WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM ON OUR HANDS:

First off please read this in its entirety. It addresses one societal problem that has a easy solution.

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My Truth: The five different way companies profit off one sale, and what you can do about it.

I first went to Chat GPT for help writing this and was told, "This content may violate our usage policies."

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Here’s a breakdown of each way companies profit from their products and how these practices contribute to more national debt:

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1.) Underpaying Employees: Companies like Coca-Cola often pay their employees minimum wage, which isn't sufficient to cover basic living expenses. Workers are forced to rely on government assistance programs, such as food stamps, to make ends meet. By underpaying workers, companies save on labor costs but shift the burden of supporting their workforce to the government, which increases public spending and ultimately adds to the national debt.

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2.) Profiting from Government Assistance: These same companies also benefit indirectly from government programs. Employees receiving food stamps use them to purchase company products, meaning the company not only saves by paying low wages but also profits when government money is used to buy their goods. This creates a cycle where taxpayer dollars are funneled back into the company, further burdening the economy and increasing public debt.

3.) Tax Breaks and Subsidies: Many large corporations receive tax breaks and subsidies from the government, which reduce their operational costs. For example, subsidies for corn production lower the cost of high-fructose corn syrup, a major ingredient in products like soda. While this benefits the company, it reduces government revenue, widening the budget deficit, and adding to the national debt.

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4.) Addictive Ingredients: Companies often include addictive substances like sugar and caffeine in their products, ensuring continued consumer demand. This practice, while profitable for the company, contributes to public health issues, leading to increased healthcare costs that are often shouldered by taxpayers through government-funded healthcare programs, further straining public resources.

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5.) Aggressive Advertising Campaigns: These companies spend billions on advertising to create strong brand loyalty and consumer dependence. While this boosts sales and profits, it also leads to overconsumption of unhealthy products, driving up medical expenses and indirectly increasing the cost to the healthcare system. Again, these costs are often absorbed by government programs, increasing the national debt.

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6.) BONUS QUESTION: Why does the government pay the recycling deposit, off all the deposit-able items and the companies that produce the items don't? This alone would offset some of the governments financial burden.

The cumulative effect of these practices is that companies maximize profits at multiple points—labor, government aid, tax benefits, addictive products, and advertising—while shifting the societal and economic burden to the public, which in turn leads to greater national debt as the government compensates for the shortfall through public spending.

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The Solution:

To create a more equitable system where companies are profitable while supporting their workforce and the wider public, several steps can be taken through community action and policy making. These include:

Raising minimum wages: By increasing the minimum wage, companies will have to pay their employees more, which can help alleviate financial strain on workers and reduce their dependence on government assistance programs. This, in turn, can lead to a more stable workforce and reduced public spending on welfare programs.

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Implementing progressive taxation: A progressive tax system ensures that wealthier individuals and corporations contribute a larger percentage of their income to the public purse. This can help reduce the budget deficit and national debt by ensuring that those who benefit most from the current economic system also bear a greater share of its costs.

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Promoting worker-owned cooperatives: Encouraging businesses to adopt employee ownership models, such as worker-owned cooperatives, can lead to more equitable distribution of profits among workers and reduce income inequality. This can contribute to a more stable economy and reduce the need for government assistance programs.

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Regulating corporate advertising practices: Implementing stricter regulations on corporate advertising can help reduce excessive consumerism and the promotion of unhealthy products. This can lead to decreased public spending on healthcare and other social services related to the consumption of these products.

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Supporting research and development in sustainable and ethical business models: By investing in R&D for more sustainable and socially responsible business practices, communities can encourage companies to adopt greener and more equitable production methods. This can contribute to a healthier environment and a more just society.

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Strengthening labor laws: Enforcing stricter labor laws that protect workers' rights and ensure fair working conditions can help create a more stable and supportive workforce, which in turn can lead to increased productivity and profitability for companies.

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In conclusion, by promoting policies that prioritize the well-being of workers and the broader public, communities can create a more equitable system where companies are profitable while supporting those who support them. This would require a collective effort from various stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and citizens, to implement meaningful change in the current economic structure.

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WHAT CAN YOU DO?

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I encourage everyone to participate in a on going new tradition, in a weekly boycott movement against companies that exploit their workers and contribute to public debt. Starting "The Movement Monday" encourages people to cut back on one beverage each week, demonstrating support for this cause without completely sacrificing favorite products. The more people involved, the stronger our message will be, showing these companies that we, the consumers, have the power to make a difference and demand better from them. Remember there is only 7 degrees of separation so I encourage you to pass this on to at least 7 friends or family members. Please and Thanks You.

With Love:

Sophie Sez