Healthcare...at what cost?
Between 2000 and 2004, the number of people spending more than 25% of their earnings on healthcare -- a figure normally associated with homeownership -- rose by nearly a fourth to 14.3 million people, according to Washington, D.C.-based Families USA, a healthcare advocacy group. Over the same period, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, health premiums rose an average of 59%; federal data show the average employee's earnings rose 12.4% - LaTimes
NewsCenter 5's Anthony Everett reported that of the 68 percent who are working and uninsured, 45 percent work full-time. A recent state survey on health insurance found that of those who were offered employer health coverage, 82 percent said it was too expensive to take.- TheBostonChannel
Home Ownership...at what cost?
Despite the risks of a big upward adjustment, ARMs are more popular than ever. More than 36% of mortgages had adjustable rates last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. That's the highest since the trade group began tracking adjustable-rate mortgages in 1990. -
usatoday
As mortgage rates rise from 30-year lows, a record number of Americans are financing home purchases with loans where the size of the future monthly payment is unknown. - Builder Online
Housing....at what cost?
As long as housing issues were defined as a shelter for the poor, few people seemed to care much. But when availability of affordable housing gets defined as an economic-development and growth issue, it's suddenly important. - Seattle Times
For a two-bedroom rental alone, the typical worker must earn at least $15.37 an hour - nearly three times the federal minimum wage, the National Low Income Housing Coalition said in its annual "Out of Reach" report. - truthout
Wal-Mart....at what cost?
Wal-Mart has also lulled shoppers into ignoring the difference between the price of something and the cost. Its unending focus on price underscores something that Americans are only starting to realize about globalization: Ever-cheaper prices have consequences. Says Steve Dobbins, president of thread maker Carolina Mills: "We want clean air, clear water, good living conditions, the best health care in the world--yet we aren't willing to pay for anything manufactured under those restrictions." - FastCompany
War...at what cost?
(although we can never really asses the true costs of war because each life lost is priceless)
We need to forget asking the Wal-Mart question..."what's the PRICE?" We need to start asking the Benjamin Franklinesque question..."What's the COST?"
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost;
For want of the shoe, the horse was lost;
For want of the horse, the rider was lost;
For want of the rider, the battle was lost;
For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a two-penny nail.