I was in a local farm store earlier today

[Horse with no Name]

My daughter was wearing her work uniform and one of the ladies that worked there started talking to her asking if she was off for the day.

She shared that she was off...and had got sent home from work because she hit 40 hrs and they didn't pay overtime. Just making small talk.

The lady said that here company wouldn't let anyone get over 30 hours...then went on to complaining generally about not having benefits etc....Obama, etc.

However, she said something that highlighted the problems in our country...and to say that it wasn't disturbing would be an understatement.

She said that their store had a meeting a few weeks ago. Management came down from their corporate office and told ALL of the employees that they were going to all end up going to jail IF they couldn't afford to pay for healthcare because of Obamacare???? They also said that they were going to have to start cutting back hours because of the high taxes Obama was putting on employers.

Seriously???Yeah...that is what is going on in rural America folks.

[MichiganVote]

1. Our real terrorists are the corporations

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Corporations are people, too, specifically GOP-style terrorists

[Curmudgeoness]

2. It sounds like someone should be handing out pamphlets

to all those employees explaining the truth. That is unconscionable.

Is this a national chain or just a local farm store?

[Horse with no Name]

3. Regional chain

Atwoods. Based out of Oklahoma, if I am not mistaken.

[Brigid]

4. Wow.

I wonder how much of this crap goes on that we never hear about. You should contact the Obama campaign with this story.

[Horse with no Name]

6. I actually was thinking about that

Scare everyone about losing their jobs, blame it on the POTUS...and then threaten then with jail?

Seriously?

It was nuts. And this lady 100% believed them.

[The Doctor.]

20. I'm just here to rec post #9 ^^^^^^^^^^^

[OffWithTheirHeads]

9. I strongly second that along with reporting it to the Labor relations board.

[The Doctor.]

7. Did you set them straight?

I would have definitely explained that the employer was just using the bill as an excuse and scapegoat to screw their employees.

Just the facts.

[Horse with no Name]

10. I did

But she looked at me like I had 3 heads. I told her that the corporations are just afraid that they are going to have to pay their share of taxes...but, Stockholm Syndrome.

I have really tried to stay out of the political fray this time around...because the area that I live in is so brainwashed and it is a waste of breath...just like today. But, to me, this smacks entirely of something else, more evil and insidious than even I expected.

[The Doctor.]

19. Better to know you at least tried.

In sales, there is the saying, "It's a numbers game". I'm sure we've all heard it.

Works with stuff like this. The real trick is getting them to listen. Usually, I start by 'being on their side'. Once they believe I'm in the same camp as they are, I can become an informer instead of an harasser. Sometimes it works, some of the time they just change the subject.

Glad that you're willing to put yourself in a position to spread light. The world needs more people like that.

[nobodyspecial]

8. They lie to the employees to screw them even more

and use Obama as a scapegoat. I'm sure the owners and execs are feeling no pain.

[Ian David]

11. That's exactly it.

"I'm not going to use a condom because... you, know. Because of Obama."

[riderinthestorm]

13. [phone]. I am a rural farmer

but I also hold an MBA from the dreaded U of Chicago....

I know that most corps aren't hiring full timers anymore so they can get around having to offer bennies. They hire them as consultants or 30 hours/week. They lie in order to justify their parsimonious - somebody has to be the fall guy and they don't want it known that its them!

Secondly, the OP should report the firm to the Labor Relations Board (and the Obama campaign). These are sheer lies on such a blatant scale it should be called out.

Lastly, the OP should report the incident to management (while also telling them - and perhaps this would be a lie but who cares now about principles? - that they are also reporting the incident to their local newspaper as grotesque misinformation).

[xmas74]

12. Someone I know said that he hated the ruling

because he'd have to pay a fine every year, since he couldn't afford insurance. I said that, since he has children and is making below 150% of the poverty line he had nothing to worry about-they'd be in the state pool. His response? "I don't like the government telling me what kind of insurance I need. That's like Big Brother."

He didn't care that, for the first time, his whole family would have insurance and that they could use it. All he cares about is that it seems like Big Brother.

[msongs]

14. doesn't mind sponging off big brother at the emergency room probably nt

[xmas74]

17. I don't know.

He's a nice guy but was raised in an extremely conservative household. I think, once it all kicks in, he'll be happy with everything. Right now, he echoes what he hears.

[Curmudgeoness]

15. He obviously has not dealt with insurance companies

if he is worried about "big brother". Or having to take the crappy insurance that your employer "gives" you. Talk about feeling like your health care is not under your control!

[xmas74]

18. I don't understand him at times.

A few years back he had a good job with good benefits. Now he isn't even making enough to get by.

I really think it's the nearly ultra conservative household he was raised in is why he says so many things about Big Brother.

[salin]

16. Replay for him what government Romney said to sell his health care program

that folks with no insurance were free loaders on the system (per the emergency care costs when emergencies arise.) According to Governor Romney, this guy and his family *is* the problem of why healthcare costs are so high for everyone else.

And if one goes back in time circa 2006 - businesses were putting pressure on govt to come up with a solution (search google - should find numerous Business Week type publications with such articles) as the costs of providing employee health insurance benefits were escalating so quickly. Suggests that Gov. Romney's concern back then may have been more about business voices crying for relief (create policies that push the cost off of employers), and then listen to his rhetoric (at the time) where he repeatedly scolds people such as this person who *choose* not to enroll in a healthcare plan (when less expensive plans are made available through *gasp* the government) are free loaders, and that it is time for them to either take responsibility (get insurance through a govt program), or pay a fine.