Trickle Down: "My Heart is Filled with Water"

[paft]

From CNN, 1/8/12A few miles north of the Georgia Avenue Food Cooperative, Andono's husband, Alan, 47, serves steaks to some of the targets of the Occupy movement: the 1% of Americans who have enjoyed nearly 60% of all gains in income over the last three decades

Comments

[underlankers]

This is what happens when the law of contagion is made the basis of economics, which are grounded not in magic and similar humbuggery but in science.

[kayjayuu]

A fool and his money are soon parted. A $7 baked potato is ridiculous.

But a $7 baked potato pays more than half the cook's hourly wage, plus overhead, so I suppose it's a better business model than owning a McDonald's.

How much should a cook's position pay, is the question.

[paft]

Enough to provide adequate shelter, food, and medical care for the hard working cook and his familly.

In other words, more than the man is making now.

[kayjayuu]

How much would that be? How about $25, plus benefits? Is that enough in that area? That would be an incredible wage here in my town.

[paft]

K: How much would that be? How about $25, plus benefits? Is that enough in that area?

No idea if that would be enough in that area or more than necessary. But if that's what it takes, sure.

Nobody should word a hard, full-time job and be unable to provide for himself and his family.

[skull_bearer]

'If the rich or the middle class don't spend the money (at the restaurant), that would put me very much in danger.’

If the Middle class no longer exists, you'll go under anyway mate.

Just saying.

[squidb0i]

+1

[fizzyland]

"There are no classes in America. We are a country that don't allow for titles."

[underlankers]

Ironically the bit about not allowing for titles is one of those true but irrelevant statements. The Constitution *does* forbid US citizens from taking on titles of nobility, due to an archaic fear of nobles that reflects its 18th Century origins. The problem of course is that Santorum doesn't know what he's talking about 99.9^infinite power of the time and has half truths the rest of the time.

[notmrgarrison]

What about all those restaurant workers "working for" the 99 percent?
And did the article bother to mention how much the waiters get in tips? I've known college students who made ridiculous amounts waitressing at expensive restaurants.

[paft]

nmg: What about all those restaurant workers "working for" the 99 percent?

The piece I'm referring to is about one of them.

nmg: And did the article bother to mention how much the waiters get in tips?

No. The person it focusses on is not a waiter. He's a cook. And the bigger question is not how much those waiters get in tips, but whether those tips make up for any shortfalls in benefits and salary.

[kayjayuu]

Actually, I think he's asking about the people who work in restaurants that have dollar menus. For the 99%.

[paft]

Whoops. Sorry. Typing in haste...

Those restaurants catering to the 99% aren't likely to do too well as our buying power declines. Food service workers go there to eat too.

[policraticus]

I find it hard to believe that the grill man at a Ruth's Chris makes $11/ hour. That is a starting wage for a fairly unskilled cook in my market.

[paft]

So who do you think is lying here? CNN or the cook?

[policraticus]

I don't recall saying that anyone is lying. I just find it astonishing. I wish I could find a competent grill guy for $11/hour. That would save me about $6000 a year. I could buy a new oven, which I kind of need.

[paft]

And would the grill guy be able to pay for rent? Medical care? Food?