[Winona Online Democracy] (I apologize if this is a repeat message. I sent a message like this yesterday morning but I have not seen it come through yet. I assume it's lost in cyberspace limbo. Here goes again...)
----- A few people have asked about the Living Wage research Steve Kranz cited a few months ago. A copy of his August 16, 2003 e-mail message is included below. The short answer is: "for a family of two adults and one child is $12.27/hour or $25,517/year. If both adults work, it would be a total of $17.37/hour (or $8.69/hour each). With two children and two adults, it would be $14.10/hour if one adult were working or $20.80/hour ($10.40 each) if both adults are working. The study cites figures for a variety of other family configurations, as well." Below his message, I also included my response to his post. I tried to offer some economic and historic references for comparison sake. I also tried to offer alernatives to the sad "race to the bottom" that most American workers find themselves forced into. About Winona's wages. Again, I will readily admit that Wal Mart is not the cause of the current problems. There were problems before Wal Mart proposed coming to Winona and there would continue to be problems even if Wal Mart did not come to Winona. Wal Mart also has hard working employees and good people. It is true that Wal Mart has not caused Winona's low wage problem. But it is also true that Wal Mart would only make the low wage problems even worst. Because of it's sheer weight and political power, it would only put more downward pressure on wages and benefits. Imagine there are 5 kids on one side of a teeter totter and 1 on the other side. The 5 kids repesent low wage paying jobs that can not support families or a middle class. The one child stuck up in the air represents a decent paying job. The balance is very unequal. Now imagine if a 500 pound gorilla came and sat on the side of the teeter totter where the 5 low wage paying jobs already were. What kind of wages does a 500 pound gorilla pay and what kind of health benefits does it offer? Dwayne Voegeli November 9, 2003 ================ >From: "Steve Kranz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [Winona] Living Wage >August 16, 2003 > >[Winona Online Democracy] > >Greetings, > >We had a discussion a while back trying to determine what a "living wage" in >Winona would be. I just thought I'd share a study that was released this >week that might help answer the question. The study was funded by the >Bremer, McKnight, Minneapolis, Phillips and Women's foundations as well as >the Minnesota State Network Fund. It is the third update of original >research begun as part of Jobs Now Coalition's "Job Gap Study" in l995. >The latest report uses wage figures from 2002. > >"Relying on the most recent census, state and local government data, >the report figures what it costs to support different types of families >in every county and economic region in the state. The costs are based >upon monthly budget requirements necessary to achieve a "no frills" >standard of living. No money is included for debt payments or skills >training. There's no entertainment budget, no restaurant meals, no >vacation and nothing for emergencies, retirement or children's education." > >According to the study a living wage in the Southeast Minnesota region for a >family of two adults and one child is $12.27/hour or $25,517/year. If both >adults work, it would be a total of $17.37/hour (or $8.69/hour each). With >two children and two adults, it would be $14.10/hour if one adult were >working or $20.80/hour ($10.40 each) if both adults are working. The study >cites figures for a variety of other family configurations, as well. > >An interesting statistic from the report is that in Southeast Minnesota, the >cost of living is 17% lower than in the Metro area, but median wages are 25% >lower. > >The report can be found at: >http://www.jobsnowcoalition.org/ > >(click on the link that says "Click here for a sneak-peek of the >pre-publication copy of "The Cost of Living in Minnesota" on-line report." >once you get to the website). The report is a .pdf file and Southeast >Minnesota is covered on page 41. > >The Bemidji Pioneer newspaper has an article about the report at: >http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/Main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=83&ArticleI >D=11025 > > >-Steve Kranz > ================== Dwayne Voegeli's Follow Up E-mail August 17, 2003 ================== [Winona Online Democracy] Regarding the living wage research. I really appreciate the numbers that Steve has dug up. I think it shows us just how far Winona and Southeast Minnesota is from being able to support families and a middle class. This is no accident and not a recent event. In real dollars, the wages for the mythical U.S. middle class have been stagnant or falling since the mid 1970's. What has helped increase family incomes is that many more families have both parents working today than before. (A subject in and of itself.) The great majority of the wealth creation of the 90's went to a very small percentage of people. We are moving back to a social system where there is a very small number of very rich and powerful people and a very large number of poor people. The middle class is disappearing in America. Unfortunately, this is the social system that you see most often throughout human history. A large middle class is a very rare thing. "Democracies" have existed before in history but they have all disappeared. One of the hallmarks is a return to a feudal or aristocratic social system. Aristotle talked about how important a strong middle class was over 2000 years ago: ----- "Thus, it is manifest that the best political community is formed by citizens of the middle class, and that those states are likely to be well-administered in which the middle class is larger, and stronger, if possible, than both other classes." -- Politics, Book IV, Chapter 11 ----- The existance of a substantial sized middle class is one of America's greatest accomplishments. But look at American today. The middle class is shrinking. And along with the shrinking of the middle class, comes the shrinking of democracy. Witness the greed, corruption, and control of the political system by the super rich in America. What is even scarier about now, compared to other times in history, is that today we have propaganda machines (Fox, Rush Limbo, etc.) that the rulers in the past could only have dreamed of to control, distract, and subdue the masss of good and hard working people. Remember that only a minority of American colonists supported the American Revolution, the majority were neutral and supported the King of England. Scary but true. Even more scary is that even in our so called modern and humane epic in history, the great majorities of people in some countries can be led to support fascism. It can happen again. Is it happening already? ----- Back to my original intent in responding to the e-mail about a living wage. I think there are two concrate things we can do locally to help turn this dangerous trend around. They are: ------ 1. Encourage more workers and work places to be organized into unions. I will be the first one to admit that unions are not perfect and are open to all kinds of improvement. Still, it is undeniable the effect unions have on average wages. On average, women who are in unions make $116 more per week (26% more) than women who are not in unions. Men who are unions make, on average, $92 more per week (15% more) than men who are not in unions. Sadly, today less than 18% of Americans belong to unions. In the 1950's and 60's, that number was over 30%. With the decline in union membership, comes a decline in democracy. By the way, if you want to help workers in America, you also need to help protect workers in China, Taiwan, Honduras, and all the other sweat shops of the world. What does "help" mean in this case? It means supporting candidates that support democracy in those countries (i.e. a Bill of Rights, true freedom of the press, a right to organize, freedom of speech, etc.). It also means not buying goods made by sweat shop labor. Something I must admit myself and my family are not very good about either. :-< 2. Have local government bodies adopt ordinances that require contractors, above a certain size, to pay their workers a living wage. This has been done by many City Councils and County Boards across the country but it is still very rare overall. There are existing ordinances and much research to make this happen in Winona if enough people wanted it. ------ These are not pie-in-shy theoretical "nice ideas." These are real and concrete things we could do in Winona to help the middle class and democracy. What do you think? Dwayne Voegeli ================ ------------ Dwayne Voegeli Winona County Commissioner, District #2 (507) 453-9012 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 359 Pleasant Hill Dr. Winona, MN 55987 ------------ _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. 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