Politics from the Palouse to Puget Sound

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

More Union Lies

No doubt, you have recently heard how the Democrats, in their "New Direction for America," are talking about raising the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour if they get into power this fall. The unions, always the running lap dogs of the 'Rats, are joining in the fight by disingenuously tying the fight for a higher minimum wage to the Wal-Mart controversy.

From a Wake Up Wal-Mart! propaganda e-mail:
It’s time to raise the minimum wage!

Despite being the richest country in the world, we now have 37 million Americans, including 13 million children, living in poverty. In fact, the poverty rate for full-time, year round workers has increased 50% since the late 1970’s. And, while CEO-pay soars to obscene levels, the minimum wage for America’s workers has fallen to a 50-year low.

It’s outrageous.

But, while the American public overwhelmingly supports raising the minimum wage, big corporations, like Wal-Mart, through its industry lobbyists and right-wing politicians are standing in the way.

That ends today! It’s time to take our country back from billion dollar corporations, like Wal-Mart, and fight for the American people.

Please sign our petition calling on the U.S. Congress to raise the minimum wage:

http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/feature/minwage/
petition.html

Unfortunately, under President Bush and the Republican Party, Wal-Mart and big corporations have been able to use our government to line their own pockets at the expense of the American people.

Rather than stand up for America, Wal-Mart uses its influence to ship our jobs overseas, not provide company health care to more than half of its employees, and pay poverty-level wages. We cannot allow Wal-Mart and corporate America to take our country in the wrong direction.

It’s time to stand up for America’s workers and raise the minimum wage.

Please sign our petition calling on the U.S. Congress to raise the minimum wage:

http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/feature/minwage/
petition.html

As you know, our campaign is not just a fight to change Wal-Mart; it is a fight for what kind of America we want to live in. Raising the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour will benefit 15 million Americans, including 9 million women and 6 million people of color. Don't you just love that? The liberals always love to play the gender and race cards.

Only you have the power to take back America and give America’s workers a raise.

Please take action today,

Paul Blank
http://wakeupwalmart.com
Here's what's outrageous: Paul Blank is lying his ass off. Wal-Mart is in FAVOR of a higher minimum wage.

From an October 25, 2005 CNN/Money story:

Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott said he's urging Congress to consider raising the minimum wage so that Wal-Mart customers don't have to struggle paycheck to paycheck.

Scott told Wal-Mart (Research) directors and executives in a speech Monday that he believes "it is time for Congress to take a look at the minimum wage and other legislation that can help working families."

"The U.S. minimum wage of $5.15 an hour has not been raised in nearly a decade and we believe it is out of date with the times," Scott said. "We can see first-hand at Wal-Mart how many of our customers are struggling to get by. Our customers simply don't have the money to buy basic necessities between pay checks."
Wal-Mart NEVER pays minimum wage to its employees, despite all the lies to the contrary from the unions. Wal-Mart wants a higher minimum wage because it would give it a competitive advantage over other retailers who currently pay minimum wage. You know who would be hurt by a higher minimum wage? The small Mom-and-Pop businesses that Wake Up Wal-Mart! purports to defend, and the entry level/low-skilled workers that would lose employment opportunities. Raising the minimum wage is one of the issues (along with playing the green/sustainability game) with which I strongly disagree with Wal-Mart.

The stinking and divisive hypocrisy of the liberal Democrat/union/left wing "say anything to win" strategy really turns my stomach.

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1 comment:

Scotty said...

It seems there are two ways of EARNING more money an hour. Get better at what you doand maybe even change careers with education... OR have the government raise the minimum wage.

What one seems more socalist to you?