Stephen Moore: Wal-Mart One Of America's Greatest Anti-Poverty Programs
STEPHEN MOORE: Wal-Mart, if you look at the history of every government intervention program and social welfare program to abate poverty, there is probably been no greater poverty abatement program in the history of this country greater than Wal-Mart, because Wal-Mart has raised living standards of poor people by making everything from toothpaste to diapers to cell phones much more affordable to them.
Now here's the problem with this argument: Gee, why shouldn't they pay these higher wages? $12.50 an hour? And the reason why this is kind of an imbecilic policy is that Wal-Mart has a choice. They have six stores that there are now looking at opening up in the Washington, D.C. area. Often times, by the way, in very undeveloped areas, poor areas, that need the jobs, that need the economic development -- here's the problem with saying just pay the people $12.50 an hour: Wal-Mart is now saying they may not open up those stores. So, it's not whether these workers have $12.50 an hour, these workers are going to get nothing because the store will not be there. (Hardball, July 10, 2013)
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