Let me start by telling you about work

I work for a major retailer. Not the "BIG W", not the "little k" but there is a cute dog involved in many of my employer's visually stunning, expensive ads. I am also a woman in transition, 38 years of age, recently separated from a dysfunctional marriage, embarking on a new emotional/spiritual journey, just graduated from school-massage therapy.
I am ready to take -big bites.
However, because of this economy, I still work in retail to make ends meet. Which is funny really, because the ends aren't even in the same zip code- not even in the same neighborhood.
I am not sure how they can meet under these conditions.

Corporate America, is a purely driven entity. American retailers are the darling of the beastly corporate model. the "Big W" has a lot to do with the creation of our expanding working underclass in this nation.
But, the retailer with the cute dog in their ads has followed the "W" model.
Now, In the commercials we still see brilliance, and the shiny happy people.
People, who seem to have endlessly good taste. And, money.
But, most of the people who work in the stores, can't afford the merchandise being sold, which is shameful for two reasons. If the people who work for you can't afford your product or services then your deliberately underpaying them. And, most of the merchandise comes from countries, with appalling human rights violations. Why does this matter to me, a woman in transition, a woman on the edge of untold growth and acceptance into a higher stratus of American culture? Because, I have lived the devaluing of American business morals, and the undercutting of the American worker. I have lived it. I voted against it. I am vocal about the human cost, and the shame that comes from having to work for such a noxious entity.

The truth is when a major retailer buys merchandise from countries that have serious human right violations they (the company) continue to add to the abuse that creates lasting poverty in those countries, and drives many hard working Americans into poverty because the jobs that feed their families are shipped overseas.
We close factories here that produce well made products, because it costs more to make them here in this country, and because the American worker demands a decent lifestyle, and job security in return for well made products.

When the factories close many are forced to go to work at a lesser paid, less dignified, less secure service industry position, at one of these retailers. Now, I can tell you for sure how the cute dog, pretty commercial company is staying afloat during these tough times. They are cutting their work force, in the most insidious way, and they cut health care costs all at the same time.

At any given time there are new stores openings, new Managers (well paid) but the staff is barely getting 20 hours per week. Many fall below the hours needed to keep their health insurance. Many decided not to re-up their medical insurance, or their 401K's, because they needed the money back in their paychecks due to the painful slice in available working hours. Many in my store alone have become homeless, had homes foreclosed on, and have had vehicle's repossessed. The management continues to earn the same pay no matter what.
I find that almost criminal.

In this country some questions need to be asked and decisions need to be made.
Do we really want better, safer products?
Or is that just more American dissonance-we want it, but we don't want to pay for it?
Do we want to have our corporate entities be more socially responsible? Do we want cheaper at any cost? Do we realize the domino effect of our apathy, at not holding our elected leaders to task for allowing so much American business to be shipped to the lowest bidder. Are we our brothers keepers? I mean that in the most global sense.

It costs a lot of money to make the pretty commercials, and to fly the corporate officers around the globe, for the opening of another strikingly beautiful store.

It costs big money for the benefits packages- of the few, while the benefit packages of the many- disappears.

In harsh economic times like these. Should the CEO'S have to part with some of their outrageous salaries to ensure the working class isn't driven below the poverty line by company policy? I want to know what you think. I invite a response.