because they pay their employees so poorly that taxpayers end up footing the bill for their greediness, I am always happy to "reward good behavior" like their commitment to raise their starting pay. I am not sure what their motivation is, but it is a good step in the right direction and other big corps appear to be ready to do the same, perhaps from pressure from cities and states, like Seattle, where wages have been raised without any job loss, like the right wing fear mongers.

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are people with little to no job skills.  The alternative to Wally or other jobs in discount retail is not Goldman Sachs.  The alternative is unemployment in which case the taxpayers fit the FULL bill for everything.  The turnover rate at Wally and all discount reatailers is quite high.  Those who prove themselves honest and reliable can very quickly move up the food chain, get more pay and no longer be supported by the taxpayers at all.

The margins in discount retail and grocery are very thin.  Wage and Labor expense is THE single biggest expense.  So no, they can't just pay more.  The market will not bear that.  People will simply respond to the corresponding higher prices by buying less of their goods...which means plenty of those people with no job skills that they're taking off the unemployment rolls don't get a chance to get that first foot on the ladder.  That is not a better outcome - not for them and not for consumers. 

A BIG part of the economic gains of the 90's were due to increased efficiency from Big Box stores moving in, displacing (ie putting out of business) inefficient general stores and corner stores by offering more selection at lower prices and transmitting more wealth to poor and middle class people via lower prices.  Historically, more wealth is transmitted to people via lower prices than via higher wages.  Things that used to be unaffordable for most become affordable - ie they become wealthier even as their incomes don't go up as much as prices go down.