{"id":13929,"date":"2014-10-19T00:31:39","date_gmt":"2014-10-19T07:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=13929"},"modified":"2014-10-19T00:31:39","modified_gmt":"2014-10-19T07:31:39","slug":"open-thread10192014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2014\/10\/19\/open-thread10192014\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–10\/19\/2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m writing for tomorrow, day 181.  I\u2019m sorry about yesterday.  I just ran out of gas and had to recharge.  Tomorrow is a holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Ord.  My Broncos\u2019 have the featured Sunday night service with the the Fortyniners.  I\u2019m glad it\u2019s at home.<\/font><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>: <\/font><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s took me 3:11 (average 4:40).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

From Daily Kos<\/a>: <\/font>Right now, income inequality is the highest it\u2019s been in our society since 1928. A lucky few in America make billions, while millions of others struggle just to get by. Nowhere is this gap more apparent than in the 4,100 plus Walmart stores across the country. Rob Walton and his family have amassed an empire of riches, and they built it on the backs of the working poor. The consequences of such skewed earning potential \u2013 where the family on top is worth $150 billion while their employees earn less than $25,000 per year \u2013 are significant and unsustainable.<\/p>\n

As the nation\u2019s largest employer, with $15 billion in profits annually, Walmart can afford to pay their employees a livable wage. Instead, they choose to manipulate schedules and hours to pay the majority of their workers abysmal wages. Sandra Sok, who works in Phoenix Walmart Store #5331 is a perfect example. After eight years of service to the company, she still struggles for enough work and income to make ends meet. She pleads with management every week for additional shifts because the 30 hours she is usually scheduled for simply aren\u2019t enough. Sandra\u2019s done her part to help Walmart succeed \u2013 she deserves more than poverty pay in return.<\/p>\n

Many workers like Sandra are forced to rely on food stamps, health care assistance and other taxpayer-funded programs to get by. So while the Walton family alone has as much wealth as 43% of American families combined, the American people still have to pick up the tab for the Walton\u2019s appalling business practices. And it\u2019s not cheap: Walmart is estimated to cost the taxpayers $6.2 billion annually through public assistance costs, with expenses ranging between $3,015 and $5,815 per worker. All the while, Walmart and the Waltons are taking $8 billion a year in tax breaks that subsidize their low-wage business \u2013 and add to their profits. It is estimated that the family has avoided paying $3 billion in taxes by using special trusts to dodge estate taxes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to end this charade and shut down the Walmart scam.<\/p>\n

Click through for more. If you must enter Wal-fart, go to leave methane, not money.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Upworthy<\/a>: <\/font>I come from a Caribbean immigrant household. Even with all the advances gay rights have made in America in the last few years, my family is still pretty much stuck in 1950. There are, of course, a few exceptions \u2014 shoutout to my sister Loree!<\/p>\n

After watching this clip and hearing the crazy things this family says, this scenario playing out in the lives of every gay person with a less-than-accepting family would be a beautiful, absurd, and hilarious step forward.<\/p>\n