ChaosRocket
シゲサト姫
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2003
- Messages
- 396
- Reaction score
- 0
My final in one of my classes is that I have to have a discussion with people and make them aware of some of the issues we've talked about in class, and then write a paper on it. So the professor said we're allowed to do it by making a post online, so that's what I'm doing since I have very few people I talk to in real life.
So please become aware of these issues and discuss them so that I have something to write about in my paper:
In America poverty is increasing, the middle class is making less money, and the gap between the rich and poor is widening. Of course, CEOs make hundereds and hundereds of times more than hourly workers. But their pay also increases at a much faster rate than the shares in thier companies. Even in bad years for the economy, when shares are going down, the salary of CEOs goes up. The lower and the middle class are the ones that feel the pain when there is a recession, not the rich. While hourly workers get pay and benefit cuts to make up for a bad economy, the company will raise the already huge salaries of CEOs, as well as loan them large amounts of money to buy stocks.
The stores with the cheapest products often have the worst track records for the way they treat their employees. The 99 Cent Store was accused of exploiting workers by forcing them to work 24 hour shifts with no overtime pay. Workers suffered verbal abuse and threats of losing their jobs if they complained about working conditions.
Wal*Mart runs sweat shops and even in developed countries pays its workers far less than a living wage. It is also accused of having the worst track record for advancing women of any major retailer and having a pervasive pattern of discriminating against women. The managers are taught to use the supposed "open-door grievance policy" as a way to identify troublemakers. Employees are also taught that unions are bad and can get in trouble for even discussing them.
The wealthiest 1% of Americans holds 38% of the wealth. The richest 20% hold 83% of the wealth. About one out of every 8 people lives below the official poverty line. The US has one of the highest ratios between rich and poor in the industrialized world.
Class mobility is very low in the US. Most people born into poverty do not have access to a good education. A majority of wealthy people were born wealthy and inherited money.
So please become aware of these issues and discuss them so that I have something to write about in my paper:
In America poverty is increasing, the middle class is making less money, and the gap between the rich and poor is widening. Of course, CEOs make hundereds and hundereds of times more than hourly workers. But their pay also increases at a much faster rate than the shares in thier companies. Even in bad years for the economy, when shares are going down, the salary of CEOs goes up. The lower and the middle class are the ones that feel the pain when there is a recession, not the rich. While hourly workers get pay and benefit cuts to make up for a bad economy, the company will raise the already huge salaries of CEOs, as well as loan them large amounts of money to buy stocks.
The stores with the cheapest products often have the worst track records for the way they treat their employees. The 99 Cent Store was accused of exploiting workers by forcing them to work 24 hour shifts with no overtime pay. Workers suffered verbal abuse and threats of losing their jobs if they complained about working conditions.
Wal*Mart runs sweat shops and even in developed countries pays its workers far less than a living wage. It is also accused of having the worst track record for advancing women of any major retailer and having a pervasive pattern of discriminating against women. The managers are taught to use the supposed "open-door grievance policy" as a way to identify troublemakers. Employees are also taught that unions are bad and can get in trouble for even discussing them.
The wealthiest 1% of Americans holds 38% of the wealth. The richest 20% hold 83% of the wealth. About one out of every 8 people lives below the official poverty line. The US has one of the highest ratios between rich and poor in the industrialized world.
Class mobility is very low in the US. Most people born into poverty do not have access to a good education. A majority of wealthy people were born wealthy and inherited money.
