Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 07:56:48 -0800
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Subject: Fw: Fwd: Why work?
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We have to raise the minimum wage so it can keep up with welfare!
No matter your politics, the following needs attention.
THE WORK ETHIC WE INHERITED GROWING UP HAS FALLEN PREY TO THE 'WELFARE' SYSTEM
The Cato Institute released an updated 2013 study (original study in 1955) showing that welfare benefits pay more than a minimum wage job in 33 states and the District of Columbia. Even worse, welfare pays more than $15 per hour in 13 states.According to the study, welfare benefits have increased faster than minimum wage. It’s now more profitable to sit at home than it is to earn an honest day’s pay.
Hawaii is the biggest offender, where welfare recipients earn $29.13 per hour, or a $60,590 yearly salary, all for doing nothing. Here is the list of the states where the pre-tax equivalent “salary” that welfare recipients receive is higher than having a job:
1. Hawaii: $60,590
2. District of Columbia: $50,820
3. Massachusetts: $50,540
4. Connecticut: $44,370
5. New York: $43,700
6. New Jersey: $43,450
7. Rhode Island: $43,330
8. Vermont: $42,350
9. New Hampshire: $39,750
10. Maryland: $38,160
11. California: $37,160
12. Oregon: $34,300
13. Wyoming: $32,620
14. Nevada: $29,820
15. Minnesota: $29,350
16. Delaware: $29,220
17. Washington: $28,840
18. North Dakota: $28,830
19. Pennsylvania: $28,670
20. New Mexico: $27,900
21. Montana: $26,930
22. South Dakota: $26,610
23. Kansas: $26,490
24. Michigan: $26,430
25. Alaska: $26,400
26. Ohio: $26,200
27. North Carolina: $25,760
28. West Virginia: $24,900
29. Alabama: $23,310
30. Indiana: $22,900
31. Missouri: $22,800
32. Oklahoma: $22,480
33. Louisiana: $22,250
34. South Carolina: $21,910
As a point of reference the average Middle Class annual income today is $50,000, down from $54,000 at the beginning of the Great Recession. Hawaii, DC, and Massachusetts pay more in welfare than the average working folks earn there. Is it any wonder that they stay home rather than look for a job? Time for a drastic change. America is virtually bankrupt.
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5 comments:
All bullshit, of course. But I love this quote:
"According to the study, welfare benefits have increased faster than minimum wage."
The sad thing that wingnuts look at a quote like this (real or not) and think "wow, that's outrageous, we ought to cut welfare!" instead of "wow, that's terrible, we ought to increase the minimum wage."
[Citation Needed]
Boom.
http://scientopia.org/blogs/authority/2013/08/21/no-cato-welfare-doesnt-pay-more-than-minimum-wage/
And anyone who thinks minimum wage is bad and isn't a millionaire - buddy, you need to think a little harder and stop letting your TV think for you.
Even if it did, do you know what the cost of living in Hawaii and DC is like? We live in a 1940s one-bedroom apartment in Alexandria, VA, pay $1150 per month, and are considered lucky.
Speaking just to the section about the current salaries and alleged pensions of various elected officials -->>
Duly noted that this lying screed makes mention of public school teachers' and enlisted personnel salaries to highlight, I guess, how poorly they're paid in comparison to Fed. Pol.
That's rightwing cognitive dissonance for you cuz I thought Public School Teachers (along with most public servants, like the PD, fire fighters, etc) are currently the scourge of the earth and should be paid less than minimum wage or something because... ???
I'm not sure of the accuracy of the US Pres getting a pension of $180K for life but that's probably close. Who cares? Frankly, that's peanuts.
Yet again, this is a giant sucking *distraction* from the REALITY of the revolving door in Wash DC. The US Pres leaves office and will get paid million$ over the rest of his/her lifetime via various speaking fees, consulting fees, outright bribes and so on.
Most US fed politicians leave office via the revolving door and land highly lucrative jobs on K Street in Wash DC or in "think" tanks or in academia, where they often bring down giant salaries with lots of benefits.... all the better to influence future legislation that inures to the benefit of the 1%, while seeking ways to further rip off and impoverish the 99%.
And yes, Fed. Politicians DO get free health care for life (I believe that they may have to serve a certain amount of time to get this benefit) for themselves and their spouse.
WHY do they? And why do rightwingers violently oppose such notions as Medicare for All, or a Public Option??
Why do they see someone getting a "good deal" but then want to use that as an excuse to make things WORSE for everyone... rather than using that as a MODEL for making things BETTER for everyone??
Rhetorical Questions, I know, but Qs that everyone should consider.
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