Olsen’s “Free rider problem” To consume more than what is deemed fair to contribute. In economics also it could mean to pay less than their fair share of the cost of a common resource. Another example is the person deemed a citizen that is defended in a war like the situation or natural disasters and benefit from the same without either a contribution as well as paying much less of a tax. The rich fall well into this category in that they contribute to charity when they know that it is a dirt cheap price to pay when if they paid the fair amount of taxes the middle class pays it would cost them a vast amount of money that usually amounts to three times the amount when compared to the charity they contributed to avoid paying taxes altogether and earning a massive tax break.

Although that I do strongly agree that there are a series of different groups of people that contribute the “Free-Rider” concept and pose a serious problem with it, it is safe to say that from my point of view that this topic can act as a double-edged sword to particular ethnic groups that favor this behavior. From a Latin standpoint I can safely say that in issues like that of public assistance programs, I fall into the category that represents it. Now although that I do not like nor agree with any public assistance program, I do agree with a much more productive plan that can promote the groups that are more likely to take advantage of these programs and remain idle this type of project can prevent minorities from being scrutinized by whites which are the majority of welfare aid programs in the United States. Blacks here in America, as well as Latin groups, are all blamed for depending on public assistance like welfare. Now I really do admit that in the more impoverished neighborhoods where there is very little chance of finding permanent employment that some of these groups only income does come from public assistance, they should not be scrutinize and judged as whole by being labeled and placed in the “Free-Rider” category without first asking the question as to what the cause may be. In reality, if we really sit down and go by statistics, there really is no bigger welfare recipient than Wal-Mart which by far is a major player as a Free-Rider corporation which utilizes public aid to help pay for entry level poor employees. This not only helps in making Wal-Mart richer but also allows it to qualify as a Free-Rider corporation in that it pays fewer taxes and profits more than what it contributes. Wal-Mart achieves this by hiring entry level labor at an entry level salary and lays workers off as soon as they are almost eligible for benefits like a medical plan (If Any was available) as well as unemployment aid which normally is given if laid off in about six months, then once the worker realizes that he or she does not qualify for unemployment benefits they are immediately referred to welfare aid where through their job placement system they are recruited to work for their welfare and food stamp benefits which are nowhere near the same income that they made when they were working full time even if they were on a minimum wage salary for the corporation. This is not only disgusting, but also very evil, and also legal thanks to our dear Republican friends. Lately, since the early 90’s this has also been applied to city park workers of whom over 80% of them that help keep and maintain our city parks clean and healthy are working for their welfare checks. So who really is a Free-Rider here? The poor city park worker who is working for their welfare check? Or the rich guy who enjoys these venues and takes credit for it just because he pays taxes? Well, when you round out the numbers he is receiving these city services for pennies in that with all the tax breaks he is getting literally amounts to nothing. And to add insult to injury, most of these park workers are laid off since they are seasonal workers anyway! And those that remain are the permanent workers who work for a full salary with an average health plan which by all means is far better than any plan that you would get as a welfare recipient. And yes, you guessed it; those that stay and are, have permanent status are generally of some Caucasoid decent like either Russian or Irish. I know that with all that is truly going on in this country lately may make this sound like a cliché, but facts are what they are and there has got to be some suitable and fair solution to this situation. We are all part of the American melting pot and only after we can see each counterpart as such, then we can focus on more important things like trying to make America great once more where the American dream was a possibility for all and not based on the size of your pocketbook.