Bernie Sanders introduces "Stop BEZOS Act"

[McRocket]

'Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill dubbed the "Stop Bad Employers by Zeroing Out Subsidies Act" or "Stop BEZOS Act" in the Senate Wednesday.

The big picture: The bill would make big companies that employ huge numbers of workers at low wages — like Amazon and Walmart — pay the government for the federal assistance their workers receive.

Timing: Sanders' bill comes one day after Amazon became the second U.S. company, behind Apple, to reach a $1 trillion stock-market valuation.

• Sanders tweeted, "Amazon is worth $1 TRILLION ... Thousands of Amazon workers have to rely on food stamps, Medicaid and public housing to survive. That is what a rigged economy looks like."

Amazon disputed Sanders' assertion that its warehouse employees don't make a living wage and called his arguments "inaccurate and misleading" in a blog post.

Go deeper: Axios' Dan Primack and Felix Salmon discuss the implications of Sanders' move in the Pro Rata Podcast.

Bernie Sanders introduces "Stop BEZOS Act"

This Bill is SOOO stupid. This is why government intervention in the economy is almost ALWAYS disastrous (whether it is this nonsense or Trump's moronic tariffs).

So, this Bill is supposed to force big companies to pay their workers more so that they do not qualify for government assistance and thus allow these corporations to avoid having to reimburse the government for any government assistance these employees receive.

They won't do that.

They will just a) look even harder for automation alternatives; and b) they will make sure they hire only people who will not use government benefits. And they will do this by asking a LOT of personal questions on application forms to try and weed out people who might use government assistance.
So, if you have ever been on government assistance - they probably will not hire you. And if you presently are on government assistance? There is NO WAY IN HELL they will hire you. They won't tell you that's the reason, of course - but that will be what it is.

All this stupid bill will do is make it so, SOOOO much harder for people who are on government assistance to find a job.

Just brilliant Bernie.

 

[McRocket]

Podcast: Bernie Sanders goes after Amazon

From 5:30-7:07 of the above linked podcast explains it very well.


The above podcast largely argues that this Bill is NOTHING but a political gesture by Sanders to jump on the 'hate Amazon' bandwagon.

I hope that is what it is. Because it is, IMO, a terrible idea for a Bill. And the people it will hurt the most is the poor.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

'Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill dubbed the "Stop Bad Employers by Zeroing Out Subsidies Act" or "Stop BEZOS Act" in the Senate Wednesday.

The big picture: The bill would make big companies that employ huge numbers of workers at low wages — like Amazon and Walmart — pay the government for the federal assistance their workers receive.

Timing: Sanders' bill comes one day after Amazon became the second U.S. company, behind Apple, to reach a $1 trillion stock-market valuation.

• Sanders tweeted, "Amazon is worth $1 TRILLION ... Thousands of Amazon workers have to rely on food stamps, Medicaid and public housing to survive. That is what a rigged economy looks like."

Amazon disputed Sanders' assertion that its warehouse employees don't make a living wage and called his arguments "inaccurate and misleading" in a blog post.

Go deeper: Axios' Dan Primack and Felix Salmon discuss the implications of Sanders' move in the Pro Rata Podcast.

Bernie Sanders introduces "Stop BEZOS Act"

This Bill is SOOO stupid. This is why government intervention in the economy is almost ALWAYS disastrous (whether it is this nonsense or Trump's moronic tariffs).

So, this Bill is supposed to force big companies to pay their workers more so that they do not qualify for government assistance and thus allow these corporations to avoid having to reimburse the government for any government assistance these employees receive.

They won't do that.

They will just a) look even harder for automation alternatives; and b) they will make sure they hire only people who will not use government benefits. And they will do this by asking a LOT of personal questions on application forms to try and weed out people who might use government assistance.
So, if you have ever been on government assistance - they probably will not hire you. And if you presently are on government assistance? There is NO WAY IN HELL they will hire you. They won't tell you that's the reason, of course - but that will be what it is.

All this stupid bill will do is make it so, SOOOO much harder for people who are on government assistance to find a job.

Just brilliant Bernie.

Sanders is worth millions and people still go hunger in Vermont. WTF Bernie!?

 

[g5000]

This is why government intervention in the economy is almost ALWAYS disastrous

Government intervention is precisely why the income gap is exploding. The tax code is thoroughly rigged, heavily tilting the playing field toward special interests and the wealthy.

 

[McRocket]

This is why government intervention in the economy is almost ALWAYS disastrous

Government intervention is precisely why the income gap is exploding. The tax code is thoroughly rigged, heavily tilting the playing field toward special interests and the wealthy.

Agreed.

But also corporate bailouts and the Fed HEAVILY angling it's assistance to the wealthy.

The government/Fed - since at least 2001 (2007 for certain) - has done nothing but make the rich-richer, the poor-more numerous and the middle class fewer in number.

Too many people believe that the government is not getting involved enough in the economy and that is why the income gap is widening FAST? Nope. It's the opposite. The government is forcing government/Fed money towards the wealthy at the expense of the rest.

IMO, the government should help the poor a LOT more then they are and just leave the rest alone. And never, EVER bailout a corporation in ANY way or stimulate the equity markets (which basically help only the rich).

I don't agree with higher taxes...and I like the lower corporate taxes. But I am TOTALLY against trickle down economics. Tax the poor not at all and the middle classes less...not the friggin' rich. AND make capital gains (outside of principle residences, maybe) completely equal to income tax rates across the board (which the rich will HATE).

 

[irosie91]

Podcast: Bernie Sanders goes after Amazon

From 5:30-7:07 of the above linked podcast explains it very well.


The above podcast largely argues that this Bill is NOTHING but a political gesture by Sanders to jump on the 'hate Amazon' bandwagon.

I hope that is what it is...because it is, IMO, a terrible idea for a Bill.

how much does Amazon pay? just what sort of job is supposed to support a family consisting of two parents, a stay at home mom and ten children? ----
Is amazon supposed to pay a 36 hour per week clerk-----enough
to support a family of 12 ----with a middle class life-style?

 

[McRocket]

Podcast: Bernie Sanders goes after Amazon

From 5:30-7:07 of the above linked podcast explains it very well.


The above podcast largely argues that this Bill is NOTHING but a political gesture by Sanders to jump on the 'hate Amazon' bandwagon.

I hope that is what it is...because it is, IMO, a terrible idea for a Bill.

how much does Amazon pay? just what sort of job is supposed to support a family consisting of two parents, a stay at home mom and ten children? ----
Is amazon supposed to pay a 36 hour per week clerk-----enough
to support a family of 12 ----with a middle class life-style?

Good point (if I read it right).

There is no law in the Constitution or the UN Charter of Rights that says that a company owes an employee a 'living wage'.

 

[SassyIrishLass]

Crazy Bernie authors crazy shit

 

[Tommy Tainant]

I disagree. Government subsidies allow these huge corporations to under cut smaller businesses. Its a race to the bottom funded by the tax payer.

 

[g5000]

This is what happens when our government becomes owned by special interests. Rather than undo all the legislative advantages given to the special interests, the revolution comes in the form of higher taxes on the rich, or bills like this one.

Since 1978, and adjusted for inflation, American workers have seen an 11.2 percent increase in compensation. During that same period, CEO's have seen a 937 percent increase in earnings.

CEOs make $15.6 million on average—here’s how much their pay has increased compared to yours

 

[g5000]

When you corrupt the capitalist system, as our special interests most definitely have, you open the door wide for the socialists and commies.

Incredibly self-defeating in the long run.

 

[irosie91]

I disagree. Government subsidies allow these huge corporations to under cut smaller businesses. Its a race to the bottom funded by the tax payer.

Government subsidies to WHOM? Are you suggesting that AMAZON functions on
government subsidies? Are you suggesting that a kid that decides to start
having kids at age 16 and ten of them by age 30 has a SPECIAL right to a
middle class life style as an unskilled Amazon clerk? I have a sense that Amazon
has LOTS OF completely unskilled-----kinda crème puff jobs that just do not
reach the level of a house in the 'burbs, a car and ten kids. INSISTING that
doing a job that a 14 year old could do should support all that is going to HELP
the world. Seems to me that it would keep lots of people and lots of small
businesses down. Soda jerk too? What happened to the concept of those
START UP jobs?

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill dubbed the "Stop Bad Employers by Zeroing Out Subsidies Act"

Thousands of Amazon workers have to rely on food stamps, Medicaid and public housing to survive.

I agree, we should stick it to Bezos by ending food stamps, Medicaid and public housing.

Cut government until Bezos screams for mercy.....and then cut government some more!!!

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

This is what happens when our government becomes owned by special interests. Rather than undo all the legislative advantages given to the special interests, the revolution comes in the form of higher taxes on the rich, or bills like this one.

Since 1978, and adjusted for inflation, American workers have seen an 11.2 percent increase in compensation. During that same period, CEO's have seen a 937 percent increase in earnings.

CEOs make $15.6 million on average—here’s how much their pay has increased compared to yours

Since 1978, and adjusted for inflation, American workers have seen an 11.2 percent increase in compensation. During that same period, CEO's have seen a 937 percent increase in earnings.


Bullshit.

CEOs make $15.6 million on average

Double bullshit.

 

[JWBooth]

'Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill dubbed the "Stop Bad Employers by Zeroing Out Subsidies Act" or "Stop BEZOS Act" in the Senate Wednesday.

The big picture: The bill would make big companies that employ huge numbers of workers at low wages — like Amazon and Walmart — pay the government for the federal assistance their workers receive.

Timing: Sanders' bill comes one day after Amazon became the second U.S. company, behind Apple, to reach a $1 trillion stock-market valuation.

• Sanders tweeted, "Amazon is worth $1 TRILLION ... Thousands of Amazon workers have to rely on food stamps, Medicaid and public housing to survive. That is what a rigged economy looks like."

Amazon disputed Sanders' assertion that its warehouse employees don't make a living wage and called his arguments "inaccurate and misleading" in a blog post.

Go deeper: Axios' Dan Primack and Felix Salmon discuss the implications of Sanders' move in the Pro Rata Podcast.

Bernie Sanders introduces "Stop BEZOS Act"

This Bill is SOOO stupid. This is why government intervention in the economy is almost ALWAYS disastrous (whether it is this nonsense or Trump's moronic tariffs).

So, this Bill is supposed to force big companies to pay their workers more so that they do not qualify for government assistance and thus allow these corporations to avoid having to reimburse the government for any government assistance these employees receive.

They won't do that.

They will just a) look even harder for automation alternatives; and b) they will make sure they hire only people who will not use government benefits. And they will do this by asking a LOT of personal questions on application forms to try and weed out people who might use government assistance.
So, if you have ever been on government assistance - they probably will not hire you. And if you presently are on government assistance? There is NO WAY IN HELL they will hire you. They won't tell you that's the reason, of course - but that will be what it is.

All this stupid bill will do is make it so, SOOOO much harder for people who are on government assistance to find a job.

Just brilliant Bernie.

It is as likely to clear committee as Ron Paul’s next bill.

 

[Tommy Tainant]

I disagree. Government subsidies allow these huge corporations to under cut smaller businesses. Its a race to the bottom funded by the tax payer.

Government subsidies to WHOM? Are you suggesting that AMAZON functions on
government subsidies? Are you suggesting that a kid that decides to start
having kids at age 16 and ten of them by age 30 has a SPECIAL right to a
middle class life style as an unskilled Amazon clerk? I have a sense that Amazon
has LOTS OF completely unskilled-----kinda crème puff jobs that just do not
reach the level of a house in the 'burbs, a car and ten kids. INSISTING that
doing a job that a 14 year old could do should support all that is going to HELP
the world. Seems to me that it would keep lots of people and lots of small
businesses down. Soda jerk too? What happened to the concept of those
START UP jobs?

If the state didnt give out all these benefits people couldnt afford to take Bazos crumbs and he would be forced to pay a decent wage. He is leeching off the tax payer. Bernies solution seems very straightforward and a great step forward.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

I disagree. Government subsidies allow these huge corporations to under cut smaller businesses. Its a race to the bottom funded by the tax payer.

Government subsidies to WHOM? Are you suggesting that AMAZON functions on
government subsidies? Are you suggesting that a kid that decides to start
having kids at age 16 and ten of them by age 30 has a SPECIAL right to a
middle class life style as an unskilled Amazon clerk? I have a sense that Amazon
has LOTS OF completely unskilled-----kinda crème puff jobs that just do not
reach the level of a house in the 'burbs, a car and ten kids. INSISTING that
doing a job that a 14 year old could do should support all that is going to HELP
the world. Seems to me that it would keep lots of people and lots of small
businesses down. Soda jerk too? What happened to the concept of those
START UP jobs?

If the state didnt give out all these benefits people couldnt afford to take Bazos crumbs and he would be forced to pay a decent wage. He is leeching off the tax payer. Bernies solution seems very straightforward and a great step forward.

If the state didnt give out all these benefits people couldnt afford to take Bazos crumbs and he would be forced to pay a decent wage.

Excellent point!
I agree, we need to cut out all those benefits.

 

[Tommy Tainant]

I disagree. Government subsidies allow these huge corporations to under cut smaller businesses. Its a race to the bottom funded by the tax payer.

Government subsidies to WHOM? Are you suggesting that AMAZON functions on
government subsidies? Are you suggesting that a kid that decides to start
having kids at age 16 and ten of them by age 30 has a SPECIAL right to a
middle class life style as an unskilled Amazon clerk? I have a sense that Amazon
has LOTS OF completely unskilled-----kinda crème puff jobs that just do not
reach the level of a house in the 'burbs, a car and ten kids. INSISTING that
doing a job that a 14 year old could do should support all that is going to HELP
the world. Seems to me that it would keep lots of people and lots of small
businesses down. Soda jerk too? What happened to the concept of those
START UP jobs?

If the state didnt give out all these benefits people couldnt afford to take Bazos crumbs and he would be forced to pay a decent wage. He is leeching off the tax payer. Bernies solution seems very straightforward and a great step forward.

If the state didnt give out all these benefits people couldnt afford to take Bazos crumbs and he would be forced to pay a decent wage.

Excellent point!
I agree, we need to cut out all those benefits.

No, we need to increase the minimum wage you cretin.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

This is what happens when our government becomes owned by special interests. Rather than undo all the legislative advantages given to the special interests, the revolution comes in the form of higher taxes on the rich, or bills like this one.

Since 1978, and adjusted for inflation, American workers have seen an 11.2 percent increase in compensation. During that same period, CEO's have seen a 937 percent increase in earnings.

CEOs make $15.6 million on average—here’s how much their pay has increased compared to yours

Do you know what a CEO does?

 

[CrusaderFrank]

I disagree. Government subsidies allow these huge corporations to under cut smaller businesses. Its a race to the bottom funded by the tax payer.

Government subsidies to WHOM? Are you suggesting that AMAZON functions on
government subsidies? Are you suggesting that a kid that decides to start
having kids at age 16 and ten of them by age 30 has a SPECIAL right to a
middle class life style as an unskilled Amazon clerk? I have a sense that Amazon
has LOTS OF completely unskilled-----kinda crème puff jobs that just do not
reach the level of a house in the 'burbs, a car and ten kids. INSISTING that
doing a job that a 14 year old could do should support all that is going to HELP
the world. Seems to me that it would keep lots of people and lots of small
businesses down. Soda jerk too? What happened to the concept of those
START UP jobs?

If the state didnt give out all these benefits people couldnt afford to take Bazos crumbs and he would be forced to pay a decent wage. He is leeching off the tax payer. Bernies solution seems very straightforward and a great step forward.

If the state didnt give out all these benefits people couldnt afford to take Bazos crumbs and he would be forced to pay a decent wage.

Excellent point!
I agree, we need to cut out all those benefits.

No, we need to increase the minimum wage you cretin.

Who the fuck is "we" you pretend foreigner?