Wal-Mart is a 'free rider'

Academically in foreign policy there are problems called "free rider problems". These are when it is in the best interest of everybody to do something. That something, though, is expensive. Cooperation is hindered by the thinking that "It needs to be done, but I can't afford it, and everybody else should, but I can't."

Everybody agrees that people should be able to get out of poverty through work. Everybody agrees that affordable healthcare should be available to everyone. The question is how? Wal-Mart says that the government should do it. They would pay $2/hour and provide no benefits and let the government make up the difference if they could. It is kinda what they do now (add 5-6 $). Wal-Mart will probably spend a lot money this summer and fall on pushing a single-payer healthcare system.

In response, people have introduced legislation that makes them pay up. Problem is, Wal-Mart is not alone. There are lots of companies that would rather pay $2/hour. Government is not a good solution. The "Wal-Mart Bills" do "pick on" the most successful free rider and that is it.

http://walmartworkersrights.org