Committee approves Wal-Mart health bill

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=c441cc83ed802815&cat=3a8a80d6f705f8cc

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A bill that would require Wal-Mart to spend at least 10 percent of its Kentucky payroll on employee health insurance cleared a House committee yesterday, but the measure could face difficulty later.

The House Banking and Insurance Committee voted 15-4 in favor of the bill, with three members abstaining.



Several members who voted for the bill said they have concerns, including its singling out one company. Some said they might vote differently when the bill comes before the full House.

"It has a rough, bumpy road ahead, to say the least," said Rep. J.R. Gray, D-Benton, the measure's co-sponsor.

The bill doesn't mention Wal-Mart, but it applies only to for-profit companies that have more than 25,000 employees in Kentucky. The bill would not apply to government or non-profit employers.

more...
This is not just Kentucky Maryland and other states are doing this too...

[Selatius]

1. Capitalism doesn't require one has to provide for one's workers

A worker, in the lowest denominator, is simply somebody working to make you more money. In a way, this is no different than the feudal lords of Europe. The only difference is that one couldn't leave the land without being punished. There was no health care or pension benefits, but it didn't stop the feudal lords from holding power through centuries of darkness.

From a right-libertarian free-marketeer perspective, this is government interference with the markets that's unwarranted. Health care and pensions are things that should be left up to the free-markets to decide. From a more right-authoritarian corporatist perspective, this should be taken as a threat to corporate independence, and any and all means should be taken to neuter states from even attempting to do this. Power should then be vested more in corporate entities to determine these "internal issues" and the federal government that serves these corporations.

From my perspective, I believe in capitalism the same way I believe in nuclear power: It should be a force that is regulated, chained, bottled, and contained, or it will destroy everything it touches. If that is not possible, then I believe it is the natural right of all people to willingly choose, if such a time comes, to attack, uproot, and destroy such a threat to humanity by any means deemed fit by the people.

[sandnsea]

3. So the choices are

Let the corporations rule, and then when they're fucking you over to the point you can't take it anymore, attack, uproot and destroy them.

Good plan, makes so much sense. :eyes:

We're PEOPLE. Self rule means we can decide to do any old thing WE want. Logical self government would seem to mean that we make the rules to serve and benefit US. That means we regulate the safety of products sold. We insist products are sold with the truth. We regulate the conditions people work in and base pay, to prevent races to the bottom. And it means we can regulate health benefits, if WE want to. Because it's not about some textbook theory, it's about making a decent place to live for US, for WE the PEOPLE.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. I think you got that wrong

Corporations were first given life under the law when their purpose was to enrich a community, as well as allow a group of investors to make a profit. The potential threat of corporate tyranny was seen by most of the Founders as well as supportive critics like de Tocqueville and Mill and Goethe.

They quickly grew out of control like some infernal cannibalistic form of Kudzu. It's time to sharpen the gardening implements and prune them back. Demanding royalties on the value of corporate charters is one way; requiring the insuring of one's workforce is another. Such regulation ought to be a matter of law. If this is cause for eye-rolling, it's going to take a hell of an ophthalmologist to fix it.

Just because a proposal isn't worded to your liking doesn't mean it advocates more tyranny.

--p!

[sandnsea]

12. "Right-Libertarian Free-Marketer Perspective"

That's what the post said.

"From a right-libertarian free-marketeer perspective, this is government interference with the markets that's unwarranted...."

And if the capitalist free market becomes unmanageable, burn it to the ground and start over.

I'd prefer a few more options.

[Dogmudgeon]

18. This wasn't a proposal -- it was retrospective

Giving a perspective of the opposition is far from advocating their goals. It's common in political advocacy to admit those perspectives. Their proponants will be the ones advancing in their war machine.

It's a polite and scholarly way of saying, "I already know how you are going to argue when you start whining, so don't even try it. Your alternative to responsibility is annihilation. Choose wisely."

This is a rhetorical device -- not capitulation.

The Right will certainly make hay of reducing the privilege of the Corporation, and Selatius described two of the explanatory strategies in common use. His proposal was to require corporate responsibility, which is at odds with rightist programs.

Selatius may have other, more extensive commentary, but that's what I read from it. It was a short, pithy piece of advocacy writing. He's "one of us", even though he recognizes the presence of adversaries who will certainly try to scuttle any plans we have to rein in the Corporation. And they wont't be nearly as rational as you, me, or Selatius.

--p!

[Selatius]

11. Wow, how disingenuous of you to use a false dichotomy

Let the corporations rule, and then when they're fucking you over to the point you can't take it anymore, attack, uproot and destroy them.

Good plan, makes so much sense.

Reread what I had said again:

"From my perspective, I believe in capitalism the same way I believe in nuclear power: It should be a force that is regulated, chained, bottled, and contained, or it will destroy everything it touches. If that is not possible, then I believe it is the natural right of all people to willingly choose, if such a time comes, to attack, uproot, and destroy such a threat to humanity by any means deemed fit by the people."

You might want to think things through and comprehend what the person said next time; otherwise, you'll end up looking like a damn fool.

[sandnsea]

13. And before that

"From a right-libertarian free-marketeer perspective, this is government interference with the markets that's unwarranted."

And on from there. Libertarianism is the very political system that would make it Not Possible to regulate the "free market". So it would seem your only other choice would be to "attack, uproot and destroy".

[Selatius]

14. Again, reread my post

By putting up positions only folks like Milton Friedman and other free-marketeers would espouse vs. the positions of corporatists who do favor gov't intervention in the markets if it will benefit them (corporate welfare), I was attempting to point out how starkly different their positions were from mine, which was summed in IN MY LAST PARAGRAPH.

[sandnsea]

15. Okay then

It sure didn't sound that way to me. But you wrote it, so you obviously knew what you meant! :)

[Dogmudgeon]

4. Here, here!

Well said, Old Bean!

:evilgrin:

Three of the most effective paragraphs I've ever read here at old DU. Congratulations!

--p!

[napi21]

2. I sure hope it passes in KY & MD. That's an indication that the common

people are finally getting to their legislature!!!

Two Red states are a very good start! If it succeeds there, you know it will spread like a fire through the rest of the States! WM & companies like them are paying substandard wages and the states are having to support the health care of their employees. They don't like that!

[momster]

6. In Maryland

It passed, Bobby E. vetoed it, this session the legislature overturned the veto. At the moment, it's hanging a bit because Wally-Mart is going to try to block it in the courts. But it will be law soon -- but I still won't shop there.

[saigon68]

7. They are thugs strip mining the pockets of the poor

[Divernan]

9. Walmart aims to destroy all other grocery chains.

In the Pittsburgh area, a huge Walmart has recently opened, about 20 miles east of town, on Route 28. Now Walmart is planning to put up smaller Walmarts at every exit from Route 28, to drive the local groceries out of business, at which time, Walmart can close the smaller Walmarts and force everyone to shop at the mega Walmart. One Western PA chain, Giant Eagle, has laid off most of its managers making more than $35,000/yr., and transferred their duties to lesser paid employees. Giant Eagle's business is off 20 percent, just from the existing Walmarts, and will be hurt more as additional Walmarts open.

[napi21]

10. Your post really caught my eye! I lived in Glenshaw, and my

husband worked for Giant Eagle in several of their stores. (Fox Chapel, Rt.8, etc.)

We now live in Ga. and he is a meat cutter for Publix.

You're right, it IS WM's plan to become the ONLY grocery store, but it isn't working here in Ga! About 2 1/2 years ago, Publix was quite concerned because a giant Super WM was being built about 3 miles up the road. They were aware they couldn't match their pricing, and what was going to happen. Well, Publix is doing just fine! People tried shopping at WM when it first opened, but quickly realized that the service was non-existant, the produce was rotting the day after it was purchased, and the store was so poorly laid out it took forever to complete your shopping.

2 1/2 years later, both businesses seem to be doing just fine surviving together in the same town.

My guess is that Giant Eagle, AND Shop & Save (if they are still a major grocer there) need to concentrate on THEIR CUSTOMERS by providing the products they WANT, selling top quality products, and get back to the basic phylosophy of retail..."the CUSTOMER isthe MOST important thing in your store!" The model WM uses cannot compete with that!

[bjb]

17. Your post caught my eye

My husband is also a meat cutter but he wasn't as fortunate as yours. When the Super Walmart was built it didn't take more than one year for the independent supermarket to go under. He is now working only three days a week. It is wonderful to be going back wards when you are in your fifties!

[napi21]

20. Do you want to move? Publix is hunting for experienced meat cutters!

North Ga. is a nice place, and the RE taxes are a lot less than PA! You do have to look for liberals around here, but they are here!

I tried to send you a private message, but you don't have enough posts on DU and it won't let me do that. I'm a brave person, but not quite brave enough to list my personal email address here!:7


I've been trying to figure out how to contact you or give you a way to contact me, but I haven't found a way yet. I'll keep thinking and try to let you know.

[momster]

8. Maryland Red?

Only our Governor and Lt. Gov are Republican and that's because our last Dem Gov was a trifle too arrogant (after what we've seen lately of the hubris of Governor Erhlich, Parris Glendening looks like an 'umble soul) and the Kennedy-Townsend people ran a ghastly campaign. But the majority in the House of Delegates and Senate are Democrats, both our Fed Senators are Democrats (Mikulski and Sarbanes, though Sarbanes is retiring), and, among others, we have one of the best young Representatives in the County, Chris Van Hollen -- alas, that he should have been born in Sri Lanka or the 'Chris for President' bumpersticker would already be on the car!

Some areas of the state -- Eastern Shore -- are red but not enough to turn the whole state.

[denverbill]

16. How long before Congress prohibits states from doing this?

My guess is this year.

[drm604]

19. Either that

or Wal-Mart will fight it all the way to the Supreme Court, which may very well rule in favor of Wal-Mart.

I don't want to see that happen, but if it did it might actually be for the best in the long run. These bills are popular and more and more states are trying to pass them. If SCOTUS or Congress tries to stop it, then the states may amend the constitution to weaken corporations and to explicitly give federal and state governments the power to regulate them for the good of the people.

[Solon]

21. The people are losing patience with these vultures we call corporations...

I think people are waking up to the fact that corporations only exist at the sufferance of the people through government, not the other way around.