$8 hr new Breadwinner Benchmark for U.S. & No Insurance

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Topher
This is one of the reasons I moved to Canada.

This could be a trend, so how is it being an Ex-American living in Canada? How do the wages compare? Are you happy with the Socialized Medical coverage?

I have known quite a few Canucks that came down this way to live but they are going back too.

 

[Topher]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Topher
This is one of the reasons I moved to Canada.

This could be a trend, so how is it being an Ex-American living in Canada? How do the wages compare? Are you happy with the Socialized Medical coverage?

I have known quite a few Canucks that came down this way to live but they are going back too.

It has it's advantages and disadvantages living in Canada. I was in Australia for 4 years before this and that also had it's advantages and disadvantages. It's really nice having medical coverage as I wouldn't be able to afford it in the US. I've got 2 small kids and until about 2 months ago, didn't even worry about medical coverage, but these last 2 months (since my son started kindergarten) have been one illness after another, if not my son, then my daughter. I don't mind the taxes, as income tax is not much different than the US. It's well worth the money considering I don't have to shell out every time I go the the doctor. The educaitonal system is pretty good, although money was cut back some years ago, and I hope the new government here in Ontario will start to put money back into the schools. Auto insurance is pretty high, but the cost of living is pretty good, so again, it has it's ups and downs. What sucks is having no credit rating, so I have to start all over, and can't even get a credit card.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Topher

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Topher
This is one of the reasons I moved to Canada.

This could be a trend, so how is it being an Ex-American living in Canada? How do the wages compare? Are you happy with the Socialized Medical coverage?

I have known quite a few Canucks that came down this way to live but they are going back too.

It has it's advantages and disadvantages living in Canada. I was in Australia for 4 years before this and that also had it's advantages and disadvantages. It's really nice having medical coverage as I wouldn't be able to afford it in the US. I've got 2 small kids and until about 2 months ago, didn't even worry about medical coverage, but these last 2 months (since my son started kindergarten) have been one illness after another, if not my son, then my daughter. I don't mind the taxes, as income tax is not much different than the US. It's well worth the money considering I don't have to shell out every time I go the the doctor. The educaitonal system is pretty good, although money was cut back some years ago, and I hope the new government here in Ontario will start to put money back into the schools. Auto insurance is pretty high, but the cost of living is pretty good, so again, it has it's ups and downs. What sucks is having no credit rating, so I have to start all over, and can't even get a credit card.

Thanks for your insight and feedback Topher. Hope your children get better soon.

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: rjain
Should workers in Georgia be given jobs New Yorkers now hold because they are willing to work for pennies on the dollar?

Apples and Oranges rjain. When a Company relocates to another state it usually give the employee the option of relocating and keeping their job. I don't have a problem creating employment in places like India or China as long as it isn't at the expense of American Workers. If their is a Shortage of Skill workers here in the US let these Conpanies import those with the skills and pay them what their American Counterparts make instead of paying them next to nothing.

The problem is that the american worker has priced himself out of the game.

American factories are some of the most productive I read a few years back that it takes 3-4 mexican workers in a factory to do the work of one american. We are better at what we do than just about anyone. BUT we are the most expensive and at times we can allow our feeling of entitlement to a job to feed a lazyness that breeds ineffiencency. I work as an electronics tech in MN, I repair audiology equiptment (hearing testing). One of the places I had to go with my last job was the ford plant in st. Paul. They build ford rangers there. The nurse gave me a little tour of the plant and the number of people standing around was amazing. They had back-up for the back-ups it seemed. When I asked her about it she said that the union had determained the number of workers for each station, and they were required to have say 3 guys on that station. If they employed a new process to allow just one worker to do the job that was too bad they still needed to employ three.

Another client was Northwest Airlines, specifically dealing with the maintanece workers. Now I really don't like that union anyways due to the fact that even though I have enough Aviation maintnace hours to be a jorneyman I can not take the test or even work because I haven't attended the FAA courses. But I was discussing the "plight of the union" with one mechanics. He was complaining that they were laying people off because of the war in Iraq. There was a provision in the unionm contract that the only time that NWA could fire mechanics was in a time of war. NWA was overmanned by about 20% Before the war. I asked him about this overmanning and if he felt he worked for eight hours and he told me that NWA had more people than they needed BUT it was there fault for buying new planes AND for hiring Mechanics. "You can't fire them now that you've hired them"

Now for benifits. Since when did health coverage become an entitlement. If you want free health insurance join the military. At my new job I pay about 200 a month for EVERYTHING (Health, dental, disability, life. AD&D. the works) for me and my family. I am grateful that my comapny is willing to help with this expense. It definately played a roll in me execpting the position. How many people havbe actually inquired about Private health insurance? IT is a BENIFIT not an entitlement. At my last job I was paying about 700 a month FOR MEDICAL ONLY. so I understand that this an exception value. But it is a BENIFIT not an entitlement.

I am fairly happy with my current coverage as I was with my last coverage (other than the cost) BUT I don't ant any government agency telling my company what they must provide in the way of health coverage. it should be at the employers descretion. You cvan choose not to work there or use that comapnies service/products. It called a free market. Not only does the prover of services have the right to provide them in the most cost effective ways they can YOU as a consumer have the right to prurcvhase whatever products/service that you want or don't. I know a guy that refuses to do bussiness with Bank of America because they provide same sex partners with health benifits. He is an idiot BUT he is exercising HIS RIGHT on who he will engage in bussiness with. That is the way the free market works. IF walmart was to give all of it's employees and their families FREE health care you would see a dramatic rise in prices at your local walmart. Couple that with the fact they are paying their cashiers less than say VON'S and Walmart just got up there in price. ALso that whole stock thing would have to go away as they wouldn't beable to afford it.

My wife and my mother in law BOTH work for Walmart. BOTH are eligble for benifits. My MIL is full time and gets FULL coverage medical for her and her 18 Year old son. My wife is only part time and is able to get medical for herself only, but because I have great coverage she chooses not to. There is a cost involved BUT it is minimal compared to the actual cost of priovate insurance. Both are paid a small amout over what the local KMART pays and what target pays. My wife is involved in the stock program and they have a pretty good match on that.

I have reviewed the benifits package and to be perfectly honest it is better that what was required under a government contract I worked under after I got out of the navy.

Walmart assiociates should not be the breawinner for a household. If you are working at walmart trying to support two kids and a wife you have made some bad choices along the way somewhere. IT isn't Walmarts fault and If you decide to quit walmart will hire someone else for 8.50 an hour and move on. The best cashier isn't worth 20 bucks an hour because they don't provide that big of an increase over the average cashier at 8.50 an hour.

At my last job we were judged on revenue we produced and payeds accordingly. There was a greater value to my employer to have me over an average tech with nocustomer skills. However when I began to question the way we did bussiness the owner felt that value was no longer there so he fired me. They now are losing bussiness BECAUSE I AM NOT THERE. they made a mistake and are now paying for it on the bopttom line (much to my glee). The service I provided for my employer was one that is not easily replaced. You don't shop at walmart because of a certain cashier and they may or may not influence your spending habits. Therefore that employees value is the cost to hire someone else no more no less. If there are people out of work willing to do the job for less you have very little leverage. If you feel you are underpayed than go get a new job. IF you are underpayed than there must besomeone who will hire you for more money. If youi can't find someone who will hire you for more money than you aren't underpayed.

 

[Red Dawn]

Now for benifits. Since when did health coverage become an entitlement.

It's not, it's part of negotiated terms for compensation for working for the employer (if he offers it.)

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Now for benifits. Since when did health coverage become an entitlement.

It's not, it's part of negotiated terms for compensation for working for the employer (if he offers it.)

Well red most of the people here seem to think a company is evil if they don't.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: tm37

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Now for benifits. Since when did health coverage become an entitlement.

It's not, it's part of negotiated terms for compensation for working for the employer (if he offers it.)

Well red most of the people here seem to think a company is evil if they don't.

LOL, then I've worked for a bunch of Evil Companies in my life

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: tm37

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Now for benifits. Since when did health coverage become an entitlement.

It's not, it's part of negotiated terms for compensation for working for the employer (if he offers it.)

Well red most of the people here seem to think a company is evil if they don't.

What's "evil" is the lack of Health Insurance, not who fails to provide it. "Socialized" Healthcare has some advantages that few see, one of those advantages is to remove the responsibility for Health Insurance Coverage from Employers, lowering their costs and simplifying their red tape.

I suspect you may reply with, "It's not my obligation to pay(through taxes)for someone elses Healthcare". To that I would ask, "What if by doing so it helps to stem the flow of labour to foreign countries? What if that Healthcare system makes the US Worker competitive enough not to lose their jobs?

 

[rjain]

I'm not opposed to some socialized standard minimum healthcare coverage (but only a very minimum amount, mostly covering expsensive drugs and hospitalization/surgery). I think there should still be more comprehensive coverage available for a fee, but it shouldn't be the only option. I don't see how giving healthcare coverage those who don't work full time will make our workforce more competitive.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: sandorski

Originally posted by: tm37

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Now for benifits. Since when did health coverage become an entitlement.

It's not, it's part of negotiated terms for compensation for working for the employer (if he offers it.)

Well red most of the people here seem to think a company is evil if they don't.

What's "evil" is the lack of Health Insurance, not who fails to provide it. "Socialized" Healthcare has some advantages that few see, one of those advantages is to remove the responsibility for Health Insurance Coverage from Employers, lowering their costs and simplifying their red tape.

I suspect you may reply with, "It's not my obligation to pay(through taxes)for someone elses Healthcare". To that I would ask, "What if by doing so it helps to stem the flow of labour to foreign countries? What if that Healthcare system makes the US Worker competitive enough not to lose their jobs?

By paying for it in Taxes? Have you taken a look at how HUGE our gov't bureaucracies are lately? I for one don't want some huge gov't telling me what I can and can't have done if I am sick.
No one has yet to prove that it would lower costs without lowering standard of care, until they prove that I will be 100% against full blown UHC. Now again - I *might* support some base coverage type thing but again - once the gov't gets - they keep wanting more. I'd be highly skeptical.

CkG

 

[rjain]

Maybe it will be determined that the manufaturers of precursors to some heart medications fund terrorism, and all heart medications will lose their coverage...

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: sandorski

Originally posted by: tm37

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Now for benifits. Since when did health coverage become an entitlement.

It's not, it's part of negotiated terms for compensation for working for the employer (if he offers it.)

Well red most of the people here seem to think a company is evil if they don't.

What's "evil" is the lack of Health Insurance, not who fails to provide it. "Socialized" Healthcare has some advantages that few see, one of those advantages is to remove the responsibility for Health Insurance Coverage from Employers, lowering their costs and simplifying their red tape.

I suspect you may reply with, "It's not my obligation to pay(through taxes)for someone elses Healthcare". To that I would ask, "What if by doing so it helps to stem the flow of labour to foreign countries? What if that Healthcare system makes the US Worker competitive enough not to lose their jobs?

It is very easy to see the advantages of socialized health care. Unfortunatley there is no universal health care system in place that gives people a better or even equal care as to what I have today. Or what I have had for the last 10 years of my life for that matter.

Hell there is no universal health care system that provides the level of coverage that even full time walmart employees can recieve should they choose to participate.

I for one do NOT want a government agency to determain what should be covered and what should not. If you don't have coverage there are low cost options in most states. Californias MEDI-CAL system allows people to cover there childern for a spit. And if you don't have coverage why the hell do you have kids?

Americans really need to tighten our belts and do whats right for all of us. That is to REWARD thoose that choose to work hard AND develope skills that are useful in the workplace.

We also need to be more willing to move as jobs move. I left california because of the lack of work. It's true that you can't live on 10 bucks an hour in SOCAL but you can in albert lea, MN or many small towns in Northern Iowa. Sure the weather isn't as nice but if you choose to not have job skills then living in a desireable place may not be the best idea for you.

 

[MrColin]

You get better medical service if you pay your own way. Sock all that cash you would waste on insurance/HMO (Hand the Money Over) premiums. If everyone did this the prices would eventually go down for health coverage and more employers would be able to offer it.