let's talk about McDonald's now McDonald's has taken a lot of criticism
lately
for the less then then living wage
wages that they pay their employees and
we've heard a lot of defenses at McDonalds from a
right-wingers we say McDonald compare whatever they want mcdonald's is a
profitable private company
if people don't want to work there for the wages they pay they can just go
somewhere else
and it would be counterproductive in bad for the economy and not fiscally
conservative to impose a higher minimum wage we've heard these refrains very
very often
and we've explored them in detail and now we have a fascinating phone call
remember Nancy Salgado Louis the woman who was arrested
just a week or two ago for confronting the McDonalds president about low wages
and benefits
she was brought in to make a phone call to the McDonalds helpline I forget
exactly what the name it is it's
a you know neck assistance well I don't remember what it is but there's a
helpline that McDonald's employees can call
and she's calling to complain that you just can't afford basic things with her
low wages
and they suggest brace yourselves for this they suggest
getting food stamps and Medicaid government-provided
benefits listen to a little bit on the phone call he agree so if I can help you
hi I'm Nancy I wanted my information
about them up that any I can give you my number
that will be helpful you can ask about things like
food pantries are you on I'm nap
nap is supplemental nutritional assistance food stamps
right do you have kids yeah yes ok it's
yeah some you would most likely be eligible for
SNAP benefits you know my shameful any not out there
you know it's a federal program federal money comes down to the states and the
states administer it
right now what about like the doctor and he didn't try to get on
medicaid medicaid is a federal program that
health coverage for low-income are no income
adult okay let's stop it right there in full disclosure
these are excerpts from this phone call which were edited together
I by bye bye I think by the organization that arranged the call
let's let's take a step back for a second and really analyze the situation
here with these
low-wage paying large corporations fiscal conservatism
um and and federal benefits conservatives created yeah go ahead
small government data and small government of course
so Lewis conservatives will criticize
those who want higher wages saying
the companies have built the self reliant businesses
they should be able to pay whatever they want and they are adding to the economy
not taking away their completely self sufficient in every way
people say corporate taxes should be lower because these businesses add so
much to the economy
then they are recommending on their official helpline
that because their employees earn such low wages
that they get food stamps and Medicaid both
from the government McDonald's employees
essentially have incomes subsidized
by the government and without those benefits the wages mcdonald's pays
would be even more unsustainable as living wages
its it's amazing to me and for those who think it is fiscally conservative
to have lower no minimum wages look at what happens right you have no
you want no minimum wage they also would want no food stamps they would want no
medicaid
that's a recipe for a
increased homelessness increased crime all the things conservatives don't want
either because they don't want their property values going down or
because they already have preconceived notions about what groups are
participating in the crime
it's just amazing when you take a step back mcdonald's
as a private in enterprise is highly subsidized by the government because
the government providing food stamps and Medicaid
as McDonald well knows and recommends is what is allowing in their employees
to continue working there for those meager wages
and still living it it's just amazing this is incredible you've got
a corporation hitting the government against the people
both of whom were going broke and who is reaping all the profit well of course
this this corporation this just dominating everything
its it's amazing and we just don't forget this story when you hear
all the talking points around minimum wage in living wage