Bill Moyers: Low-Wage Employers Are the Real ‘Welfare Queens’

[Scuba]

http://billmoyers.com/2014/10/19/low-wage-employers-real-welfare-queens/

The federal minimum wage of $7.25 is now worth 30 percent less than it was in the 1960s, after adjusting for inflation. It is quite literally a poverty wage — if you support a child, working full-time at the federal minimum will land you $650 below the federal poverty line; supporting two kids will put you more than $4,000 beneath it.

We’ve noted before that low-wage employers shift some of their labor costs onto the backs of taxpayers by encouraging their workers to apply for public benefits. These employers are the true “welfare queens,” their profits indirectly subsidized by the public, which allows them to keep prices artificially low. We’ve argued in the past that this is one of several reasons why conservatives who oppose spending on the social safety net should favor raising the minimum to a point where workers can get by on their own labor.

A report released this week by the Economic Policy Institute quantifies just how much taxpayers would save by raising the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, as Barack Obama has proposed. The full report can be downloaded at the Economic Policy Institute’s website. Here’s an infographic that summarizes its findings..

[el_bryanto]

1. Really good point - unfortunate title

Welfare Queens - the phrase - is to plant in peoples minds the idea that these people on welfare don't deserve their money. But I would argue that the people do merit this increase in their wages.

Bryant

[dsc]

2. employers not employees

I read it that way the first time as well.

[shenmue]

3. In the 1950s, my grandfather earned maybe 17K a year

That would equal probably 50-60K today.

Last year, I made about $14K. In today's money. And it's been that way for a lot of years.

[DallasNE]

7. Your Grandfather Would Have Been Making About $8.15 An Hour And Been In The Top 1%

A typical worker made about $1.65 and hour in 1960 or roughly $3,500 for the year. Minimum wage was $1.25 per hour. 17k adjusted for inflation would be roughly 200k today.

[shenmue]

8. Okay

Fair enough. I stand corrected.

[Pharaoh]

4. I think those that oppose raising the minimum wage

should have to live on it for 3 months...............

[shenmue]

9. Ding

[marmar]

5. K/R

Thank goodness for Bill Moyers, Amy Goodman et all.

[cstanleytech]

6. Its not just the amount paid per hour thats the problem its the short hours to.

You can be paid 10 bucks an hour but if your employer screws you over with 12 hours only per week your still bringing home a poverty level wage.

[rufus dog]

10. LOL, had to read it twice

first thought was, what the hell is wrong with Moyers!? Employers, not Employees!

[appalachiablue]

11. Moyers is the best. I believe he's planning to end the program this winter after keeping it going

the last few years due to demand. I get emails of the programs- topics so well selected, expressed and produced. He's given us much, will miss him indeed.

[indepat]

12. The truism that low-wage employers are the real welfare queens needs to be aired as a public

service message daily by every media outlet regulated by the FCC.