Is Ted Cruz Satan? Discuss.

[Not Bob]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

What a heart-warming story about immigrant entrepreneurs!

There are just so many outrageous things in this story - let's start with the Department of Labor. It doesn't (because it can't or won't) do any meaningful enforcement, then engages in months of foot-dragging before releasing public data to the Times showing how pitiful its efforts were. But they don't have enough investigators in general, and enough who speak Korean or Cantonese or whatever in particular, to do their job, so it's hard to be too pissed at them.

And how about the Mercedes-driving predators who pay so little (and charge their victims a fee of $100 for the privilege of being underpaid) and impose such long hours and exercise so much control that one can't help but think of the 13th Amendment?

Or those of us who only think "hey, $10 for a pedicure! Awesome!" and who demand that the store replace our Prada sandals when nail varnish is spilled on them?

Or, people like me, who know better about things, but pretend not to realize that someone is getting very screwed when I pay a mere $10 for a service that takes 30 minutes. Sure, I like the way my soles feel after a pedi (not to mention the look of MAC Dark Angel on my toes), but I really need to remember the actual cost of it.

I am so angry about this. And I want to throw this story in the face of every smug bastard who, with a straight face, can talk about how terrible it is that we want to get poor people fired when we propose raising the minimum wage or enacting some legislation or regulation to protect workers.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Not Bob

There are just so many outrageous things in this story - let's start with the Department of Labor. It doesn't (because it can't or won't) do any meaningful enforcement, then engages in months of foot-dragging before releasing public data to the Times showing how pitiful its efforts were. But they don't have enough investigators in general, and enough who speak Korean or Cantonese or whatever in particular, to do their job, so it's hard to be too pissed at them.

And how about the Mercedes-driving predators who pay so little (and charge their victims a fee of $100 for the privilege of being underpaid) and impose such long hours and exercise so much control that one can't help but think of the 13th Amendment?

Or those of us who only think "hey, $10 for a pedicure! Awesome!" and who demand that the store replace our Prada sandals when nail varnish is spilled on them?

Or, people like me, who know better about things, but pretend not to realize that someone is getting very screwed when I pay a mere $10 for a service that takes 30 minutes. Sure, I like the way my soles feel after a pedi (not to mention the look of MAC Dark Angel on my toes), but I really need to remember the actual cost of it.

I am so angry about this. And I want to throw this story in the face of every smug bastard who, with a straight face, can talk about how terrible it is that we want to get poor people fired when we propose raising the minimum wage or enacting some legislation or regulation to protect workers.

You're looking at it wrong. At these labor rates, you could hire your favorite pedicurist full time, have them at your beck and call, and still pay them twice what one of these shops are paying. Invite your clients over for pedicures.

But of course, everyone time one shops at Walmart, you're encouraging this sort of thing, not just went you grab the $10 special from the pedicurist down the alley.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

So I'm back to thinking we need to swap Texas for Scotland. We'll all be happier. We'll have lunatics we like instead of lunatics with guns and they'll have oil and Tories.

Eh, it's the last month of the legislative session. I'm assuming that this whole invasion thing is a distraction from something actually harmful to the residents of this state.

Thank god these assholes only meet for four months every other year.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

You're looking at it wrong. At these labor rates, you could hire your favorite pedicurist full time, have them at your beck and call, and still pay them twice what one of these shops are paying. Invite your clients over for pedicures.

But of course, everyone time one shops at Walmart, you're encouraging this sort of thing, not just went you grab the $10 special from the pedicurist down the alley.

Now is when I smile smugly about never having gotten a pedicure and never shopping at Walmart.

(You just keep your mouth shut about how Target and every clothing retailer does the same stuff).

[Not Bob]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

You're looking at it wrong. At these labor rates, you could hire your favorite pedicurist full time, have them at your beck and call, and still pay them twice what one of these shops are paying. Invite your clients over for pedicures.

But of course, everyone time one shops at Walmart, you're encouraging this sort of thing, not just went you grab the $10 special from the pedicurist down the alley.

If you're talking about Walmart's labor policy, I'm pretty sure that regardless of all the ways they game the system, they at least mostly comply with wage and hour laws in the US. Leave aside whether that alone is sufficient for social justice, but ...

If you're talking about the labor practices of Walmart's suppliers overseas, yes. And I encourage it by using my iPhone and wearing Nikes. And everytime I complain I mention how "free" trade isn't really free trade because many countries subsidize the production of goods by either not having or not enforcing labor (or environmental) standards re wages and safety, I get laughed at and told that we can't stop the Invisible Hand ("from smacking labor around" is the unspoken end of the statement.

Whatever. I think I'm writing in Michael Harrington's name on my presidential primary ballot next year.

[Pretty Little Flower]

Originally Posted by Not Bob

If you're talking about Walmart's labor policy, I'm pretty sure that regardless of all the ways they game the system, they at least mostly comply with wage and hour laws in the US.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. Good one Not Bob!

See, e.g.,

In 2008, Walmart agreed to pay at least $352 million to settle lawsuits claiming that it forced employees to work off the clock. "Several lawyers described it as the largest settlement ever for lawsuits over wage violations."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Walmart

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Adder

Now is when I smile smugly about never having gotten a pedicure and never shopping at Walmart.

(You just keep your mouth shut about how Target and every clothing retailer does the same stuff).

Stop by Not Bob's place. He now has an on-site pedicurist taking care of his every desire.

[Not Bob]

Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. Good one Not Bob!

See, e.g.,

In 2008, Walmart agreed to pay at least $352 million to settle lawsuits claiming that it forced employees to work off the clock. "Several lawyers described it as the largest settlement ever for lawsuits over wage violations."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Walmart

Well, yes. And the whole "abuse the salaried manager exemption to avoid paying overtime for "managers" who don't really manage anything" strategy, too.

I get it. I just think that the working conditions at Walmart are not quite the working conditions for manicurists that the NYT article described. Every single nail salon that they looked at fucked their workers out of money. Every one. Even Walmart isn't that evil.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Not Bob

Well, yes. And the whole "abuse the salaried manager exemption to avoid paying overtime for "managers" who don't really manage anything" strategy, too.

I get it. I just think that the working conditions at Walmart are not quite the working conditions for manicurists that the NYT article described. Every single nail salon that they looked at fucked their workers out of money. Every one. Even Walmart isn't that evil.

That so many of the nail salon workers were illegal immigrants, and that our immigration laws are what they are, made it awfully difficult for any of the workers to complain about their treatment.

I've seen this sort of thing, when working at a legal clinic -- an illegal immigrant essentially has no protection. Which, in turn, means that legal residents are competing with people who are willing to be paid in snails and ass-rapings.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

That so many of the nail salon workers were illegal immigrants, and that our immigration laws are what they are, made it awfully difficult for any of the workers to complain about their treatment.

I've seen this sort of thing, when working at a legal clinic -- an illegal immigrant essentially has no protection. Which, in turn, means that legal residents are competing with people who are willing to be paid in snails and ass-rapings.

2. Libs created a world where the people they want to protect get fucked. If only the fuzzy brained would step back and let the adults run the world, then these poor souls wouldn't be mistreated. Sad.

[Not Bob]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

2. Libs created a world where the people they want to protect get fucked. If only the fuzzy brained would step back and let the adults run the world, then these poor souls wouldn't be mistreated. Sad.

Indeed. As this girl could tell you, things were so much better for the Not Rich before the Progressives and the New Deal.



On a happier note, the Rangers won last night. Seems like a lot of OT and low scoring games in the playoffs this year.

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

But of course, everyone time one shops at Walmart, you're encouraging this sort of thing, not just went you grab the $10 special from the pedicurist down the alley.

I know Wal-Mart is a favorite enemy in these stories, and the animus is often directed at least in part at those who shop there. But when you have $20 and you have to make it last four days until your next check arrives, the $10 free-range, antibiotic free organic chicken from Whole Paycheck doesn't really work as a viable option.

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Replaced_Texan

Eh, it's the last month of the legislative session. I'm assuming that this whole invasion thing is a distraction from something actually harmful to the residents of this state.

Thank god these assholes only meet for four months every other year.

I just assumed they were all cousins and the gene pool down there needs some serious chorine.

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Adder

Now is when I smile smugly about never having gotten a pedicure and never shopping at Walmart.

(You just keep your mouth shut about how Target and every clothing retailer does the same stuff).

I used to be able to pride myself on never shopping at Wal-Mart. Now I just think about the times I didn't have the option

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Not Bob

If you're talking about Walmart's labor policy, I'm pretty sure that regardless of all the ways they game the system, they at least mostly comply with wage and hour laws in the US. Leave aside whether that alone is sufficient for social justice, but ...

If you're talking about the labor practices of Walmart's suppliers overseas, yes. And I encourage it by using my iPhone and wearing Nikes. And everytime I complain I mention how "free" trade isn't really free trade because many countries subsidize the production of goods by either not having or not enforcing labor (or environmental) standards re wages and safety, I get laughed at and told that we can't stop the Invisible Hand ("from smacking labor around" is the unspoken end of the statement.

Whatever. I think I'm writing in Michael Harrington's name on my presidential primary ballot next year.

Don't forget those signs in the Wal-Mart break room explaining in detail how to apply for food stamps, and their policy of NEVER hiring anybody below the level of department manager full-time.

I couldn't begin to fathom how to write or enforce such a law, but their policies on hiring and limiting hours should be criminal