OH MY GOSH LOOK AT THAT!!!!

 

ECONOMICS

 THINK about this the next time you start complaining about how much a burger or sub or coffee cost these days.....

VERSE AND VOICE FROM SOJOURNERS 5APR25

 

Verse of the day You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other Israelites or aliens who reside in your land in one of your towns. You shall pay them their wages daily before sunset, because they are poor and their livelihood depends on them; otherwise they might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt. - Deuteronomy 24:14-15 Voice of the day Honor the hands that harvest your crops. - Dolores Huerta Prayer of the day May we honor the hands that harvest our crops by upholding justice and compassion, ensuring fair wages and dignity for every laborer. Advertisement Our Latest Stories Jamelle Bouie: The Constitution Belongs to the People (by Mitchell Atencio) Our founding document doesn’t just belong to lawyers and historians, and understanding its context can help in our pursuit of a just society. Read more 'Nosferatu' Is Lenten Cinema for Those Who Can Stomach It (by JR. Forasteros) Eggers' update of the vampire classic is a darkly apt companion piece for a season of limbo between death and resurrection. Read more The Best Way to Love Elon Musk? Protest Him (by Dean Dettloff) The Tesla Takedown is a clear example of following Jesus’ command to love enemies. Read more If God Can Roll Away Stones, Why Are Palestinians Still Trapped Under the Rubble? (by Josiah R. Daniels) A Palestinian pastor tries to answer that question in a new book. Read more Advertisements Sojourners' Anti-Racism Reading List Check out Sojourners' anti-racism reading list, curated by our Director of Racial Justice, Rev. Moya Harris. Our Bookshop page features a variety of Sojourners reading lists. When you buy from Bookshop, part of the proceeds go to support Sojourners' work, as well as to support local bookstores throughout the country. Spread God’s Love Through Heifer's Fill the Ark Program “Heifer International provides animals, resources and training to people in need around the world. We bring communities together and link farmers to nearby markets where they can sell extra milk from goats and cows, eggs from chickens and honey from bees.” Read more of the latest sponsored content article on our website. Copyright © 2025 Sojourners. All rights reserved. Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842

McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski got a raise last year & LIVING WAGE CALCULATOR 3APR&14FEB24

 I recently spent a lot of time on vacation with relatives and one thing I noticed is complaints by these drumpf / trump-vance supporters is (I am the lone Harris -Walz voter in my family) is the cost of a meal at fast food as well as family restaurants and the amazing wages employees at these restaurants are making, $14,, $15, some even $20+ a hour!!! Nobody seemed to be aware these are not living wages nor did they seem to care. Often the complaining grew to include the rising cost of almost everything, and blame was directed to employees wanting to be paid more for their work. By the by, none of the complaintees indicated they were paid too much for their work. AND non mentioned the wages, benefits, bonuses and perks of the ceos and executive boards of any corporation.  This from Restaurant Business and then check out this living wage calculator from MIT

McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski got a raise last year

But the fast-food chain’s chief executive, who was recently given the chairman title, still makes less than he did two years ago.By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 03, 2024Restaurant Business Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Maze is a longtime industry journalist who writes about restaurant finance, mergers and acquisitions and the economy, with a particular focus on quick-service restaurants.

Chris Kempczinski got a raise before he got a new title.

The CEO and now chairman of McDonald’s was paid $19.2 million last year in salary, bonuses and stock, according to federal securities filings.

That was an 8% increase over 2022. But it remained somewhat lower than in 2021, when Kempczinski was paid about $20 million.

The bulk of Kempczinski’s pay package came in the form of stock and option awards, which total about $13 million. He was paid a base salary of $1.4 million and received just over $4 million in incentive compensation—the bonus was about $200,000 less than he received in 2022.

Kempczinski was also paid about $700,000 in “other” compensation, which includes things like life insurance, retirement plan contributions and use of the corporate jet.

McDonald’s is the world’s largest restaurant chain and its CEO is typically among the highest paid executives in the industry. It is also among the most closely watched pay packages on Wall Street, given McDonald’s visibility and labor activists’ push to raise base pay at fast-food restaurants.

Overall, Kempczinski’s total compensation was 1,212 times median employee pay last year, according to the filing.

McDonald’s has enjoyed a strong run of performance coming out of the pandemic, despite a host of concerns such as inflation, the closure of the company’s Russian restaurants and more recently worries about high fast-food prices.

Revenues increased 10% and global same-store sales increased 9% last year, including 8.7% in the U.S.

Kempczinski was named CEO in 2019 following the firing of Steve Easterbrook. He then guided the chain through the pandemic and its aftermath. Same-store sales have increased all but one quarter in the U.S. since he was promoted after leading McDonald’s USA.

Living Wage calculator

WHAT IS THE LIVING WAGE CALCULATOR?
Today, families and individuals working in low-wage jobs make too little income to meet minimum standards of living in their community. We developed the Living Wage Calculator to help individuals, communities, employers, and others estimate the local wage rate that a full-time worker requires to cover the costs of their family’s basic needs where they live. Explore the living wage in your county, metro area, or state for 12 different family types below. The data was last updated on February 14, 2024.

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REA

FROM Sen Bernie Sanders I-VT: No, Kamala Harris is not more progressive than I am & WATCH: Sen. Sanders speaks at 2024 Democratic National Convention 27&20AUG24

 THIS is an amazing endorsement of VP Kamala Harris and the HARRIS-WALZ campaign for President and Vice President of the United States and a Democratic led congress. Bernie Sanders lays out the differences between HARRIS-WALZ and the Democratic party agenda and the regressive, divisive drumpf / trump-vance campaign and the deceptive, dishonest gop / greed over people (republican party) / project 2025 agenda.  REMEMBER, WHEN WE FIGHT, AND WHEN WE VOTE FOR HARRIS-WALZ ON TUESDAY, 5 NOV 2024, WE WIN!!!

Listen to Donald Trump, turn on Fox News, or follow any Republican on social media and you will hear or see the constant claim that Kamala Harris is more "radical" and more "far left" than Bernie Sanders.

No.

Let me simply say, for better or for worse, Kamala Harris is not more progressive than I am.

It is always hard to respond to Trump’s lies because, a day later, his lies become even more preposterous. But, as we come together to defeat Trump and elect the Vice President, let me just remind you of one simple fact:

The so-called "radical" and “far left” agenda that we are fighting for is, in poll after poll, far more popular than Donald Trump, more popular than the Republican Party, and it is supported by a strong majority of the American people, including Republicans and Independents.

When Trump, Republicans, and even some members of the corporate media try to scare you with words like "radical" and "far left" it's important to understand what those policies actually mean and to know that these “radical” ideas are already in place in many countries around the world.

When we talk about guaranteeing healthcare as a right for all our people, we're talking about the ability to get the healthcare you and your loved ones need without fear of going bankrupt. We're talking about the ability to change jobs without fear of losing your healthcare.

When we talk about paid family and medical leave, we're talking about being able to spend the first few months with your newborn child without rushing back to work the next week, and we're talking about being able to care for a loved-one who is sick without having to worry about missing a paycheck.

When we talk about tuition-free college, we're talking about the ability to get an education without having to leave school with crushing debt. We're talking about the ability to start a business and create jobs without having to worry about decades of student loan payments.

When we talk about a "Green New Deal," we're talking about a planet that is habitable for future generations — with less drought, famine, floods, extreme weather disturbances, disease, and human suffering.

When we talk about raising the minimum wage, we're talking about people not having to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet for their families.

When we talk about expanding Medicare to cover dental, hearing, and vision, we're talking about our seniors being able to chew the food they eat, listen to the sound of their loved ones' voices, and see the world around them.

When we talk about passing the PRO Act, we're talking about giving working people a greater voice on the job to negotiate better pay and benefits for them and their families. We're talking about people just trying to make a living while CEOs are making a killing.

When we talk about letting the government negotiate the price of prescription drugs, we're talking about making sure people can afford the lifesaving medicine they need without having to choose between their health and food or utilities.

When we talk about overturning Citizens United, we're talking about making it so the wealthiest people and corporations in this country do not have the ability to buy our elections and our democracy.

When we talk about strengthening public education, we are talking about the ability to make sure that all of our children, regardless of income, get the education they need to prepare themselves for the future.

When we talk about strengthening and expanding Social Security, we're talking about making sure all of our seniors can retire and live out their lives with dignity.

And when we talk about making sure the wealthy pay their fair share, we are simply saying that it is time we have a government and an economy that works for everyone in this country, not just the top 1 percent. It’s time that we dealt with the unprecedented level of income and wealth that we are currently experiencing.

That is NOT a radical agenda.

The Republican Party and Donald Trump: More tax breaks to billionaires, budgets to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, letting polluters destroy our planet, letting drug companies charge whatever they want for medicine...

That is radical.

Sen Sanders speaks at 2024 Democratic National Convention

Aug 20, 2024

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday, a night devoted to bringing “bold vision” to America’s future and a new generation of Democratic leadership. Sanders credited President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Congress for easing public fears and struggles during what he deemed as the "worst public health crisis in 100 years and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression." "When the political will is there, government can effectively deliver for the people of our country, and now we need to summon that will again," Sanders said. "Because too many of our fellow Americans are struggling every day to just get by, to put food on the table, to pay rent and to get the health care they need." He also outlined a slew of agenda items he hopes to accomplish with Harris as president, such as removing "big money" from political processes, guaranteeing health care as a human right, strengthening public education, raising the minimum wage and ending the war in Gaza. "Let us be very clear. This is not a radical agenda. But let me tell you what a radical agenda is," Sanders said. "And that is [Donald] Trump's Project 2025. At a time of mass of income and wealth inequality, giving more tax breaks to billionaires is radical. Putting forth budgets to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is radical. Letting polluters destroy our planet is radical." Later in the week, Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will formally accept their nominations as the party’s candidates. Watch PBS News for daily, breaking and live news, plus special coverage. We are home to PBS News Hour, ranked the most credible and objective TV news show. Newsletters: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/subscribe PBS News podcasts: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/podcasts Stream your PBS favorites with the PBS app: https://to.pbs.org/2Jb8twG Find more from PBS News at https://www.pbs.org/newshour Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2HfsCD6

Transcript

Thank you.

Thank you.

My fellow Americans. It is an honor.

It is an honor to be with you tonight.

Because we're laying the groundwork. But Kamala Harris to become

our next president.

And let me. Let me tell you why that is so important.

I want you all to remember. Where we were

3.5 years ago. We were in the midst of the worst public health

crisis in 100 years.

And the worst economic downturn

since the Great Depression. 3000 Americans were dying every

day. And our hospitals were overwhelmed with COVID patients.

All across the country businesses were shutting down.

Unemployment was soaring. Workers were losing their health insurance.

Schools were closing state and city budgets were running out of money.

People were being evicted from their homes.

Children in America were going hungry.

That was the reality. The Biden Harris administration faced. As they

entered the Oval Office. A nation suffering.

A nation frightened and people looking to their government for support.

And within 2 months of taking office.

Our government did respond.

We passed the American rescue plan which provided $1400 for

every man, woman, and child in the working class.

We extended and expanded benefits for the unemployed.

We provided emergency assistance for small businesses to stay open.

We guaranteed health care coverage to tens of millions of Americans

through one of the largest expansions of Medicaid in history.

We've provided rent relief and mortgage assistance which prevented

tenants and homeowners from being evicted.

We established emergency food programs for hungry children and the

elderly. And protected the pensions of millions of union workers

and retirees from being slashed by up to 65%.

Oh, and by the way, We cut childhood poverty by over 40%

through an expanded child tax credit.

Thank you, President Biden. Thank you, Vice President Harris, thank

you, Democratic Congress.

Now I say all of this. Not to relive that difficult moment.

But to make one simple point.

When the political will is there, government can effectively deliver

for the people of our country.

And now we need to summon that will again.

Because too many. of our fellow Americans are struggling every day

to just get by. To put food on the table.

To pay the rents and to get the health care they need.

Brothers and sisters, bottom line. We need an economy that works

for all of us, not just the billionaire class.

My fellow Americans, when 60% of our people live paycheck to paycheck.

The top 1%. have never ever had it so good.

And these oligarchs, these oligarchs tell us.

We shouldn't tax the rich. The oligarchs tell us we shouldn't take

on price gouging. We shouldn't expand Medicare to cover dental,

hearing, and vision. And we shouldn't increase Social Security benefits.

For struggling seniors. Well,

I've got some. News for them.

That is precisely what we are going to do.

And we're going to win this struggle. Because this is precisely what

the American people want from their government.

And my friends

At the very top of that to do list.

Is the need to get big money out of our political process.

Billionaires In both parties should not be able to buy

elections including primary elections.

For the sake of our democracy. We must overturn the disastrous

Citizens United Supreme Court decision.

And move toward public funding of elections.

And let me tell you what else we must do. We need to join the rest

of the industrialized world and guarantee health care to all people

as a human right, not a privilege.

We need Yeah

We need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage.

We need to pass the PRA

so that workers can organize the unions. Oh.

And gain the decent pay and benefits they deserve.

We need to strengthen public education.

Raise teachers' salaries. And make sure that every

American regardless of income, receives the higher education he or

she needs.

We need to take on big pharma.

And cut our prescription drug costs in half.

So that we no longer pay any more

than other countries. Joe and Kamala made sure that no senior in

America pays over $35 a month for insulin.

We need to make sure that reality is true for every American.

I look forward to working with Camlin Tim to pass this agenda.

And let us be very clear. This is not a radical agenda.

But let me tell you

what a radical agenda is.

And that is Trump's project 2025.

At a time of mass of income and wealth inequality, giving more tax

breaks to billionaires is radical. Putting forth budgets to cut Social

Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is radical.

Letting polluters destroy our planet is radical.

And my friends, we won't let that happen.

Fellow Americans in the last 3.5 years.

Working together. We have accomplished more.

than any government since FDR.

But much, much more

remains to be done. We must summon the courage. To stand up to wealth

and power. And deliver justice for people at home and abroad.

Abroad. We must end this horrific war in Gaza.

Bring home the hostages and demand. Immediate ceasefire.

At home. At home right here.

We must take on Big farmer. Big oil.

Big egg

Big tech

And all the other corporate monopolists whose greed is denying progress

for working people. On November 5th.

Let us select Kamala Harris as our president.

And let us go forward. To create the nation we know we can become.

Thank you all very much.