Pardon me, but when did everybody mandate that minimum wage jobs needed to pay the mortgage?

Question

My goodness, the minimum wage jobs I had were motivation tools, I knew I would never be able to live on them! Every floor I swept, every toilet I cleaned, every trash can I emptied, every burger I flipped, every pile of vomit I mopped, all things to keep my eyes on the prize: My education (paid for by myself, thank you very much) and the skills that last me a lifetime.

So, when exactly were minimum wage jobs supposed to provide a home, a car, a vacation and nice clothes for a family of four?

Answer 1

Some people are too lazy to even have the desire to better themselves.  They sit back and cry that they didn't get the opportunity for an education, when in reality, those were the ones who were skipping school and/or not paying attention in class.  They'd rather be out hanging around on the streets, and God forbid if they have to get up in the morning to get to school on time!  Those are the people who are mad at everyone who has accomplished anything in life.  Those are the ones who feel the rest of America owes them something, and goes about getting it by working minimum wage and collecting welfare for the rest of their lives.  Oh yeah, some even "supplement" their income by selling drugs.  Those are the people who are angry at us because we do have homes, we do have our own cars, we do plan and save for vacations, and we can buy nice clothing without running up credit cards and bailing out on the credit card company.  I'm a single female; I own my home, free and clear, I don't use credit cards, I do own an '07 car which I'm still paying on, but I have literally worked my *** off to get to this position in life....and I'm d**n proud of all of my accomplishments.  Yep, flippin burgers at age 15 was a huge motivatinal tool for me.....plus having hard working parents helped too.

Answer 2

its a good point.

i have often wondered why those who think increasing the minimum wage increases the buying power of those workers dont just support raising it to 100k per year and wipe out poverty forever. why fiddle around with a dollar here and a dollar there?

the fact is that sweeping a floor for a day has a value to the economy (not a dollar amount, a value). it is about one tank of gas or two bags of groceries. it dosent matter if you call it five, fifty or five hundred dollars, that is its value. increasing the number of dollars for that work simply decreases the value of the dollar, it does not increase the the value of sweeping a floor or have any affect on the buying power of those workers. in fact, the the inflation that must result from these devalued dollars could hurt their buying power, especially if foreign dollars are stable or growing.

Answer 3

I've not seen such a mandate, however when the minimum wage is increased other wages are increased proportionately. This is good for workers at all levels as the cost of living continues to rise. You may argue that it increases the cost of goods and services and I say look around they are going up anyway.

Answer 4

really a form of welfare for the lazy.

Answer 5

I guess you need an older persons look at the question. In 1965.The wage was $1.10 an hour.  It was to pay the rent, provide transportation and food for a starting family. It  provided for a basic living wage where the bread winner could make a living and the wife could raise the kids, with one wage earner. It did.  It was done because of big business and the federal government not wanting unions.  It was an appeasement. It worked.  The wage was set based on the real economy, not the fake economy we have now.  It was never  to be the end all for a life time career.  The economy we have now is global in nature, If the workers demand to much, we ship the firm overseas and you have no job. Look at the Steel and Auto workers, very well paid, excellent benefits and the unions with their demands killed the businesses.  In the 70's it became cheaper to buy foreign steel and ship and pay tariffs than buy US steel..  The steel industry went bottom up. The majority of  the jobs being created now are low skill, mundane,boring jobs  that pay low wages, little or no benefits, with poor working conditions.  The fault is with way the businesses do business,  the modern unions and whole lot government.  Yes if you are willing to work and strive, you can still make it.  But the chances are getting fewer and fewer.

To many people want the government to do it for them.  The best example is the way local and state governments handled Hurricanes a few years ago. Louisiana wanted someone else to do it for them, and still do. Mississippi and Texas did it for themselves.  Far to many today want the minimum wage to buy the 3,00 sq foot house with 2 new cars and all the trimmings. My generation calls them lazy s***s.  They don't realize the cost of goods if that were the case.  The government would have to nationalize everything and set prices.  It did not work in the old USSR.  It sure as h**l won't  work now.  Best place to start is to remove all the good old boys from government, set terms limits for all elected government positions and stop this being thin skinned and politically correct.  If you want something, get off your butt and work for it.  We need to return to the "I can do it for myself attitude".  I will end with this example of attitudes.

In Europe, a man sees a new Rolls Royce go by, His attitude is "get that man out of that car because I don't have one". In the US its see the car and think" someday I will earn  one of those too".

Answer 6

One should not be made comfortable in a minimum wage job. Get up and get out. Let the next round of entry level workers use the stepping stone.

Answer 7

well, by your questions today you sound like one of the employers who has to give his slaves a raise according to the Federal  Government~!!!

not taking it too well, i see~!!!

Answer 8

i got your memo and message..u r correct minimum wage was never and should not expected to pay a morgage

Answer 9

There are people who( for what ever reason ) have to work a min wage job and perhaps some on them have to try to pay their rent or house payment.  The poor you will always have with you,,,,  ( bible )