What exactly is a "Living wage"?
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Given how badly most people manage their finances, to a certain extent, it doesn’t matter how much they earn. They’re always going to be poor. A lot of people think if they could just earn x amount they won’t be poor anymore. False. They’ll just buy a fancier Dodge Charger at a 14% interest rate.
That being said, it’s true wages for unskilled labor have fallen relative to prices. This is largely the result of postwar American foreign policy: outsourcing cheap labor, enforcing global shipping right of way, and subsidizing the security of partner nations. The US purposefully created the conditions that led to the domestic decline of unskilled labor wages in order to bribe other nations into its sphere of influence.
That being said, it’s true wages for unskilled labor have fallen relative to prices. This is largely the result of postwar American foreign policy: outsourcing cheap labor, enforcing global shipping right of way, and subsidizing the security of partner nations. The US purposefully created the conditions that led to the domestic decline of unskilled labor wages in order to bribe other nations into its sphere of influence.
Yes, young adults should work a part time job so they understand the value of money and communicate with people of different races, religions , cultures, backgrounds, etc…
Not having any social skills and locked in room playing video games is very bad.
Japanese have young adults that are hermits and don’t leave their room.
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A living wage is an agenda and nothing more.
A true living wage without outside interference is what you are worth to an employer and/or your ability to generate income in order to survive (sustain life) with shelter, clothes and food. It does not include internet service, cell phones, tv programming, air conditioning or dining out on any type of food. Just to name a few.
A true living wage without outside interference is what you are worth to an employer and/or your ability to generate income in order to survive (sustain life) with shelter, clothes and food. It does not include internet service, cell phones, tv programming, air conditioning or dining out on any type of food. Just to name a few.
We’re having trouble finding young people to take service jobs in bars and restaurants. Many of them know it’s not enough to support themselves on their own so, they are living with their parents until they can get their act together ( or not).
I don't have the answers. I tend to treat my guys the best way I know how. I take them to lunch all the time, and pay exceptionally well, always paying more than the number of hours worked.
What about when compared to someone who is more qualified, faster or does a better job? Should a HS or College student in a "starter" job qualify for welfare, food stamps or a living wage? What about a guy who never leaves that "starter" job? Are they now entitled to a living wage?
As the boss, I have my own view, the amount of employee related issues can be flat out unreal. There are folks that accomplish nearly nothing, lie, cheat and steal, fail to show up, create division and strife among other employees, and loudly proclaim they deserve more. Nonsense. We had one bodybuilder guy who was pretty darn close to a fight! Who knows what his problem was. The reality is that it is up to you to ensure you have the best job you are qualified for.
It is NOT up to me, as an employer, to ensure you can cover your expenses.
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In my post above, I hit on what people tend to miss. In the category of "living wage" employees, there is great unreliability and stability problems. They are often quite simply, not worth it. The reliable good workers nearly always move up or out to a better job.
Internet access is essential in modern life of United States. I am glad the government see it that way now. It can break anyone free and let Us economy thrive. An inexpensive smart phone may cover this need however without access you languish .
Tax dollars (payers) shouldn't be on the hook for somebody to have internet access....period.
In 1985 I bought a house like that on one salary...today it takes both husband and wife working to afford it. Whose fault is this?
Maybe 'fault' is a poor choice of wording but there are people whose actions or inactions give them a large degree of 'responsibility'...unfortunately they never seem to be held accountable.
In No Logo, Klein says the "living wage" logic starts to slip in the post-war period when women and then teenagers start to come into the workforce in large numbers. Their labor can be discounted, because it is presumed to be additional, extra or added to a husband's/father's wages. The construction of all sorts of part-time "McJobs" follows this logic until no one remembers why or how the junk jobs were rationalized in the first place.
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In the macro economic level, I blame it on Nixon Shock. USD no longer equals to gold in value and now it follows British Pound in terms of buying power. When you have the equivalent to unlimited borrowing, government (aka voters) eventually will take that instead of higher tax or reduced government spending (social services, infrastructure).
The post WW2 economy boom is in theory unsustainable forever. The way we were able to finance our living standard as a whole means the cost of living will eventually tilt the balance to elsewhere until they caught up. US manufacturing becomes more expensive and manufacturing moves offshore, US services now can be offshored via internet and a lot of those works moved to India and Philippine, Japan becomes more expensive and their manufacturing moves to China, Malaysia, etc, China becomes more expensive and their manufacturing moves to Vietnam, etc. Eventually, you can't have uneven high standard of living between nations that can substitute each other forever. The only exception is if politics are screwed up (i.e. Communism imploding itself because of the lack of motivation, impossible cost of living makes certain services like McD jobs impossible in certain areas).
I think I mentioned a small cafe owner's opinion here before. He couldn't hire anyone who knows how to sweep the floor for $17/hr. To get someone who knows how to do a basic job he has to pay $21, and at that rate he basically will just shut the door when nobody works even if it is a good time to keep the cafe open (Sunday), as he need at least 2 people (himself and 1 employee) to run the cafe. Why can someone demand $21? Because those who would do it for $14 are moved out to places with 1/2 the cost of living and they are working their $14/hr job there already. They don't move there because of politics, they move there because it is too expensive, because other people making 200k-300k a year are pricing them out.
The inflation that has reared it's head in the last couple of years has basically hurt all Americans and yet we are not seeing any blame being assigned for it.....and there certainly is blame to go around for it.
The number of “homes” with 4 or more similarly aged adults paying towards its rental/ownership has been going up for years. 3bed House across the street from my mom has 10 adults living there.
Our local Culver’s and A&W have hourds of 14 year olds working there all summer, need to be patient and check your “food” for errors. Some 14 year olds are decent , others are hard working and scatter brained.
Our local CVS is only 3 years old, looks like an outdated mess inside, kids stocking and register but the pharmacy area has 2 adults busy 24/7 running like chickens with heads cut off in off with the drive through, inside is all clearance with very few venturing inside, far spaced aisles and minimal stock.
A few folks from the $5T 2020 blackwater and friends bailout boondoggle were fired.
Funny part is those complaining about it are the same folks who fully approved it with a smile back in 2020.
Nothing proposed by anyone will address the real source of this problem
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I was at an IKEA the other day, and it became very clear to me that they are trying to move to a post-labor, or at least labor reducing, model where more and more of the work involving customers and their purchases are being put on the customers themselves.
To get an ice-cream cone, for example, you have to go to a kiosk, scroll though all sorts of menus, find your ice cream, pay for it and then walk to a counter where you are given your ice cream. The only way that you can go to the counter and say "I'd like a vanilla ice cream cone, please," and get one, is if you pay with cash.
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