$22/hr min. for all city employees

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

That washed out bridge has been washed out since I moved here in 2015. It connects Krieg field to Guerrero park. There have been “desired paths” created in the area. My gripe is, throw $25 million at zilker and it’s praised. Throw it at Guerrero, which is LARGER than zilker and people hate it, I also assume some funding is coming from the America Rescue Act.

I have no problem with the city rebuilding the pedestrian bridge, but not for $25,000,000. That is absurd. It is just another ripoff by the grifters in City Hall.
They could build a nice pedestrian bridge for 1/10 of the proposal and invest the remaining $20+ million into vastly upgrading the entire park.

Compare that crazy proposal with the massive 620 overpass/roundabout project that currently is underway in Round Rock for a total cost of less than $28,000,000.

https://communityimpact.com/austin/r...in-round-rock/

I cannot understand why the otherwise well-educated Austinites put up with that obvious corruption and long term fleecing of the taxpayers. The outside funding for such projects is NOT “free money”.

[done working]

Originally Posted by Austin97

I think there is evidence that FDR intended the minimum wage to be a living wage. I strongly dislike the minimum wage, but Im an originalist when it comes to laws. If FDR meant for the minimum wage to be a living wage, then that is what it should be. Each congress can decide if they still want it to be a living wage, but it is clear historically that is what it is for.


https://publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/...iving-wage.htm

One of the challenges with capitalism is a few people are extremely competent. Many people are incompetent. A purely merit/competitive system will have all the wealth flowing to the top. Minimum wage and other programs create inefficiencies, but spread the wealth around to those who are simple too incompetent to compete.

For the system to be stable in the long term, the people do need "bread and circuses".

I discovered when i was 16 making $.06 per shower door gaskets that the harder you work the more you make. Soon i got to make the .08 gaskets.
Then when i started my working life i learned ( way to long ) after 5 years of drafting for the same company that employers will take advantage of you. So i quit and took several jobs lasting 2-4 years long and finally bought my own company and after 9 years sold it. All on HS education and 2 yr tech degree.

Agreed that there are way to many lazy people and those that made stupid choices in life to get ahead. But i really dont care- i did all right and taught my kids the same thing- make good choice, believe in yourself and
life can be pretty damn good. Both a successful.

Capitialism is a hell of alot better than anything else on this planet and can work well even for those with limited education - i know i did it

[blameyourself]

Originally Posted by done working

I discovered when i was 16 making $.06 per shower door gaskets that the harder you work the more you make. Soon i got to make the .08 gaskets.
Then when i started my working life i learned ( way to long ) after 5 years of drafting for the same company that employers will take advantage of you. So i quit and took several jobs lasting 2-4 years long and finally bought my own company and after 9 years sold it. All on HS education and 2 yr tech degree.

Agreed that there are way to many lazy people and those that made stupid choices in life to get ahead. But i really dont care- i did all right and taught my kids the same thing- make good choice, believe in yourself and
life can be pretty damn good. Both a successful.

Capitialism is a hell of alot better than anything else on this planet and can work well even for those with limited education - i know i did it

And the problem with regurgitated talking points like this is we can never peel back that onion and actually have a conversation. You go right into a stereotype of anyone that hasn't been as successful by referring to them as lazy and stupid (that's rich). And you really offer no solution whatsoever, just that you're mad because you think $15/hr is an acceptable living standard and if they don't like it to find something better. And typically when that person does, the ones that make comments like yours are right there complaining about the service level they get. I find it humorous to read about all the people that are mad because they have to wait longer to get their mashed potatoes at their favorite restaurants because service is slow due to the labor shortage. And of course the conversation goes well beyond that when we start talking about a lack of teachers, police officers, fire fighters, EMS, and the like. I'm actually someone that realizes that an educated population typically has less crime so I'm good with giving raises to teachers if we are short staffed. I also don't care for going back to the Wild West so I'm also Ok with making sure we have an adequate police force. So what is that magical salary that makes people like you stop complaining? Do you have anything to solve the problem or do we just keep having to hear stories about when you were young and how hard you worked?

[ScoPro]

Poor choices early in life, particularly in education & personal behavior, are certainly a major factor in the poverty & crime problems so many are “experiencing”.

There are a lot of people who were brought into such situations who managed to lift themselves out by themselves and go on to lead productive lives. Many others want to do the same but need assistance & guidance. That is a noble cause and should be encouraged. Props to ashbeeigh for being a part of that laudable effort.

Then there are those who want to take the easy way through and game the system to remain societal parasites. I don’t have any time for that ilk.

[done working]

Originally Posted by blameyourself

And the problem with regurgitated talking points like this is we can never peel back that onion and actually have a conversation. You go right into a stereotype of anyone that hasn't been as successful by referring to them as lazy and stupid (that's rich). And you really offer no solution whatsoever, just that you're mad because you think $15/hr is an acceptable living standard and if they don't like it to find something better. And typically when that person does, the ones that make comments like yours are right there complaining about the service level they get. I find it humorous to read about all the people that are mad because they have to wait longer to get their mashed potatoes at their favorite restaurants because service is slow due to the labor shortage. And of course the conversation goes well beyond that when we start talking about a lack of teachers, police officers, fire fighters, EMS, and the like. I'm actually someone that realizes that an educated population typically has less crime so I'm good with giving raises to teachers if we are short staffed. I also don't care for going back to the Wild West so I'm also Ok with making sure we have an adequate police force. So what is that magical salary that makes people like you stop complaining? Do you have anything to solve the problem or do we just keep having to hear stories about when you were young and how hard you worked?

wrong maybe if you would take the time and actually read what i said - there were many people - not all that are lazy or stupid-

and that is my perspective after owing my own company for years, interviewing and hiring and training dozens of employees- the facts are kids think they deserve a certain wage without skills or training, cry like babies when you have to reprimand them, they dont show up on time, they use every damn excuse to take days off, always have there hand out wanting something. If got to a point where we would only hire military men and women who were taught how to be respectful, understood it was a job and trained them. We had great success with military employees.

So yes alot of youngster today are lazy, feel privileged and lack work ethics!

[blameyourself]

Originally Posted by done working

wrong maybe if you would take the time and actually read what i said - there were many people - not all that are lazy or stupid-

and that is my perspective after owing my own company for years, interviewing and hiring and training dozens of employees- the facts are kids think they deserve a certain wage without skills or training, cry like babies when you have to reprimand them, they dont show up on time, they use every damn excuse to take days off, always have there hand out wanting something. If got to a point where we would only hire military men and women who were taught how to be respectful, understood it was a job and trained them. We had great success with military employees.

So yes alot of youngster today are lazy, feel privileged and lack work ethics!

Oh I took it in and you go right back to stereotyping in your response (i.e. kids, they). Maybe you should actually read your own responses. Your perspective is to stereotype.

[done working]

then so be it - truth it truth

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

Poor choices early in life, particularly in education & personal behavior, are certainly a major factor in the poverty & crime problems so many are “experiencing”.

I used to think this too, but after years of observation, I now think it is childhood trauma that causes permanent brain damage, developmental delay, and mental illness. The trauma begins where there are families with drug abuse, alcohol abuse, domestic abuse, removal of kids to foster care, early exposure to drugs and crime, etc. This is common with people in low-income areas, so the cycle keeps repeating.

Some people can overcome this but many need help to do so and never get it.

[colcat]

Originally Posted by riaelise

22/hr is roughly about 43k a year. That is not a lot of money and the bellyaching needs to stop. People are having a hard time living in this MSA (not just Austin) on that type of money. With rentals being at least 1900-2000 all over, good luck trying to afford that on 15/hr.

If you want more than just a warm body, then you're going to have to pay for it. My firm is having a tough time finding quality personnel and has to sweeten the pot in order to get any interest.

Correct.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by atxcio

I used to think this too, but after years of observation, I now think it is childhood trauma that causes permanent brain damage, developmental delay, and mental illness. The trauma begins where there are families with drug abuse, alcohol abuse, domestic abuse, removal of kids to foster care, early exposure to drugs and crime, etc. This is common with people in low-income areas, so the cycle keeps repeating.

Some people can overcome this but many need help to do so and never get it.

True, but the people who overcome these issues do so because they are willing to put a great deal of effort into besting mental barriers that snare them on a continuous basis, they are tired of their old way of life and they accept that it is unsustainable, meaning instead of excusing their past, they accept it and are willing to face it.. ..and it takes a great deal of effort and they do not always reign victorious on every battle, but eventually they do secede from their old way of living.. ..some of them may need help, some of them may not, however; the real indicator of change is the level of persistence, how much do you really want to change and what will you go through to get there...

Those who do not, may also know that their path has a dead end, but also accept that path as way of life and do not put any more effort that exceeds their level of comfort.. or if they do, they do not maintain it and eventually resort back to the things that brought them comfort, or the way of life that they knew because even though it is failing, it is also familiar.. ..in the end, no amount of help from external sources will assist anyone who does not have internal drive for change. That drive has to be there and they have to want their circumstances to change.. ..and unfortunately, many people are happy complainers.

Unfortunately some mental barriers take a great deal of effort to beat, but that drive always must remain consistent. External help can only escort you as no person can change another person without their consent or willingness, the person has to remain steadfast on any form of change of that magnitude.