie to make a play for Trump voters?

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tucker-carlson-bernie-sanders-food-stamps_us_5b895651e4b0511db3d7aa34

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has been fighting with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos over the fact that some of Amazon’s employees are poor enough to qualify for food stamps.

The former Democratic presidential candidate and progressive kingmaker has even said he will introduce a bill to tax companies for every dollar their workers receive in safety net benefits.

On Thursday night, the Sanders plan got a surprise endorsement from Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

“Bernie Sanders of all people is trying to get your money back from Jeff Bezos,” Carlson said. “This is especially amazing because he is on Bernie’s side on most things. They are both left-wing activists. But on this question, Bernie is right.”

[Me.]

1. When Tucker Carlson Supports You

fill in the blank_____________________

[Hermit-The-Prog]

33. ___ check yourself into a rubber room

Last edited Sun Sep 2, 2018, 10:09 PM - Edit history (1)

before your brain finishes devouring itself.



[Edit to add: Apparently there was some confusion about the above comment. It's a joke -- filling in the blank as requested by the commenter before me.]

[Me.]

72. Yes It Was

...

[Hermit-The-Prog]

74. slippery slope

I'd be scared if Tucker Carlson supported me. What's next? Calls of congrats from Laura Ingraham? Hugs from Insanity Hannity? I'd have to seek treatment before the ultimate fall -- getting retweeted by agolfing twitler.

[Me.]

84. I mIght Also Want To Rethink My Message

if it's getting kudos from these people

[Hermit-The-Prog]

85. exactly!

Unless the position was indisputably good for the whole country, the support from those who normally bitterly oppose would be cause for rethinking the message and position.

[Uncle Joe]

90. If the message is correct, why give Tucker Carlson or any of "these people" that kind of power?

[comradebillyboy]

2. I don't understand Bernie's anti Bezos jihad.

Punishing successful enterprises isn't good public policy. Enacting a good social safety net would be a better focus than attacking individual businesses.

[DeminPennswoods]

34. It's about Amazon's warehouse workers

Reportedly working conditions there are bad along with the pay. This is the reason I don't patronize Amazon.

[Demsrule86]

42. The pay is good...we have new warehouse in Ohio and are glad to get it...

Sen. Sanders should mind his own business on this. You want better working conditions than help elect Democrats and we can change the laws and rules.

[mountain grammy]

48. Good pay? How much? Benefits? Full time schedules?

Good, safe working conditions? Worker's Comp for injuries? Holiday pay? Overtime pay? Sick time?

Please, I woud like to know that what I've been reading about Amazon is wrong.

[Amimnoch]

100. Was curious myself.

Looks pretty decent compared to most from what I read.

https://www.glassdoor.com/Benefits/Amazon-US-Benefits-EI_IE6036.0,6_IL.7,9_IN1.htm

https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Amazon.com/reviews?ftopic=paybenefits

[mountain grammy]

101. Thank you for this.

Good deal about the benefits, which are better than I knew, but I'm thinking they need a union. All in all, very interesting reviews.

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. They both probably hate bee stings and botulism, but

SO FARKING WHAT? Sheesh!!

[TomCADem]

11. NY Times - Trump Attacks Amazon, Saying It Does Not Pay Enough Taxes

So what? Bernie Sanders is supporting a Trump initiative designed to get revenge on the Washington Post's critical coverage, and you say so what? If Bernie reprimanded Trump for singling out Amazon, but pushed for a generalized repeal of Trump's taxes that is one thing, but to say the same talking points? Heck, even Tucker Carlson is now praising Bernie.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/us/politics/trump-amazon-taxes.html

WASHINGTON — President Trump escalated his attack on Amazon on Thursday, saying in an early-morning tweet that the online retail behemoth does not pay enough taxes — and strongly suggesting that he may use the power of his office to rein in the nation’s largest e-commerce business.

Mr. Trump accused Amazon, one of the country’s most recognizable and successful brands, of putting thousands of local retailers out of business and said the company was using the United States Postal Service as its “Delivery Boy.”

The president has lashed out publicly against the giant company and its chief executive, Jeff Bezos, on Twitter more than a dozen times since 2015. And privately, people close to him said, Mr. Trump repeatedly brings up his disdain for the company, often set off by his anger at negative stories in The Washington Post, which is owned by Mr. Bezos.

By focusing on the threat to small businesses, Mr. Trump has touched on the unease of Amazon’s disruptive force. The company has changed industries as varied as publishing, groceries and health care. That has helped the company grow to be worth more than $700 billion, but it has also made it a convenient target.

[melman]

13. 'Bernie Sanders is supporting a Trump initiative'

No he's not and you know he's not.

[Hortensis]

36. He's piggybacking on, benefiting from, the publicity

generated by Trump's attacks on Bezos by pushing himself into it. If nothing else. He has a history of that.

Of course it's good that he's crusading for worker rights, but as said, why not Walmart, many, many, many, many times larger than Amazon, just not owned by Bezos and just not under attack by Trump and his trumpsters?

TomCAdem's speculation could well be right that Sanders could be targeting Bezos because Trump has sicced his followers' hostility on Bezos. If so, an obvious possible reason would be in order to woo some of the social conservative populists (i.e., trumpsters) whom Trump could start hemorrhaging as he falls.

That's reasonable because in 2015-16 Sanders did woo and manage to draw the support of some of these very same people to his populist movement, but at that time he lost most of them to Trump's populist movement. Try, try again?

If this is it, Sanders could end up as the dog who caught the bus. If he draws even more social conservatives, he'll have to somehow keep them loyal. They're pretty mean. Trumpsters are trained to hate Democrats and attack everything liberal, and the best of them are only "somewhat" racist, ageist, nationalist, authoritarian, sexist, and otherwise aggressively hostile. Sanders may think he can control and lead them, but good luck with that.

[Orsino]

88. Carlson is a cheerleader for Amazon's labor abuses. Bern is not.

The attempt to link the two, on Amazon at least, is bullshit.

[Hortensis]

89. Different agendas, Orsino. People who can't gain

power through the majority vote of party voters have to seek it through other methods.

And you'll note that there is real overlap between the righteous hostility of trumpster populists toward mainstream Democrats and the righteous contempt and rejection of Sanders and his still-loyal following. (A zealous righteousness is common to both groups, and their leaders. Though Trump is an aberrant type, Sanders is not. Notably, they are both true believers in themselves.)

So, accusing Democrats of being inadequately principled, corrupt and unwilling to serve the people appeals to populist types currently aligned on both left and right, and that's not accidental

And calling righteous voters to join him to replace the Democrats we elected with his choices also appeals to populists currently aligned on both left and right, and that's also not accidental.

Orsino, SOMEONE is going to lead most of the trumpsters when they finally see Trump as a loser and fall away. Sanders is undoubtedly only one of many who hope to draw and harness at least some of their power. And it'd be foolish to imagine he isn't; he did his best to draw them in 2015 and 2016 and had some successes, some of whom are no doubt still loyal to him.

[Orsino]

94. Yes, different agendas. Tying him to Carlson over Amazon is stupid.

While I see merit in your post here.

[KPN]

27. BS. This OP as well as this 2nd contention are

both totally, misleadingly false .. and intentionally so. You purposely misrepresented the article you posted in your OP. If you hate Bernie, come right out and say it. But don’t spread lies just like the moron occupying the WH. This is DU, not a RW character assassinating echo chamber.

[TomCADem]

70. President Trump's diagnosis for critics: 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'

Another commonality between Trump supporters and Bernie supporters. When you ever you are critical of Bernie/Trump, they just attack you as being a hater. You have Bernie jumping on Trump's anti-Amazon bandwagon, with Tucker Carlson happy to cheer them on, and your response is to scream fake news complete with "If you hate Bernie, come right out and say it."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-tds-trump-derangement-syndrome-20180718-story.html

President Donald Trump and his supporters have a new buzz phrase to diagnose his critics: "Trump Derangement Syndrome."

The term is supposed to describe voters who are so angry and opposed to the U.S. president that they are incapable of seeing any good in what he does. "TDS" has popped up on Fox News in recent weeks and was cited by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in interviews this week before being used by the president himself on Twitter on Wednesday.

His tweet: "Some people HATE the fact that I got along well with President Putin of Russia. They would rather go to war than see this. It's called Trump Derangement Syndrome!"

It's the latest linguistics salvo by a president who fundamentally altered the definition of "fake news" and tries to discredit opponents of his administration by pointing to the most extreme critiques.

[KPN]

80. Another false diagnosis/contention.

[ehrnst]

45. They both also continue to sell books on Amazon. (nt)

[TomCADem]

87. So you did not say...

Last edited Mon Sep 3, 2018, 02:01 PM - Edit history (1)

"If you hate Bernie, come right out and say it." Because it certainly seems like you did. Tell me, do you truly not see how your standard responses parallel those of Trump supporters?

I mean just dismissing the opinions of folks you disagree with as haters?

[earthshine]

4. More false association of Bernie with bad guys. This OP has no credibility.

Bernie bad ... Bernie bad ...

[TomCADem]

9. A Lot of Folks Cites to Huffington Post. That is the Exact Headline

If you click at the link, that is indeed the story. Never thought that Huffington Post would suddenly be thrown in as anti-progressive. Sensationalist maybe.

[lapucelle]

12. And the author of the HuffPo piece

Arthur Delaney has given BS generally positive coverage.

[Me.]

18. Next It'll Be Folks Claiming It's Fake News

[KPN]

29. BS. Read the story.

[ehrnst]

46. What about people who continue to sell merchandise on Amazon?

https://www.amazon.com/Where-We-Here-Bernie-Sanders/dp/1250163269/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1535917627&sr=8-7&keywords=Bernie+Sanders

[earthshine]

47. What about it? That's where books get sold online.

Bad Bernie ... Bernie bad. Naughty man, yes?

[mcar]

5. One wonders why Sanders singles out Amazon

When Walmart has been doing this for decades.

[George II]

14. And yet he still sells his books through both of them.

[KPN]

30. He doesn't. He has criticized zeal Mart many times for this same thing -- going back

quite a few years ago no less. Stop spreading falsehoods. This isn’t Trumpville, it’s DU.

[ehrnst]

37. He's fine with selling his books on Amazon and at Walmart. Not a falsehood.

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Revolution-Believe-Bernie-Sanders/dp/1250132924/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535915559&sr=8-3&keywords=Bernie+Sanders

https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=Bernie%20Sanders&cat_id=0

I guess they're not bad enough for Senator Sanders to stop selling books through them.

[George II]

39. Amazon even sells Sanders t-shirts on their website, too.

[ehrnst]

44. I could imagine that there are unauthorized sellers of t-shirts, but not the pre-order of his book.

That's straight from Sanders' publisher.

I guess that's a lot of $$ to sacrifice.

[joshcryer]

78. Amazon threatens the very fabric of the lower working class.

People who, presumably, are votes for Democrats or the left. You play in to their fears, and they will nod their head in agreement. Unfortunately massively centralized massively corporate production and distribution of goods is the direction we're heading. Yes Amazon and whatever decides to compete with Amazon will take over Wal-Mart completely. It's why in large part the Walton family is cashing out. Anyone with sense can see the writing on the wall.

Those jobs will be gone.

Cashiers will be gone, stockers will be gone, floor moppers, greeters, they're all temporary jobs that will no longer exist in about 10-20 years (you think I exaggerate but I am dead serious that once self-driving stuff takes over it's all over but the crying; direct to door deliveries will be cheaper most of all). And instead of preparing for it now, we do nothing, but pick at the fears of the working poor.

[Orsino]

92. He doesn't.

But this is why he's on Amazon's case these days: https://www.businessinsider.nl/amazon-jeff-bezos-new-walmart-on-prime-day-2018-7/

His beef is with evil labor practicies: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/16/bernie-sanders-town-hall-low-wages-amazon-mcdonalds-walmart

[bettyellen]

6. Why not Walmart? It's strange, isn't it?

[KPN]

31. Oh brother.

[Orsino]

93. Wal-Mart, too, and others.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/16/bernie-sanders-town-hall-low-wages-amazon-mcdonalds-walmart

[bettyellen]

95. Okay, I'd seen the Disney thing. I wish he'd be careful not to sound like he agrees with Trump-

Because it always results in the press twisting it into support for his ideas. And this Amazon thing is really about WaPo and nothing more for DT. That gets lost in the chatter.

[pansypoo53219]

7. because bezos is crazy rich money hoarder.

[TomCADem]

8. But Why Bezos and Not Walmart Which Has More Employees...

...and has been anti-union for decades? The only thing that has changed is that Trump started going on an Anti-Amazon/Bezos kick, then suddenly Bernie jumps on the bandwagon? Perhaps turn about is fair play, since Trump has been ripping off Bernie's anti-NAFTA and anti-TPP rhetoric.

[mythology]

15. Perhaps if you had bothered to use this new thing called Google, you could answer your question

For example:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-02/bernie-sanders-calls-wal-mart-walton-family-wealth-unacceptable

“The major welfare abuser in America is the wealthiest family in America, the Walton family,” Sen. Bernie Sanders says, referring to founders of Wal-Mart Stores.

or perhaps this:

or:
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/walmart-must-pay-a-living-wage

or:

https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jul/31/bernie-s/sanders-says-walmart-heirs-own-more-wealth-bottom-/

The need to constantly denigrate Sanders makes people do and say some very silly things.

[George II]

17. Not sticking up for them, but how is the Walton family abusing welfare?

[Qutzupalotl]

26. By paying employees such low wages that they need public assistance

to survive. The government essentially subsidizes ther employees’ salaries. It would be better to pay a living wage and save the goverment assistance for the unemployed, disabled, etc.

[ehrnst]

41. Why do you think that Senator Sanders continues to sell his books on Amazon?

https://www.amazon.com/Where-We-Here-Bernie-Sanders/dp/1250163269/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1535916634&sr=8-7&keywords=Bernie+Sanders

[Qutzupalotl]

69. No idea. Ask him.

I have not heard him call for any kind of boycott, just a wage increase.

[ehrnst]

81. Of course. He has no standing to call for a boycott as long as he is a client selling

books there.

As I said, Sanders does not answer questions that he doesn't like - difficult questions about his legislation, his own life, or anything that he feels doesn't fit his talking points.

He would dismiss any reporter or interviewer asking him about that with a wave of his hand, and "That's irrelevant, we're talking about wages."

To be fair, maybe when he gets rolling on his talking points, he just forgets things. I recall at a book signing for Jeff Weaver's book, he started railing against campaign consultants until he was reminded some of his own were present.

And I think that's the kind of thing that will tank his chances of running for office anywhere outside of Vermont.

[Qutzupalotl]

91. You're saying he's a hypocrite for selling books at a retailer while

simultaneously calling for them to raise wages? I don’t think that quite meets the definition of hypocrisy. But I’ll agree to disagree on that.

[TomCADem]

25. Exactly. So Why Copy Trump All of Sudden...

...and focus on Amazon? Bernie obviously knows about Walmart, but he decides to jump on Trump's talking point. Is it just a coincidence?

Also, don't you agree that it is irresponsible for Bernie not to call out Trump for his ulterior motives. Instead, as Tucker Carlson shows, Bernie ends up validating Trump, which is the whole point of the HuffPo article. Bernie, of all people, should not normalize Trump by jumping on his band wagon.

[KPN]

32. Again you misrepresent the article, this time by saying it's the whole point of the article when it'

it’s point is actually exactly the opposite.

[lapucelle]

35. The video and press releases are from years ago,

as are the cited news stories. Here's what is front and center on BS's website today.

Sanders Response to Amazon Statement on Working Conditions

While BS acknowledges that Walmart is still a problem, his focus for the purpose of publicity now appears to be Amazon.

[George II]

43. Maybe his book sales on Walmart are higher than on Amazon?

[lapucelle]

68. It would be a principled stand if BS

refused to allow Amazon and Walmart to carry his books, including the latest installment in the franchise due to come out in November.

[ehrnst]

38. I googled this:

https://www.amazon.com/Where-We-Here-Bernie-Sanders/dp/1250163269/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1535917627&sr=8-7&keywords=Bernie+Sanders

https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=Bernie%20Sanders&cat_id=0

Seems as though Amazon and Walmart are not quite bad enough to their employees for Senator Sanders to give up the income from his book sales.

[earthshine]

49. Income?

You mean like the optics of the relationship between HRC and Goldman Sachs?

This cost her more votes than Bernie did.

[ehrnst]

50. Whataboutism for the win!

When you have no response, change the topic to..... Hillary! And Goldman Sachs! And the 2016 primary!

Anything to get away from the topic of the post (the fact that Bernie continues to collect income from sales of his books on Amazon while decrying the conditions for the workers) when it gets very, very uncomfortable, right?

What other reason does one sell one's books on Amazon but "income?"

So why do you think that he continues sells his books there?

[earthshine]

51. And you win by saturation bombing? How many times are you going to repeat yourself?

Bernie can criticize Bezos for his lack of humanity yet still use the services of Amazon, because that's how books get sold. It's not good, but that's the world we live in.

And of course, whatever HRC does -- that cost an election -- is fine with you. Many, like me, were completely turned off to her because of her big-money relationships.

But, I still voted for her, because she was the Dem.

Your grand hypocrisy is discussing financial issues about Bernie while supporting someone two orders of magnitude above him in wealth.

[ehrnst]

54. You were the one trying to change the topic to Hillary - I didn't.

I never defended Hillary in this thread - you decided to try to make it about her, when pointing out the fact that Bernie continues to sell merchandise on Amazon made you very uncomfortable.

And you double down attacking a strawman... your unresolved anger at HRC is what is clearly on display here. Talk about "saturation bombing."

This must have really gotten under your skin. I recommend using the ignore feature.



And if you think that someone pointing out here on DU that he sells things on Amazon .com while decrying their labor practices is unbearable, you are not going to be able to stomach the much, much more, and much worse from the GOP, should he get the Democratic nomination in 2020.

[George II]

65. Yes, she's earned a lot of money in her civilian career, and given away a lot of money....

....to countless good causes.

AND, more importantly, thanks to her releasing her income tax returns for the last 20+ years, we know exactly how she earned every penny.

But of course, this isn't a discussion about Hillary Clinton, it's one about Senator Sanders and Tucker Carlson.

[earthshine]

64. Because that's how books get sold. You are being deliberately obstinate ...

like usual.

I'm done, here. You can get the last word.

[ehrnst]

66. You are trying very hard to make this about another topic

because it makes you very uncomfortable.

Not the least of which because you would be criticizing this to high heaven as hippocrisy, or evidence of corruption in any other candidate instead of dismissing it as "how books get sold." Especially if it was anyone running against Senator Sanders.

Am I right?

[earthshine]

76. Corruption? This is outright stupidity on your part.

What's corrupt about Bernie selling his books?

You will really say just anything, won't you?

[ehrnst]

79. Another strawman. That's not what I'm saying.

Last edited Mon Sep 3, 2018, 07:14 AM - Edit history (2)

I'm saying that if it was another politician that was running against Sanders, that is the kind of thing would be called corrupt by Sanders and many of his supporters.

Not me. I'm not the one being angry and lashing out with namecalling here.

Is that clearer?

I'm not the one who brought the term "bad optics" to the discussion. You did. You were the one who stated that Sanders was being called corrupt..not me. That's pretty significant. It sounds more like you are the one who is seeing that in Sanders, and jump to defend anything he does no matter how it would be seen in any other politician.

To be fair, maybe when he gets rolling on his talking points, he just forgets things that he himself does. I recall at a book signing for Jeff Weaver's book, he started railing against campaign consultants until he was reminded some of his own were present.

Are you still "done now?" If not, I suggest using the ignore feature a lot on DU. And if Sanders does get the Democratic nomination for POTUS in 2020, you'll need to turn off your television and get offline, because pointing out that he is selling merchandise on Amazon while decrying it as a bad employer nothing compared to what the GOP will have ready to say about him

[earthshine]

86. Another strawman. You are saying NOTHING.

>> I'm saying that if it was another politician that was running against Sanders, that is the kind of thing would be called corrupt by Sanders and many of his supporters.

That's like, your opinion, man. You are putting words in the mouths of others.

Actually, you seem very angry. The very name Sanders seems to make you angry.

On DU, you frequently argue for the sake of it. This is one of those times.

I think it's perfectly fine that he sells books on Amazon, yet criticizes their policies.

Since you mention it, please, put me on your ignore list. I'd love to be there.

Just think, if Sanders does get the nomination, you'll have to vote for him. That'll would be funny.

[JHan]

60. haha "Optics"

And the Goldman Sachs canard. You know there's a reason even Matt Taibibi laid off the speech critiques against HRC.

(I'm not going to address that in your optics analysis you conveniently leave her actual position on things because I know how it rolls on internet forums)

In one of the speeches she acknowledged the privileges she has, she's aware that now she's stinking rich, she doesn't experience the same challenges as your average American.

It was the dishonest framing of her as a corrupt corporate stooge which hurt her - something you seem to actually believe.

And she didn't distort her opponent's record, neither did she disingenuously paint her opponents in a negative light to make herself come across as a paragon of virtue - She didn't accuse her opponents of voting for things she also voted on in a shady attempt to position herself as the morally superior choice. She admitted to her flaws, addressed every dishonest attack against her record.

And yet.........

And Btw, the thread is about Sanders and his timing w.r.t to singling out Amazon.

not Hillary -_-

[SkyDancer]

52. You mean like.....

[ehrnst]

58. Interesting that you mention Walmart.

For sale now on Walmart.com.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Our-Revolution-A-Future-to-Believe-In/55861898

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bernie-Sanders-Guide-to-Political-Revolution/55600038

[George II]

62. As we used to say in Brooklyn, "go figure!"

[JHan]

23. He is not a "money hoarder".

Bezo's "wealth" is in investments. Amazon actually operates at a loss ( Yes truly). It is Bezos' other investments which represent his "Wealth" but it is not hard wealth.

For example, someone who has a non-interest bearings savings account with hundreds of billions in it is someone who is hoarding wealth. Someone who has suitcases of cash or gold bars is hoarding wealth.

Bezos has investments in stocks which are *worth* billions.

Another example: Let's say you're into real estate and buy properties. Such investments aren't reflective of actual cash you have on hand, they're your investments which are worth a certain amount.

Investments are also a way to keep the economy ticking over.

[Cha]

10. "... progressive king maker.. " Tell that to Brent Welder,

Abdul El Sayed, and Cori Bush.

[George II]

19. This is the United States of America, we don't have "kings"!!!!

[Cha]

20. Right! It was a stupid thing to say.. WE DON'T

Do Kings!

Thank You, George.

[mythology]

16. Well other than the multiple links I gave you in another post proving you objectively wrong

There's the fact that Jeff Bezos is the world's richest man. And that more so than most other companies, including Wal-mart, Amazon illustrates the growing divide between the haves and the have-nots. Amazon employs some people who are paid extremely well to run Amazon Web Services and other technical staff. But the people working the Amazon warehouses get paid peanuts and are so tightly monitored that due to concerns about productivity requirements, workers pee in bottles because if they stop to go to an actual bathroom they will be fired.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/16/17243026/amazon-warehouse-jobs-worker-conditions-bathroom-breaks

I really don't get the hate-on for Sanders. Did he pee in your Cheerios or something? At least try to do the barest bit of research before posting such obviously incorrect things.

[Honeycombe8]

53. Well, the "world's richest man" changes monthly, because of their stock value.

Jeff Bezos JUST rose to the top of the list, presumably because Amazon stock rose a lot, and maybe because at the same time, Bill Gates donated a lot to charities.

But in the top 10, there is not much difference, or use in, distinguishing between the top several.

Here are the top five:
Jeff Bezos, $112 billion
Bill Gates, $90 billion
Warren Buffett, $84 billion
Bernard Arnault and family, $72 billion
Mark Zuckerberg, $71 billion

The month before, the wealthiest man was Bill Gates.

But how wealthy the owner of a business is is irrelevant to wages for his business. Unless you think that a business owner can cut wages, when business is bad one month, then increase them the next month because the owner won big at the casino.

Wages are based on the market for that kind of work. What IS more reflective of a business owner are the perks and benefits. Is there a retirement plan that the owner contributes to? How many paid days off? What are the procedures for taking time off? How much vacation? Are there bonuses? Is the insurance good? What are the working conditions? Is the company legal and ethical, when it comes to paying overtime?

The benefits are as important, if not more important, than wages. Without them, the costs for days off, retirement, and medical care would mean a large amount of money coming out of wages. Benefits ARE part of wages.

I think it is a problem, though, that someone is agreeing with Trump in his personal vendetta against Jeff Bezos. The issue is really working pay and benefits at all companies. Not one in particular. That is very strange, to take on Trump's personal vendetta, when there are other companies with similar wages and benefits and are just as legitimate as targets as Amazon.

[pnwmom]

71. That's an article about supposed conditions in the UK, and they obviously don't apply here.

For example, it says that they don't sick days. I don't know what the law is in the UK, but employers here all give sick days.

https://www.lni.wa.gov/WorkplaceRights/LeaveBenefits/VacaySick/PaidSickLeave.asp


Also, it isn't fair to include in statistics people who choose to work half time. Of course they're going to make less.

So I know why Trump and his toadies are going after Amazon. Not sure why Bernie is joining the pile-on, however.

[melman]

73. Here

https://www.policymattersohio.org/press-room/2018/01/05/more-ohio-amazon-workers-relying-on-food-aid

http://time.com/money/5303482/amazon-minnesota-workplace/

http://time.com/956/how-amazon-crushed-the-union-movement/

https://www.northjersey.com/story/money/2017/12/13/warehouse-workers-holds-protest-amazon-store/945571001/

I realize you don't actually care but this is a real issue.

[pnwmom]

75. Maybe you should read your own links.

For example, this jumped out right in the beginning of your first link:

Based on that average, more than 700 Amazon workers received benefits that month, or more than one in every 10 of those Ohioans employed by the company. Figures include both full- and part-time workers, and it is likely mostly part-time workers who qualify.

That is the point I was making.

I'm not going to go diving into all your links. If you have specific points you want to make, make them.

[melman]

83. "I'm not going to go diving into all your links."

Of course not. Why actually learn something about the issue when you can just bash for the sake of bashing?

[QC]

21. They're being mean to the Job Creators!!!!!

[Jamaal510]

22. Wait--did Tucker Carlson

really call Jeff Bezos a "left-wing activist"?

[JHan]

24. lol the insanity of it all.

[Orsino]

98. Tucker Carlson will say anything you want.

Coins go in, lies come out.

[JI7]

28. Republicans are attacking Amazon/Bezos because of the Washington Post

it has nothing to do with any concern over amazon as a business.

[Honeycombe8]

55. Yes. It's Trump's personal vendetta against Jeff Bezos because he owns the Wash. Post.

Anyone who is concerned about workers, takes on ALL the companies. Not just the one that is Trump's "enemy of the people."

[VOX]

67. Precisely. WaPo's masthead even reads, "Democracy Dies in Darkness."

And, although they settled on that slogan just pre-Trump, it's more fitting with every passing day.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-washington-posts-new-slogan-turns-out-to-be-an-old-saying/2017/02/23/cb199cda-fa02-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_story.html?utm_term=.78a79bc89f9e
The Washington Post | By Paul Farhi
February 24, 2017
<snip>
Woodward’s source appears to be Judge Damon J. Keith, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, who ruled in a pre-Watergate era case that the government couldn’t wiretap individuals without a warrant. In his decision, Keith apparently coined a variation on The Post’s motto, writing that “Democracy dies in the dark.”

In any case, the phrase was at the center of discussions when a small group of Post employees, including Baron and Publisher Fred Ryan, began meeting last year to develop a slogan. One planning document for the group suggested finding a “positive” variation on the early contender “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”

The goal of the paper’s slogan, the document said, would be to communicate that The Post “has a long-standing reputation for providing news and information with unparalleled analysis and insight. . . . Our position must be conveyed ‘disruptively’ so we can shake consumers out of their news-as-commodity mindset.”

It added that any slogan “must be memorable and may be slightly uncomfortable for us at first.” It also had to be “lofty, positive [and] not bossy” and pithy enough to fit on a T-shirt.

The group brainstormed more than 500 would-be slogans. The choices ranged from the heroic (“Dauntless Defenders of the Truth”) to the clunky (“American democracy lives down the street. No one keeps closer watch.”) to the Zen-like (“Yes. Know.”).

The group ultimately ended up where it started — with “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”

Which means that the slogan, which will be added to print copies of the paper next week, could be among the most famous four words that Woodward has ever contributed to The Post. In time, the phrase might even rival “All the President’s Men,” the memorable title of the bestseller Woodward wrote with Carl Bernstein about Nixon’s fall.

“Well,” Woodward said, “it’s better than ‘Follow the money,’ ” the famous movie line that Woodward’s character got from his anonymous Watergate source, Deep Throat.

[ehrnst]

40. Another thing they both agree on - they're happy to sell their books on Amazon...

https://www.amazon.com/Where-We-Here-Bernie-Sanders/dp/1250163269/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1535916634&sr=8-7&keywords=Bernie+Sanders

https://www.amazon.com/Tucker-Carlson/e/B001HCZ9FQ/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

[Honeycombe8]

56. To be fair, that's the publisher that does that, probably.

The publisher probably has it in contracts that it is in control of where to sell, the price at which it sells, and such, so that it can make its money.

[ehrnst]

57. I think that Sanders should address that directly then.

However, he's not known for discussing issues/events/studies that don't dovetail with his talking points, or dealing with those questions well at all.

He has a history of getting angry and defensive when asked about such things.

[Honeycombe8]

59. I would agree that he has an agenda that is for his movement.

That movement doesn't necessarily always align with the Democratic Party Platform. Given the choice, I personally believe that he would follow, he would have to follow, his agenda to further the goals of his movement. Even if it meant going against Democrats. I believe that's what it means when someone has a "movement" instead of furthering the goals of the Democratic Party. But generally, his views are in alignment with the broad sweep of Democratic Party views. Generally. But not always.

[ehrnst]

61. I think that his reaction to being asked questions that he doesn't want to be asked

could be an issue. The reaction that I got from one person on this thread for mentioning the fact that he gets income from Amazon is an example of what many do when Sanders's actions are questioned at all.

Whatever his views, he will have to deal with such contradictions because the GOP will indeed bring up this and anything similar.

I truly wonder if he thought about the income that he makes from Amazon before making these statements.

[Cha]

63. It is hypocritical.. making money

from the company you're denouncing for unfair business practices.

Get your "publisher" to take your books off Amazon, BS.

[JCanete]

77. Its not hypocritical at all. Sanders is complaining about what Amazon and other companies are able

to legally do. His job as a Senator is not to try to create boycotts of companies not doing as he likes. That's not the fucking point. His job is to draw attention to what SHOULD be regulated and to attempt to regulate against corporate behaviors that are bad for the general welfare.

Also, the reality is that if you want to reach people with your products you kind of have to use the platforms available to you. It is no more hypocritical to challenge Facebook on their behavior during the 2016 election while using facebook, nor to be Al Gore flying around the world in a jets while talking about climate change. Oh, but the right wing certainly made hay about that last one....you can't go and live in a cabin in the woods and not use the infrastructure available to you, whether that's amazon or whatever, and expect to actually be able to change these issues on a grand scale.

[ehrnst]

82. If any politician who was running against Sanders was to

benefit financially from a company that they were criticizing, they would be called hypocritical.

The rules always seem to get bent for Sanders. Even by him. Maybe he just forgets things. I recall at a book signing for Jeff Weaver's book, he started railing against campaign consultants until he was reminded some of his own were present.

[JCanete]

96. Amazon is not simply a company. Amazon is a platform. It is very nearly, THE platform,

in terms of its reach and ubiquity. I wouldn't expect Sanders to attempt to reach people while forgoing this medium any more than I would expect an avowed evangelist of socialism to refuse to earn a buck in the economy we have.

No though, my bigger issue is when politicians have cozy relationships with companies they benefit from and thus to do not publicly challenge them. And no, I don't see a double standard here whatsoever.

[ehrnst]

97. As I said, many Sanders supporters would indeed criticize that in any other politician.

Amazon is an employer, as Sanders points out.

I don't have an issue with him selling on Amazon. What I have an issue with is that he would hold other politicians, especially any who disagree with him on anything, to a different standard.

This was on display at Weaver's book party.

Examples of Sanders supporters having one standard for him, and a different one for other politicians are easily found with a simple search on DU, and FB, and Twitter.

[melman]

99. What's great about making up things people hypothetically 'would' do

is you can make it be anything you want.