Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The gap beween wealthiest people and middle and poor people widens. Now there is a mass wave of protests, lawsuits from people pushing for livable wages. People working at McDonals now push to increase minimum wage because they are currently unable to live on current minimum wages and must use public assistance benefits which in turn cost taxpayer's dollars. Today in news, they mentioned lawsuit of college students suing David Letterman and CBS show alleging that free full-time 40hours unpaid internships they did was just full-time job without valuable learning experience and they were just employees.
I noticed in many web portals, under comments people's negative comments that makes you think why people would want to continue to be abused. They say most minimum wage jobs such as for McDonalds are only for teenagers who live with parents or older people as an end to make money in addition their SS retirement benefits. That employees are self-entitled spoiled brats. That back then when he/she worked she would just work way up to get promoted. Or they can just simply go to college, up skills and find better jobs.
Except times have changed. People are oblivious that opportunities that existed for them in 50's or 70's arent' the same now. Back then cost of living was lower, yet wages same so they had opportunity to maybe work 1 part time or full-time job, go to part-time college and move up. Now those same people work 2, sometimes 3 part time jobs with chaotic schedules to keep up with expenses. Forget if they are parents that have children. Then people respond that well they should not have children in the first place if they don't have better jobs. But they already do, so what they are supposed to do? Abandon them at Toys R Us?
I think Americans are really starting to wake up. We've been overworked and underpaid for too long, because that's how we were raised. That 2 weeks of paid vacation is standard, even generous. It's not. Most of Western Europe takes a whole month off--September--in addition to vacation time and paid maternity leave. Their education and health systems run circles around ours.
I think it really boils down to taxes, regulation, and less income inequality. It's no secret the income gap is widening in this country and we're on the losing end.
People should be complaining about the lack of better paying jobs! If you have to take a minimum wage job, don't complain that you can't survive on it. That's like buying a motorcycle and complaining you can't have more passengers then two! Here's a hint. Look for jobs that pay more. Don't accept a job for less then complain you can't pay your bills.
They should be protesting for a better economic environment so business will be competing for workers causing wages to go UP!! But we all voted for change and now we complain when we get hit.
I think Americans are really starting to wake up. We've been overworked and underpaid for too long, because that's how we were raised. That 2 weeks of paid vacation is standard, even generous. It's not. Most of Western Europe takes a whole month off--September--in addition to vacation time and paid maternity leave. Their education and health systems run circles around ours.
I think it really boils down to taxes, regulation, and less income inequality. It's no secret the income gap is widening in this country and we're on the losing end.
A revolution is much needed.
I have been saying this for years.
the 8 hour work day is too long.
we created this.
2 weeks vacation for a whole years work is too short
we created this.
5 sick days sint enough for a whole year
we created this.
god didnt do this, we did.
it is sickening that we as americans, all we do is work.
Last edited by Oldhag1; 09-23-2014 at 10:06 AM..
Reason: Removed color font
"Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires." -John Steinbeck
America is all about American Exceptionalism and Just World Fallacies. If we work hard enough, we will be successful. If that means working three minimum wage part time jobs, cramming in 80 hours a week so that you can take home around $30,000 per year, then that's the way it is. "Other people" who fail to get better jobs/advance do so because they are lazy or because of some other failing they had complete control over. If it happens to them, it's bad luck and it'll probably change soon.
But of course, everyone with money has earned it fairly and deserves their success. If they didn't, then why are they doing so well for themselves?
Dang, where's that eye-rolling smiley when I need it?
Last edited by cephalopede; 09-22-2014 at 01:35 PM..
"Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires." -John Steinbeck
America is all about American Exceptionalism and Just World Fallacies. If we work hard enough, we will be successful. If that means working three minimum wage part time jobs, cramming in 80 hours a week so that you can take home around $30,000 per year, then that's the way it is. "Other people" who fail to get better jobs/advance do so because they are lazy or because of some other failing they had complete control over. If it happens to them, it's bad luck and it'll probably change soon.
But of course, everyone with money has earned it fairly and deserves their success. If they didn't, then why are they doing so well for themselves?
Dang, where's that eye-rolling smiley when I need it?
Not sure if your employer cares how hard you are working. Its more like if the work you are doing is making him more money then the wages he is paying you. That ditch digger is working a lot harder then that back hoe worker. Yet the back hoe guy is doing more work which is more of value to the employer.
How about if we just work smarter? Most people especially when younger, go from job to job to better themselves. When a better job is found, they move on. I have not met many people that found a minimum wage job and said" I made it, now its time to start my family". Don't blame the job when your not making enough money. Blame the economy for not having enough higher paying jobs out there.
My supervisor rarely takes vacation. Rarely. Her & I share a cubicle & can I just say how annoying it is to share a cubicle with not only someone else but your direct supervisor? Breathing down your neck all day long, absolutely no privacy & because she rarely takes vacation she is ALWAYS. THERE. No, sorry, I refuse to work more than I need to & not use my vacation. I do not understand that mindset. Is that lazy? How so? I am working when I'm at work, I do my job & I do it well. I have taken up the slack when my supervisor was out for almost 2 months due to her sick & eventually deceased father. Not a word of thank you or acknowledgement was given for that. I ask frequently if I can take on more responsibility...denied. Eventually, that wears on a person, you know? So, I will work of course, I will do my job of course but I will be darned if I am going to be a slave to work. No way. I'm 43, I am going to enjoy my life & that means not bringing work home with me, literally & mentally, using my vacations & enjoying my vacations. Where does it get you if you devote your life to work? Nowhere. Pretty soon, you'll be dead. Will you be on your death bed saying "You know, I wish I would've worked more"? No.
Employer, huh? Every employer I met so far in this country believes, and honestly, that everyone is under worked and over paid. No matter how little, or how much, you make.
These posts remind me of a funny joke: An employee is outside his office building admiring a shiny, new BMW in the parking lot. His boss comes out, unlocks the door and starts to get into the car. "Wow!," the employee says, "that's a really nice car!" His boss replies, "Thanks! Keep working hard and I'll be able to get an even better one next year!"
The steadily declining fertility rate, around the world, is going to be the best thing that happened in this world, less and less people to exploit, more difficult to find qualified employees. If Silicon Valley exec's are worried about it, what about other businesses?
Yes, the fertility rates in parts of Africa are still in the 6.0/7.0 bracket, but worry not, as how many of these will even survive infancy, childhood or their teen years!
Thailand is even getting desperate with their super low 1.3 fertility rate and are now begging the Laotians and Cambodians to move over there to do the work the Thai's don't want to do anymore. China, with their one-child policy? And those one-child "emperors", you ain't gonna catch them working at McDonald's or see them on an assembly line!
A lot of workaholics (workaholics and alcoholics wear the same clothes!) in this country, given the number of employees in this country who are letting their vacation time evaporate without using it.
One way to help low income workers is to provide more affordable housing. And to accomplish that you also need to kick the butts of the anti-development Nimby's infesting so many of our cities.
Back in the 50's there was tons of money pouring out of Washington to build public housing projects, 40,000 units were built in Chicago alone, and why isn't that being done today?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
