Kathy told me yesterday that a local restaurant owner posted on Facebook that they were considering adding a dollar or slightly more to the average check to be able to pay for benefits for the restaurant’s 36 employees. While reactions have been mixed, he expressed surprise at the viciousness of some of the responses from people who told him they would never return if he implemented a policy like that.
More below the fleur de kos!
We live, of course, Kathy and I, as blue dots in a state landscape of sometimes very nasty red. Tea partiers abound, and you don’t have to read a great deal about regional politics to get a full dose of the crazy as it is on display here. I would contend that the hearts many people show in their daily lives are contradicted by their politics. They seem able to separate (often times) their personal goodness from their political citizenship, which is far more heartless, far more vicious, really. (And there ARE other Democrats, too! Even if we cannot yet determine state politics.)
Many of those who oppose the idea of giving restaurant workers benefits have as a primary goal ‘hitting’ President Obama. For health care initiatives, for any ideas in favor of rights and benefits for workers. Yet, depriving workers of benefits, however they think about it, does not hurt or ‘hit’ President Obama. It hits the workers. It affects their lives, and their families, their futures.
For the sake of balance, I should say that the responses on Facebook also contain many marvelous statements, of support and approval. What will happen? I think the owner will create benefit options for his employees. I think he knows it is right, and, as a good-hearted human being, will make it happen. I am pretty sure he does not know this, yet, but that's okay.
Then, I saw a story in today’s paper about Walmart agreeing to pay increases for about half a million workers. The USA Today version of the story titled it: Walmart succumbs to pressure and will hike wages in April.
While it is a step I applaud, of course it does not go very far. It will raise pay to $9/hr. or more, for approximately $1.75 more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25. It would not constitute a ‘living wage,’ there is no mention at all of other possible benefits that are, as you know, unlikely with that company.
But I was struck by the ‘framing’ of the story. Walmart succumbs. As in, Walmart gives in, Walmart concedes, Walmart compromises their every core value of greed and exploitation … And I wondered if some of the more vicious conservatives who plan to vacate our local restaurant will also shun Walmart now …
I think not. I don’t think boycotting Walmart would hit Obama much at all. (Neither do I think they'd do it. Because, hypocrisy.)
Pre-publication update: The owner posted a followup response that, to us, confirms his good-heartedness. He was surprised by how the story went viral, and by the toxic nature of some of the responses. They are fewer in number, but extremely shrill, as you know. Yes, I think better times are on the way for 36 local employees. That's a small victory. You know.
Thank you for reading tonight! Happy Kibitzing to you!
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Kitchen Table Kibitzing is a community series for those who wish to share part of the evening around a virtual kitchen table with kossacks who are caring and supportive of one another. So bring your stories, jokes, photos, funny pics, music, and interesting videos, as well as links—including quotations—to diaries, news stories, and books that you think this community would appreciate. Readers may notice that most who post diaries and comments in this series already know one another to some degree, but newcomers should not feel excluded. We welcome guests at our kitchen table, and hope to make some new friends as well.
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