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Conservatives are trying their damnest to get us there.
I asked you why the presumption this statement:
Quote:
he cost determined by supply and demand. But as a society, we should also be able to apply the presumption that full-time workers should be able to meet their basic needs for survival.
So, I'm asking you to explain it. Not the demagoguery above, I want a rational explanation of why anyone doing anything should earn a comfortable life and who you intend to fund it.
Economics aside, it's much more than that. You stand your whole shift on you feet, deal with rude customers, clean up throw up or worse in the bathroom, take out the trash, restock, clean, clean, clean what messy rude customers leave behind. I think that work deserves more than $7/hr.
I've worked in retail and food service and honestly it's not an easy peasy job. It might not require a lot of complex skills or an abundance of brain cells, but it's strenuous on the body, plus it involves working with customers, who can be really a pain in the a$$ a lot of times. On top of that you are usually required to work nights, weekends, holidays etc.
The argument I keep seeing is that these jobs are a step up to something better. However, my counter argument is (1) not everyone is management or trade school material what have you. And (2), looking at the job reports and trends, we are creating a lot of service/retail jobs and not too many skilled jobs. Imagine every retail/service employee went to trade school, will there be jobs for them all?
What is wrong with these people that ring up your coffee to be paid a wage that can afford them a place to live not in the ghetto, food on the table, utilities, a decent vehicle, entertainment and some money to put away. Why do these people have to work 2 or 3 part-time min-wage jobs, just to scrape by. Yes it's not rocket science, but it's still work. Honest work at that. I can tell you that I don't work as hard in my "cushy" office job as I did when I was serving tables in college. At least in the office I don't deal with customers, I can take a break when I want, go online etc.
Here's my math. Average McD's employee makes $7.62/hr (I saw on the news this morning). Lets say this person works 40 hours and then makes $304.80/week or $15,240/year (50 weeks). Taxes would be roughly $400 on this income, single. Expenses might look like this (I'm in Florida):
Rent/bills: $500/mos -$6000 for the year
Cell phone: $50/mos - $600 year
Health Insurance: $200/mos - $2400/yr
Car insurance: $50/mos - $600/yr
Clothes: $300/yr
Food: $100/mos - $300/yr
Gas: $80/mos - $960/yr
Car maintenance: $500/yr
Total: $11,660
This leaves roughly $280/mos for savings/entertainment. Maybe I'm missing some expenses, but these are mine. There is no way to raise a child on this income. Even if it's two earners, most of the expenses double and rent goes up for a bigger place. What if there is an emergency or you need to pay your insurance deductible, there is no thing left. Even upping this person's wage to just $12/hr would give them some room for emergencies/savings etc.
What I'm getting at is, are these peoples not deserving of vacations, children, savings, not having to scrape by. I mean they are putting in 40 hours of labor as well. And to the argument that they can't even get your order right - my argument is there is probably not a lot of motivation. I know I would put in more effort not to get the order wrong and not to get fired if I was making $12/hr vs. $7. Maybe not start out at $12/hr, but after a year or so employment and having proved yourself, why not make $12/hr? There are companies out there that pay these wages and still turn decent profits.
Your math is way off. Fast food jobs don't give 40 hours/week. At most 30 hours/week. Not to mention your figures are way low. Health insurance for 200/mo? Sign me up. Gas for 80 month? C'mon, now. Food @ 25 week? Not where I live, not close.
Your math is way off. Fast food jobs don't give 40 hours/week. At most 30 hours/week. Not to mention your figures are way low. Health insurance for 200/mo? Sign me up. Gas for 80 month? C'mon, now. Food @ 25 week? Not where I live, not close.
In Florida it's reasonable. You're right, health insurance will be free with Obamacare.
You are arguing for about 4% of the population here.
The majority of them are young workers.
Less than 2% of that 4% are married.
Nearly 80% of this 4% are White.
That is the BLS 2013 demographics of the min wage worker that came out in March 2014.
So basically you want to hand $30K a year to teenagers and college students.
Reality is many highly skilled jobs pay in that range.
Why? Because of the value of the job's product on the open market.
Maybe this was your reality in 1950's but in 2014 highly skilled jobs pay way more than $12-15 / hr or maybe you just don't know what highly skilled jobs are?
You are arguing for about 4% of the population here.
The majority of them are young workers.
Less than 2% of that 4% are married.
Nearly 80% of this 4% are White.
That is the BLS 2013 demographics of the min wage worker that came out in March 2014.
So basically you want to hand $30K a year to teenagers and college students.
Maybe this was your reality in 1950's but in 2014 highly skilled jobs pay way more than $12-15 / hr.
I'm sorry, this is reality, today. Get out of your cloistered ivory tower.
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