Living on Minimum Wage

[@Gary65437]

I don't know what's worse getting 7.25 an hr or having taxes taken out of that.

[@greenearthblueskies8556]

Dayuuuuuuum.....you have a point.

[@TheCatslock]

Right? What's the point of having taxes taken out when its a proven fact almost all politicians don't actually represent us. They represent the corporations and rich donors.

[@AO-nr7kl]

So is your suggestion to not tax anyone not earning 15.00 per hour besides Medicare and SSI? Interesting thought

[@ninjablack4347]

sales tax, social security tax, medicare tax, income tax from state and federal. I just don't know why these lazy young people aren't succeeding in life, said the boomer

[@Gary65437]

@@ninjablack4347 As a boomer that once made $3.25 an hr minimum wage in 1976 working construction as a laborer I recall having to pay all those taxes. But it does seem like everything costs more nowadays. Boomers never had a $90 monthly fee for a cell phone or $80 cable bill, or paid $900+ to rent an apt and we could buy a cheap used car. You don't see many of them anymore either. Now you have to live in your van or car or with parents to get by on $7.25.

[@1colsch]

Hi! I'm the economist from the video. I just wanted to thank you for watching this piece and I encourage you to share this and discuss what the minimum wage should be in the US. Have a wonderful day!

[@libertarian4323]

I hope the China Global Television Network (a subsidiary of the Chinese Communist Party) paid you enough for your participation to fix that cracked windshield on your truck.

[@zed6740]

@@libertarian4323 What kind of mental gymstatics did you even do to jump to such a ridiculous conclusion?

[@libertarian4323]

@@zed6740 The windshield was clearly cracked. The part about CGTN is even more obvious. CGTN is owned by China Central Television, the state controlled media arm of the People's Republic of China, which was established by Mao. This isn't a secret, they don't even attempt to hide it.

[@zed6740]

@@libertarian4323 Right so what's your point? If it's funded by CGTN is that wrong because as far as I'm concerned, as long as it's factual and reasonable that's all matters.

[@libertarian4323]

@@zed6740 It's "factual" as the Chinese Communist Party chooses to see it. It's riddled with omissions in order to fool the unknowing and unthinking into believing a narrative that to a large degree is not true.

[@toughflowers5088]

$2.50/5.00 an hour should be a crime

[@PraveenSrJ01]

Slavery

[@sfrealestatedealmaker6001]

@@PraveenSrJ01 They aren’t forced to work there, how is that slavery? 😂

[@zed6740]

@@sfrealestatedealmaker6001 Workers consent to wage slavery under the implicit threat of poverty, starvation, homelessness, etc. If you don't get a job, those are all the things you'll receive. In order to survive in this society, workers must submit to exploitation. After all, it is better for a worker to receive half of what they are worth than to receive nothing at all. Even if the worker may have chosen to work for a specific employer, they were ultimately forced by their environment to seek employment. Oftentimes, workers don't even really get to chose their employers, since they end up having to take the only jobs they can find. Any wage worker is faced with the survival imperative of earning money in order to survive in this system. Unfortunately for them, the people running businesses and companies know this all too well and are able to offer less than livable wages for work, with minimal benefits, as they know for those seeking employment that the circumstances dictate that they take the job or starve and be homeless. The freedom to apply for several different positions is far outweighed by the rudimentary enslavement that is wage based labor, especially in areas without many protections or advocacy groups for those laborers.

[@MattSezer]

At least in a lot of places, restaurants are required to reimburse tipped employees up to minimum wage if they didn’t get any tips. I know there is some confusion as to if this applies to the specific hour, day, or work week, but overall, it is illegal in many states for tipped employees to make less than the minimum wage if nobody tips.

[@zed6740]

@@MattSezer Interesting, can I have a article or a source about that? I'd like to learn more about this. And does this only apply to just restaurants? I don't think employees should be even having to rely on tips just to get by though and even if some states outlaw having employees be paid below minimum wage, would it really prove to be any significance if the minimum wage is just $7.25?

[@corneilusdonaldson1858]

They were worried about firing employees if the minimum wage were raised, however, most employees are quitting instead! I love it!

[@wilson4180]

Small businesses that can’t afford to pay employees $15/hr shouldn’t be hiring ppl in the first place.

[@AdultingShouldntSuck]

@@wilson4180 Says the guy who has probably never owned a business and has no clue about how much it costs to run one...

[@AdultingShouldntSuck]

I'm glad to see the businesses struggling who took advantage of their employees to maximize their profits. People are tired of working crap jobs for pay they can barely live on. But unemployment doesn't last for THAT long... so I can't help but wonder what are these people doing to better themselves and increase their skills to get paid more at their next job?

[@diouranke]

I wonder what they're doing though

[@wilson4180]

@@AdultingShouldntSuck what are these ppl doing to better themselves to increase their skills.. nothing because they’re trapped in a never ending cycle of a low paying wage and working themselves to death to barely survive. If given a choice of further education or food, people choose food 10/10 times.

[@lovelife7343]

Low wages is why so many Americans are on food stamps, housing assistance and medical assistance.

[@gpk1982]

Yup! And instead of fixing the problems they want more tax money to “help” more Americans... 🙄 Then can help do not subsidizing corporate greed with welfare programs that also hollow out the middle class...

[@csteele24]

@@gpk1982 nailed it!

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

Those things are just traps

[@saitamablz1512]

High taxe and expensive legislation ?

[@boogieap3617]

Redlining

[@katel3962]

$7.25 per hour is insulting in 2021. I made that amount, but it was 25 years ago.

[@coreysuffield]

25 years ago, that would have been 12.52 per hour in today's money, to make today's 7.25 you would have been only making 4.15 per hour(25 years ago)

[@jennifertarin4707]

$15 per hour in 2021 is insulting as evidenced by this 72 year old grandma.

[@ElearningDigest]

I made $3.30 an hour back in 1987. That’s probably around $7 today. I was only 16. This was in California, washing dishes.

[@MegaPrincessviolet]

Agreed. I made that amount when I was 16, and working part time. I'm 30 now.

[@thehangmansdaughter1120]

We paid our babysitter $15/hr 10 years ago in New Zealand. Granted he was watching active twins, but still, I wasn't going to short him a decent wage. I can't believe Americans think it's okay to treat millions of families like that, it's inhumane, it's plain wrong. When 20% of your population can't feed and house themselves despite working full-time jobs there's something seriously wrong with how you run your country. Democracy is supposed to protect people, your representatives are supposed to work FOR you, to advance your cause, it's their job to care. Clearly they don't give a damn about any of you. You deserve better, you're paying them good money to not do their jobs. If they worked minimum wage jobs they'd have been fired years ago. It's time for a change.

[@jack_lin5946]

When I worked at a restaurant as a cook and a waiter, I swore to myself that I will never work in a resturant again. Too much work for so little pay.

[@JIMMY-nz1ld]

But I thought the restaurant staffs gets good tips?

[@libertarian4323]

Same here. So I got an engineering degree. No more minimum wage. No government do-gooder needed.

[@jack_lin5946]

@@libertarian4323 same here! Got a software engineering job after college.

[@howellwong11]

@@libertarian4323 Yeh, but not everyone is smart. There is the Bell Curve.

[@gdredd9587]

@JKSteve1124 Any job should pay ppl a living wage. It’s brutal and inhuman to agree that these people should not have the means for the bare necessities after working to feed the likes of you all day.

[@kel3678]

I think not having children young and working hard helped me to escape poverty.

[@lelebella3252]

I didn’t have children young so I’d disagree with ya

[@taebby78]

There is absolutely no reason that a huge corporation would have to lay off employees in order to pay $15 an hour. The CEO just needs to get a grip on reality and ditch the yacht.

[@kmckask4831]

The yacht of operation costs and governmental imposed fees? It’s not cheap to keep a business running and if it doesn’t the workers will go from having some money to having none and being jobless

[@taebby78]

@@kmckask4831 this is the most asinine comment I've ever read. As if the cost of living for the average citizen doesn't matter...

[@chrisward4576]

Oh that's going to work

[@intuitionz1198]

well in Sweden, McDonald's pays their minimum wage workers 23.50 an hour. the prices of the food are comparable to American prices. they don't pay it in America because nobody forces them to. it's never been about them being able to afford it they just want to be greedy. owners, CEOs, etc don't actually really work for a living. most of the time they got loans just to be able to afford the business that they have. then when things go well, which never would have happened without the workers, they take all the money and run. then they cry poor mouth. and the brain dead part of our population actually believes them.

[@josephjarosz9009]

They will be replaced with automation

[@djjoshski]

*2 dollars an hour is easy to find on the ground than working a job*

[@Ty-vj4wg]

2 Dollars an hour isn’t minimum wage.

[@elvisherrera12]

@@Ty-vj4wg not unless one works at a restaurant

[@carlkpsplucky5554]

You’d have to find 20 dimes or 40 Nickels on the ground an hour. No one is leaving anything larger then a quarter on the ground in Wyoming.

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

I don't most people are leaving money on the ground and waiting for you to pick it up. Are you working?

[@kmckask4831]

@@elvisherrera12 They actually get paid the most with the benefit of having it in cash and not usually taxable unless tipped digitally

[@pamelamays4186]

Millionaire law makers consistently vote against raising the minimum wage.

[@dragonore2009]

Good, they should vote against it, in fact they should vote to repeal minimum wage laws.

[@spudman12382]

@@dragonore2009 don't like making minimum wage? Than do whatever you have to do to make more money

[@dragonore2009]

@@spudman12382 Indeed, the federal minimum wage should be $0/hour.

[@spudman12382]

@@dragonore2009 most people won't agree with that but of a place is only paying 5 dollars an hour well.... don't work there. And try to encourage the people who do work there to find something better. Because if that place has no employees then they will have to raise the pay or go out of business.

[@dragonore2009]

@@spudman12382 Indeed. If a place is dumb enough to offer $1/hour nobody will work there. Bernie Bros act as if business people are stupid, when they are not. They have enough sense to offer you the market wage. They wouldn't offer a $1/hour wage since they know you will just go somewhere else. Despite what Bernie Bros think, labor is competitive and as much as a "Capitalist" wants to exploit you for low wages, another Capitalist wants to do the same, but has to offer you a bit more than the other Capitalist to get your labor. So the "exploitation by Capitalist" as a criticism by Bernie Bros is mitigated by a competitive labor market which is enhanced by less government involvement in the economy, yet the Bernie Bros wants more government intrusion in the market which exacerbates the problem.

[@HybridParentSupport]

I needed experience, a diploma and three references to get a desk job at a hospital an I got $14.00/hour.. the Taco Bell down the street was hiring at $15.00/hour. The f***?

[@venitocamelo6704]

what year was it??

[@helengarrett6378]

I raised two children on low wage jobs and they suffered nutritionally and in social ways too. I still live a low wage existance at 80 years old because social security is based on your lifetime employment wage. So that is an entire lifetime of struggle, working two jobs until I physically broke down and scrounging.

[@johnnypham2850]

Ms. Garret May I please ask why You chose that lifestyle and decided to place other people in such a circumstance?

[@yoshimansxl]

Ignore the comment by Johnny Pham, that person is either a troll or one of those hyper individualists who believe people chose a life of struggle.

[@richardbowers3647]

Amen to that! Survival is everything, and you've survived to 80 & then some. As for me, I had to keep on reinventing myself to do something similar as you did. It was a tawdry society that kept me off balance, and that high-rising cost of living thing was unbeatable too! Survival! Happy to hear you made it.

[@sfrealestatedealmaker6001]

@@yoshimansxl 😂 Don’t be a victim, we all make choices in our lives.

[@gwenie77able]

America is so sad. Greed is all it is.

[@themax37]

They shouldn't only focus on the minimum wage, but the cost of living as well.

[@abcdef-kx2qt]

********* COLA ***************

[@intuitionz1198]

that's just it they'll keep raising their prices of rent but never give people enough money to pay it what they raised it to. the whole point of the reich wing is to kill off as many people that they feel are lazy as possible. corporations don't need people that's why they are fighting so hard to ban abortions. they kill off the people that they think suck all the money for out of the economy for them and force the ones that are left to continue to have babies they don't want. this is their idea of creating a society that doesn't have people that are kind in it and just has a slave population. they get away with this kind of atrocity because they've convinced a bunch of lower and middle class people that if they just work hard enough they'll make just as much money as they do. anyone with two brain cells to rub together knows this will never happen. what they're doing is actually a crime against humanity.

[@alexdetrojan4534]

The cost of renting or home ownership is the thing that is making people poor

[@intuitionz1198]

@Lilly B well rent doesn't have to go up prices don't have to go up none of that has to happen. that's strictly with the result of the greedy.

[@seemslegit57]

@Lilly B rent and inflation is always going to go up regardless if the minimum wage is raised or not

[@azteca6695]

The elderly lady should be enjoying her golden years...

[@GravaticBurst]

Oh the corporate dogs are enjoying her golden years!!!

[@davisholman8149]

She has a family she loves - yes, wish she could only work part time. But trust me - sitting home 24/7 watching TV is no life either. Her family makes her ‘rich’ compared to some.

[@mackeejack6731]

@@GravaticBurst last generation to have social security.....your sympathy is misplaced

[@GravaticBurst]

@@mackeejack6731 social security is a joke and has grown into something it wasn't meant for.

[@d33763]

While top 500 billlionaires has $8 trillion in net worth and top 10% of population owns 90% of American stocks/equities. America, where ones dreams are built on another’s nightmare.

[@robthoreux1508]

If you can't pay a livable wage, you shouldn't be in business .

[@darksoulsss2618]

Amen to that... and am not religious.

[@ColinTherac117]

When the business doesn't exist, then things don't get done. Just like with me having to do all of my house repairs myself. The labor costs for professional carpenters, plumbers, and electricians are priced to only be able to break even working on mansions at mansion prices. And when I do it myself, I run the risk of labor unions using exclusionary legal tactics, targeted enforcement of regulations, and/or just regular suing me into the ground just for fixing my home.

[@BlackPaladin2]

@@ColinTherac117 ....then you raise prices slightly to make a profit. It isn't that difficult, literally every successful business in history has done it.

[@tigerztail]

Why is the poor elderly lady providing for others? She should be retired and taken care of. So sad.

[@claytonbill]

Agreed.

[@jcman240]

Cause she and her children have no skills the free market wants

[@anonomous8719]

If only she paid into a 401k. Sacrifice today for tomorrow betterment.

[@wturner777]

@@anonomous8719 How could she if all her money is going towards her necessities, which are getting more expensive every year?

[@anonomous8719]

@@wturner777 cut back. Most necessities are wants not needs.

[@reginafisher9919]

When I started working at age 16 the minimum wage was $4.25 an hour now I am 46 and it is $7.25 something is very wrong with that it's called greed. CEOs would rather put that in their pockets then raise wages and scare us that if our wages raised prices would raise the truth of the matter is everything has already raised except for our pay the pay we should be getting bought the CEO the next big house or the next large trip end of story

[@keirenle]

The minimum wage in Australia is over 21 dollars per hour for adult, 21 and onwards. We have Medicare and super for retirement yet many still find it hard to survive. How is a fiver be a living wage?

[@jazzyjazz9872]

@@keirenle despite of the sticky situation why the property market is rocketing sky high ?

[@strayCATchillspot]

ask foreign MILLIONAIRE INVESTORS...ASK doctors lawyers and CEOs.. ask university professors....ask pharmacy owner and land lords....ask your bankers.....they will EXPLAIN THIS IS ONLY RIGHT.....we are worthless...just modern slaves......inbred brainwashed addicted to garbage.....RIP EARTH...RIP FREEDOM AND DIGNITY😭😭😭😭😰

[@mauibill7233]

@@jazzyjazz9872 It's called a boom, caused by greedy investors pumping money into the market. It will crash soon, don't worry about that.

[@jazzyjazz9872]

@@mauibill7233 hope so

[@mikewilloughby1119]

I remember when I was in college sacking groceries, the owner told his friend that he has to pay his bag boys$1.60 an hour. I was paying my way through college, but by the grace of God I graduated. The poor are so mistreated. It makes me mad as hell! Mike from Tennessee!

[@cakeisyummy5755]

@Tajveer Sidhu Moving is Expensive.

[@johnmartin4641]

You were in college. You weren’t supposed to make a lot of money. That’s for after college.

[@scwirpeo]

@@johnmartin4641 Have to pay for college somehow. Not all of us get born with a silver spoon like you.

[@johnmartin4641]

@@scwirpeo parents need to step up and pay for their kids’ college like I did for mine. I blame parents who don’t pay for their kids’ college for creating socialists.

[@markcalous305]

@@johnmartin4641 Not everyone has parents that can afford to pay for their schooling Johnny. You're speaking from a position of PRIVILEGE.

[@treyd3433]

This is the sadder side of the US. Atleast we have free healthcare here in Canada and minimum wage in Alberta is $15/hour.

[@dylanhoward7668]

On the flip side your average salaries are much lower and your housing costs are much higher.

[@treyd3433]

@@dylanhoward7668 housing in Canada can be very expensive but Alberta isnt bad. Avg household income in my city is close to 100k CAD so like 25 cents USD 😄... I think it depends on what part of the US are talking about with regards to avg salaries and housing cost.

[@dylanhoward7668]

@@treyd3433 yes, the prairies region is pretty affordable, but housing costs in Toronto and Vancouver have become shameful in the past decade, just like in coastal California.

[@treyd3433]

@@dylanhoward7668 OMG yes!! Its insane! I dunno how avg people afford housing in Vancouver or TO. Atlantic Canada and Quebec are ok i think.

[@93ImagineBreaker]

@@dylanhoward7668 housingisnt better here

[@neonnoir9692]

Having kids is the last thing you need to do. We grew up in poverty to single mothers in a poor town and I knew I had to take drastic measures to escape that life. We're all in our 30s now and all the girls I grew up with remain in poverty with kids of their own, still relying on their now elderly moms. We all took the govt money for free college - I'm the only one who didn't drop out to go "have fun". And that's with caring for my chronically ill mother. It's hard, but you gotta make it work no matter what. Instead of living off my mom in her golden years, I'm supporting her and making sure her last years aren't in poverty.

[@xr1jayx]

Smartest comment on here... sorry not sorry I was poor, NOTHING handed to me for free, joined the military, finished college and got a good job.. now I enjoy life and take care of my mom.. and like you, I never understood why people have CHILDREN if they can barely feed themselves..I have ZERO sympathy for you people cause you have your life priorities mixed up and you didn't plan your life.. the worst part about these needy people is that they are jealous of your success and wonder why you aren't struggling with kids...

[@denobarroga]

This comment is so true. People…it’s called condoms. Use them or end up struggling in your retirement saddled with debt and no one to help you

[@extrules]

I graduated high school at 17, working 45 hour weeks in a nursing home and going to college full time. I flunked out when I was injured at work. I lost everything, including my insurance. Birth control costs money in America. These kids, even with (very scarce) government support for school, are drowning in debt and despair. But SURE. Let's blame teenagers living in a dystopia for their own lifelong suffering. They should've known better, right? Its all their fault for being slvts. Its sick how we hold innocent girls, not even adults sometimes, to the standard that they not only must support themselves in impossible conditions, but they're not allowed to have any fun, AND must consider supporting their parents for the rest of their lives. This also disregards that some people WANT children, but we make it financially impossible for so many people to support their own offspring. A decent life for an uneducated woman and her child is not too much to ask from the richest country on the planet.

[@extrules]

More to the point, I want to say: You're a bad person for judging others for their suffering. You are not better than anyone else because you just happened to survive poverty without any major scars. The system is broken regardless of whether you personally can take care of your mommy.

[@Whocares1976]

My mom grew up like that, but she did marry my dad at 16, and he worked extremely hard to take care of her and us. I myself, will never have children. I have a lot of auto immune disorders and can barely take care of myself. With that being said, you have to have empathy for people, it’s extremely hard to pull yourself out of poverty and incredibly sad or toxic situations. It’s hard to focus on school , when there is no food in the house, and your parents aren’t helpful, or god forbid, your parents are addicted to drugs, or you experience some type of trauma. It’s not easy to escape that and have the strength to do better, when the odds are stacked against you. My mom was smart, had straight A’s, and was terrified of college. She didn’t have any to help her apply, the money to attend any of the prospective student weekends ( this was the 80s), and her dad was not interested, since he didn’t know how to help her.

[@jbar_85]

Dollar Tree is like Target for me now a days. Gotta keep it real-

[@gregorycyr9272]

I live across the street from dollar tree in Raleigh NC.I love dollar tree.😀☝️🖐

[@NDB82]

💯💯💯

[@missdesireindependance5194]

True

[@shannonroblin4824]

There is nothing wrong with the dollar tree. When I had money I still shopped there due to you never know these days whether you’ll have a job or not. So yes gotta keep it real.

[@northernsegageorge6510]

I worked in Target for a year and was so low paid could not afford to shop in Target. $7.50ph and they made sure you're hours were kept under certain amount to avoid benefits.

[@ihatecranberryjiuce]

You can love America but it sure as hell won't love you back

[@blupyxi5669]

It's a brand. Practically a product. A huge corporation. Nothing more. A lot of people are waking up like young lovestruck people suddenly growing up and realizing they're in a toxic relationship.

[@stephaniebrooks8044]

It absolutely does not!!

[@egyptianqueen4007]

@@blupyxi5669 That is the best way to explain it which is why it always shocks me why so many foreigners want to move here.

[@naelyneurkopfen9741]

@@egyptianqueen4007 because being poor here you're still far wealthier than than where a great portion of them come from & if they work hard they can become millionaires here. I personally know many who came from impoverished countries and are not multimillionaires.

[@vernaharris4700]

@@naelyneurkopfen9741Sorry. This is no justification. I'm sure the people are thankful for these jobs.

[@bjoe631]

Most times it amazes me greatly how I moved from an average lifestyle to earning over $63k per month, Utter shock is the word. I have understood a lot in the past few years that there are lots of opportunities in the financial market. The only thing is to know where to invest.

[@Florencecoxx]

I keep wondering how people earn money in financial markets, i tried trading bitcoin on my own made a huge loss and now I'm scared of investing more..

[@bjoe631]

@@Florencecoxx That won't bother you if you trade with a professional like *Sarah Alma Martinez* my consultant. I found her on a CNBC interview where she was featured and reached out to her afterwards. She has since provide entry and exit points on the securities I focus on. I basically follow her trade pattern and haven’t regretted doing so.

[@Florencecoxx]

You allow people to trade for you? that's interesting, How can I be part of this project I earnestly hope to build a strong financial future I'm interested to take part, I would love to learn, hope it’s safe..?

[@thamad311]

@sheilajensen This is the Fourth time I'm seeing someone talking about Sarah Alma as there are lot of testimonies about her, do you know her ? if yes , did you invest with her?

[@bjoe631]

@@Florencecoxx It's 100% safe and legal, She’s an expert trader on stocks and bitcoin. I basically do nothing but collect profits, she was able to get me in early on most of these stocks and I exited just at the right time, her analysis was really on point

[@BenDover-mo4jd]

Damm I thought this was a documentary made like 10 years ago but then I saw the date 😲

[@adamgalliath1692]

Same here

[@selflove428]

April 6, 2021 omg

[@ihatemyjob9502]

I SAID THE SAME THING BRO 😐

[@kingwik2720]

Nobody wore masks 10 years ago. 🤣

[@marciawade9101]

Same! I was like, "Huh?" Crazy! Well, unless you've got a career, degree or own a business, FORGET living in Wyoming.

[@danielcleary1072]

When we raised our minimum wage to $15.00 an hour in Seattle no one went out of business. The economy was booming. People spent their money and businesses had to hire to keep up with the demand. We are better off today.

[@sfrealestatedealmaker6001]

Seattle and Wyoming are 2 different economies. This comparison is crazy 😂

[@mauibill7233]

Making sense....nice. Too bad a lot of folks have blinders on.

[@Victor-tl4dk]

exactly. Paying low wages is like arguing sharecropping should still be used because it produces cheap goods.

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

@@sfrealestatedealmaker6001 Seattle has a ton of highly paid tech workers who can afford to pay for this increase.

[@ariefraiser140]

@@zuzanazuscinova5209 The high tech workers are not paying for the increases. There's only so many hamburgers a high tech worker will want and only so many dinners and movies they will pay for. The ones paying are the workers who were making below $15/ hr and now have considerably more disposable income to spend on going out. Instead of eating raman noodles they can now afford to go out to eat a bit more. Instead of always watching Netflix they may be able to attend a movie at the movie theater. There are considerably more low wage workers in every city in the US than there are high wage workers. Giving them a raise will recirculate more money in the economy because they now have a living wage.

[@strategicintelligenceanaly9778]

Capitalism has no concern with keeping people out of poverty. It is all about profit. If you keep people at slave wages you get higher profit.

[@melissaseago536]

Yep it's destroying our world. Slowly but surely the materialism and capitalism would mess up society if we let it.

[@JP-te7kd]

I know many immigrants who came to Capitalist United States with nothing, but the clothes on their back, and now are living the american dream. I am one of them and it's very much possible to live a very comfortable life in this wonderful country. If us immigrants can do it, even without proper language skills, americans have no excuse to reach and live the american dream. One of my siblings is a multimillionaire, all earned by her through hard work.

[@sfrealestatedealmaker6001]

@Jaegar19Ultima Why open a business if not for profit? 😂 It’s a business not a charity. Come on, think. Hahaha 😂😂

[@mauibill7233]

@@JP-te7kd You have no idea what you are talking about. Perhaps you should take your "riches" back to where you come from. Poverty is an industry in the US. People who have nothing are victimized routinely by corrupt police and justices systems. The list is endless of the techniques used to suppress the poor.

[@mauibill7233]

@@sfrealestatedealmaker6001 Some people, perhaps the majority, live a life based on higher principles than just making money. You know, a fulfilling life? I guarantee your money only buys momentary thrills in an otherwise empty life.

[@to04buk]

$2.50 to $5.00 an hour is actually lower than many developing countries this is crazy

[@jalicea1650]

America is a gilded nation. It's really a third world country pretending it's a rich one. The only people who thrive in this environment are the very rich and professional classes. Most Americans are doomed. No unions. Most products made in China. Bloated military budget. No proper infrastructure. The education system is failing because it's not properly funded. A society fracturing because of conservative policies. Ah America land of liberty... land of inequality, school shootings, poverty and terrible healthcare. Gotta love this country!

[@matsim6020]

A bude horšie.

[@Al-ht5pi]

The problem isn’t the minimum wage it’s the expensive houses, townhomes, condos, apartments that they are building. My apartment is 1,700 a month before my amenities, and utilities. Gas prices, groceries are expensive.

[@robinrynearson7212]

Get a roommate or two and share the expenses.

[@paulmaartin]

@@robinrynearson7212 when you work part time that's fine but you shouldn't have to have roommates if you work full time.

[@TheTbabylati]

The problem is definitely minimum wage. Rent and homes have been consistent with inflation minimum wage have not.

[@paulmaartin]

@@JP-hr3xq that's insanely expensive. I hope you get lots of services and utilities

[@Al-ht5pi]

@@JP-hr3xq Tell me about it. I live and from Nashville. Everything is high. I’ve honestly considered moving to the country because my family owns 8 acres of land.

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

15 dollars an hour in NYC is poverty wages Cost of living is sky high

[@johnblah1040]

@@itzasweater9621 shut up

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

@@itzasweater9621 I did Left Sag Harbor in 2015 Glad I did

[@alwillk]

Back when I joined the nypd in 2007 they paid 27,000 a year. Which works out to about $13 an hour. A 3 bedroom in queens was $3600 a month.

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

@@alwillk And who the hell wants to live in Queens anyway? Surely not me

[@joshuastarkloff9602]

@@itzasweater9621 WOOW!!! SOOOO SMART!!!!! JUST LEAVE?!!! AMAZING IDEA!!!! WOOOOOOW!!!!

[@thehustlinhomemaker1467]

Decent jobs with better incomes and benefits are sent overseas by our government - like factories. Instead, college has been pushed as "the only way" here in the US causing people to take on debt to be qualified for a job with a salary that will NEVER cover their student loan debt. Let alone wanting to have a house, a spouse and two kids. Corporations capitalize on peoples desperation with the "take it or leave it" approach on pay.

[@nzurimalkia6293]

Well said!

[@lilacfairy.]

I know it's so sad! And most jobs that gives good pay are only for those have experiences on the job. Now days everything is minimum wage and nobody wants that because it gives no on benefits.

[@Purppusay]

💯💯💯💯💯 Very well said

[@arrasonline]

I come from a long line of factory workers...sorry but factory work is not decent. Not even close. Education is the only reason I was able to escape poverty because I would most assuredly be poor if I worked in the factories like the rest of my family.

[@One-12937]

No! Factory jobs are horrible and make you poorer in the long run. All the good jobs that the factories produce stay in the US. They just outsource the labor. We keep the accounting, marketing, research, engineering jobs here.

[@ironmantis25]

When looking at how devalued the US dollar is and rising inflation, $7.25 an hour is a crime.

[@dancingghostgirl2291]

I get 11.75

[@javierjaime9386]

That's would equal like $5 an hour with inflation

[@dancingghostgirl2291]

@@javierjaime9386 ?

[@javierjaime9386]

@@dancingghostgirl2291 wasn't talking to you

[@lucastattouf]

@@dancingghostgirl2291 I get 11,75 per day in Brazil

[@CaraMarie13]

So the business owner who had to take a second job deserves compassion but when employees have to take second and thirds jobs to stay afloat, it's what needs to be done? Like i don't get it

[@nicylee]

@JKSteve1124 Exactly

[@sailorsister211]

@JKSteve1124 Well, trade or 4 years aren't exactly free so many ppl aren't free to make a choice between a trade or 4-year degree. In my personal experience, I feel like schools don't talk about planning after high school with students, why we are where we are, fighting to raise minimum wage bc many of us don't have a plan. Like, I talk to my friend who went to different high school than I did, how many of our teachers made us believe you can't be successful without a college degree which isn't true and can put students on a bad path if college isn't for them and they don't talk enough about trade school and what it can offer to students.

[@gpk1982]

I have a degree & while I’ve earned more than minimum wage, it was not enough to get an apartment or a car. Especially because I got screwed by Sallie Mae with my student loans.

[@CaraMarie13]

@JKSteve1124 so working after high school is not having a plan? So it's on them for working in places that don't allow them to make a living? Well thank you for enlightenment me. That's definitely what people get for working for working in places that doesn't pay them enough. The solution is super simple: get a job that pays you enough. Wherever has this life changing advice been?

[@shoryacione5175]

@JKSteve1124 exactly thank you

[@Der8cho]

Young People pay attention: Get a paid for education, learn a lifelong trade, don't have children if you can't afford them, do not go into debt.

[@dennisgold2436]

Plenty of out of work college grads phds and law grads.

[@davisholman8149]

@@dennisgold2436 True - but I know plumbers who have 20 other plumbers working for them & the owner is a millionaire. My son is a barber & does very well.

[@dennisgold2436]

@@davisholman8149 i agree. Trades are good. Not everyone needs higher ed and debt for jobs not there.

[@kmckask4831]

Learning a trade didn’t help those welders on the pipelines much thanks to the elections.

[@spooookie2u]

getting an education ( going to college and universities) put kids and parents in debt long before they can find those life long jobs. I got a associates degree in college, made good grades at school, and i still don't have a good paying job. Having a good education doesn't gurentee a good paying job.

[@fozzybear8878]

These people are incredibly brave and hard-working. Life was not meant to be like this, though. We should all have peace and joy, and not just work all the time to survive.

[@chipbuttytime3396]

Yeah working 3 jobs so she can become morbidly obese, poor woman

[@xr1jayx]

So stop having kids you can't afford and get a REAL job skill that pays well enough that you don't cry

[@shawnmichaels4805]

@@xr1jayx Unfortunately what you stated isn't taught enough in schools. We are taught that "all the peaces will fall in place" crap.

[@cjhoward409]

@@shawnmichaels4805 My parents taught me to get a marketable degree and save up and invest and THEN start a family. Why does it fall on the schools to teach kids this ? Where are the parents ?

[@NoOne-y5d]

Life actually was meant to be like that. But not with fiat currency. You were meant to be out hunting, and working the farm. Then during harvest season, you have a bunch of festivals and such and get to relax and enjoy the time, then back to surviving. Life is much more fulfilling and simple that way.

[@leekh-a3933]

6 years ago, I graduated from high school n got my first job making 8.05 then went to Walmart and work myself up from 9 to 11 n it still wasn't enough 🤦🏽 plus I was miserable n paying for college. Now I'm a deputy making 23.68 an hour n I'll never talk down on anybody working less than me or work at places like Walmart 🙅🏽‍♂️ I have seen greed at its best n corporations cheat their workers out of money n time. I remember Walmart refused this older worker time off for chemotherapy n he was tearing up bc he couldn't afford to get fired or miss chemotherapy. He ended up passing away a week later n he came in the day before n told me to keep pushing through school n keep doing what I was doing bc it's gonna work out. I was probably 19 years ago n I'll never let that go

[@yesiownfrodo]

I hope you will write that up and send it to the New York Times. Some people really need to read that story. How heartless!! My word, what have we come to when people can't get off of work to go to chemo? Thank you for sharing.

[@IZZYGOTDAFLAME]

I’m not trying to sound like I don’t appreciate anything but I live in Miami and make 4k a month and it’s still not enough to live in a great place It’s decent here

[@momo1461]

We should lower minimum wage and eliminate overtime so people work longer. If they worked all the time and lived in fear, companies would make more money and America would be great again. 🇺🇸

[@iliriacum666]

I live in NYC and even 15$ isn't enough here...the cost of living and taxes are the most terrible in this country...also the quality of life is very lowww..

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

Indeed. Unless you're an heiress you have no business living in NYC. Facts.

[@MattSezer]

There are tons of welfare programs though that actually in some cases make it more lucrative to not work than to work a minimum wage job. The city spends $3 billion on the homeless which is about $30K per year per homeless person. NYC is a great place for both poor and rich people who don’t work full time. People who work and are trying to pay market-rate prices for things are the ones who really struggle.

[@samnicholson5051]

@John Connor maybe they grew up there and don't want to move because all of their family and friends are based there?

[@juanshaftpatel7488]

so move

[@Ty-vj4wg]

I also live in NY (not the city). I couldn’t imagine living in the city where you need to make at least 80,000 a year just to get by.

[@veronicaelliott9582]

Those poor people make death wages. That is unacceptable!

[@basicallywellfed3453]

Doesn't it just warm your heart to know millions can't live on their three job life but the 'free' market is safe and sound?

[@vickieclark5931]

@@IIII...... I agree.

[@TheRockroll2]

@@IIII...... Uh? The vast majority of people who have more than two brain cells have noticed that inflation has already increased quite a bit thanks to the massive global supply chain issues and labor shortage that were caused by the pandemic. That was before literally anyone mentioned anything about increased wages. While a higher minimum wage might increase it a little more, it would be nowhere near the level those other factors have. Currently, we just have massive inflation without much of a wage increase.

[@TheRockroll2]

@@johnfisher8401 How are they gonna have time to gain skills if they need to work three jobs to get by? That doesn't exactly leave people with a lot of free time or energy.

[@dragonore2009]

Free market? With all the regulations and government intervention in the economy? Free market? Really? Free? I wish we had a free market.

[@petergriffinmk2884]

@@dragonore2009 Free market doesnt work as there will always be people who fall in a desperate situation and we need safety nets to get those people back on track. If lets say a family member of yours dies tomorrow and you spend all your savings on their funeral and you lose your job because you are grieving and not focused at work and there are no regulations from government that forbids companies from firing you, you will become desperate for money and accept any job with any pay. Hence, you will accept to work for even 2 dollars an hour just so you can eat. Now imagine this on a national scale with people of different circumstances all getting trapped at the bottom of the food chain because of momentary weakness and no help from the government to get back on their feet. Not to mention, pure capitalism without the help of socialism leads to the ultra rich getting MAD RICH and everyone else being dirt poor. Government intervention is needed and minimum wage or unions are more than necessary to keep the economy going. Without it, its just gonna be a few dozen filthy rich billionaires and millions of people in poverty until anarchy takes over and the people revolt and take back the power by force. Thats what free market leads to and hence why we can never implement it.

[@buster117]

2:20: "I'm passionate cause I don't know, you should care for other people" This is the best guy they could find to interview.

[@giannisaxon4080]

It’s sad that we even have to have a conversation about paying people more. People should be able to live comfortably and not always in a Financial bind. Higher wages for all !!!

[@equaltemp7075]

What's comfortable? One person may need $25/hr to be comfortable. Another might need $35/hr. NEED IS SUBJECTIVE!! WHAT DO YOU BASE A LIVING WAGE ON? THE FAMILY WITH ONE CHILD, OR THE SINGLE MOTHER WITH 4 CHILDREN AND $50K IN CREDIT CARD DEBIT? Good luck answering that question . . .

[@frontlinewitness]

@@equaltemp7075 Its actually not that hard to define what a liveable wage is lol. the equation is rent + groceries + all other monthly living expenses times 12 = minimum post tax annual salary that you would need to survive. You can then extrapolate from there using your local tax laws to figure out the equivalent hourly wage.

[@royharper2003]

people get paid according to the skills they bring to the table.. Minimum skills = minimum wage.

[@frontlinewitness]

@@royharper2003 and guess what minimum wage was made for, it was created as a standard where workers could not only survive, but have a decent living! FDR quoted on minimum wage saying “No business which depends for existence on paying less than a living wage to its workers has any right to continue in this country, by living wage I mean MORE THAN A BARE SUBSTANCE LEVEL, I MEAN THE WAGES OF A DECENT LIVING!” we’ve turned this country over to corporations who destroyed workers unions, then once the unions were out of the way workers couldn’t demand better pay, then companies fired them and moved to China leaving only fast food joints and retail to work.

[@royharper2003]

@@frontlinewitness times change. Like that dude in Shashank Redemption said "get busy living or get busy dying."

[@imawesome6137]

"that bonus could have been spread" --- EXACTLY

[@Apologetics35]

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

[@zitawillingham4391]

AMEN PRAISE GOD

[@alexearnshaw1468]

Man I’ll never complain about my $23 an hr ever again this is insane in New Zealand our min wage is $20 but we also have a high cost of living

[@virginiaherbert5581]

I am in the UK and pay my gardener the equivalent of 30 dollars US an hour. These people in this video must be desperate. The richest country in the world? God bless them.

[@amandab8433]

I'm in California where minimum wage is $15. Of course you have to figure in the cost of living. My husband is a first line worker, and belongs to a union. His hourly wage is just a bit over $62 an hour. We looked into moving to Texas, and the starting, and ending, wage for his job is $24. The two states, minus cost of owning a home instead of renting, are surprisingly similar in costs. Example of grocery costs being is 17% less in Texas.

[@moseskongi4746]

​@@amandab8433 California is disgusting. future 3rd world toilet

[@Dannyvirk]

I think Americans are told a fair wage is 'socialism', and Americans hate socialism.

[@alexearnshaw1468]

@@amandab8433 yeah I also own a home here in New Zealand it’s a struggle I’m on 23ph with petrol costs at 3$ a L food here is very expensive aswell, i mean it’s probably not that bad in some peoples eyes but im basically paycheque to paycheque but very thankful to own a asset

[@sierrachoco5271]

You can't expect these companies to pay a liveable wage. They have to keep their CEO's living in luxury and paying them millions with stock options! We're just to stupid to understand.

[@johnmartin4641]

I get the sense you’re being sarcastic, but what you said is actually correct. No one would want to take on the extreme responsibilities of CEO if they weren’t getting paid enough to live a life of luxury making millions a year and getting stock options. I wasn’t CEO, but I did make it pretty far up the ladder and I worked 70 hour weeks and made over $4,077,000 in my last full year of work and got stock compensation and live a life of luxury. There is no way I would take on 70 your work weeks and all of that responsibility if I wasn’t getting all of those things I mentioned. Why would any sane person put themselves through that if they’re not being extremely well compensated?

[@sierrachoco5271]

@@johnmartin4641 Hi John - yes, I was being sarcastic but I do get your point. However, it is my true belief that companies can at least pay a liveable wage. Best wishes and congrats on your success (no sarcasm on last sentence!)

[@ruthquetant7375]

This is a damn shame😵😩🥺‼ how is America any different from the countries they criticize when they treat their citizens like POS?!

[@robert1200]

Still much better than the China GDP per capita, and this video is CCP funded

[@TheTruthHurts_]

Robert you’re an idiot . That rhetoric is old just shut up . If China was so damn bad why do they not leave ? Probably because they get taken care of

[@wingiethewise5058]

@@robert1200 China is actually working on becoming the world leader and taking getting its poor citizens out of poverty...it's been on the national news for some time now.

[@robert1200]

@@wingiethewise5058 I don't know how they can realistically do that. The smartest thing China ever did was when they opened to the west under Deng Xiaoping. Now, they're closing back up again over time, so although that might be a good thing for the government it's not for the people.

[@wingiethewise5058]

@@robert1200 They've been doing it by getting poor farmers online to sell their produce etc too many different ways to mention look it up very interesting stuff.

[@D9xAbstract]

Amazing work. People need to see and hear this.

[@shutthefrontdoor733]

I love it when I am told to get a better job if I want to get paid more. I am not a very smart person by any means. I am however a very hard worker. I never miss a shift and always stay extra when needed. I tried going to classes but failed, like I said unfortunately when it comes to school I am just dumb. I cannot keep trying to pay for schooling I can’t afford anyway to just fail. I work two jobs, and am trying to save for a car since my old one died at the beginning of the pandemic. So now I walk 20 miles a day to get to and from work. I’m definitely living the dream

[@royharper2003]

do you have a roof over your head and clothes to wear? Are you starving?

[@AUTISTICAQUARIUS]

❤❤❤

[@paulaparson8499]

I couldn't believe that they still try to pay people that here in Las Vegas, you can't even get a one-bedroom for under 1100 a month.

[@bluepillbetaorbiterkingsim1747]

these are unskilled uneducated workers doing work that most artificial intelligence could do. they don't deserve to make more money.

[@Ali-tz5xc]

@@bluepillbetaorbiterkingsim1747 Unskilled workers still have the right to live properly.

[@bluepillbetaorbiterkingsim1747]

@@Ali-tz5xc what right? the real world doesn't give two shits about anyone. you live in a fantasy land. i hate russia and stalin but the man had a point after all.

[@Ali-tz5xc]

@@bluepillbetaorbiterkingsim1747 I talk about how it should be.

[@bluepillbetaorbiterkingsim1747]

@@Ali-tz5xc but that's not real life. there is no should be. watch out for yourself and trust no one. only friend you have is money. forget rights. figure it out and never expect help. it makes you weak

[@ronnetteharvey2002]

I raised my daughter on 440. Dollars a month. No dental, no healthcare. No nothing. We almost lost our teeth. Then I didn't want to but I had to let my daughter go live with my mother. Heart breaking even now. Edit: My daughter is 46 now and I am 65. When I first had a job I made .75 cents an hour. Then I began making a dollar an hour. That was in the '70s. It wasn't until 1985 I finally became a certified nurses aide, and began making 3.35 an hour. After my daughter had left home I finally got a job in a hospital and started getting steady raises. I became disabled after several bad injuries. That was about 21 years ago. When people say that the money went further back then...nope. Every time wages goes up so does everything else.

[@scottsteiner8931]

Look who you getting your info from..... Chinese news network.....

[@scottsteiner8931]

So you were making $2.75 per hour.....? Prove it.... we’re you a server?

[@TheMightyShell]

@@scottsteiner8931 The source doesn't matter if you know from first hand experience.. everything in this story is accurate. This is America

[@ronnetteharvey2002]

@@scottsteiner8931 Who are you asking

[@MrMaziar58]

Back in the 80's with Two PT seven days a week and a full time jobs still making around $1000 a month!!

[@pyimoethan1]

I’m making $ 17 an hour in SF Bay Area. Still live with my parents to survive.

[@2011sliverdude]

lol me too in Arizona

[@jbar_85]

I used to make close to 19 an hour but then I left my industry and make 15 an hour. I have less deductions taken out but can’t afford to put money into a retirement account now. Gotta take the good with the change; in this case, I work for a small business and I’m in a much happier mood.

[@naelyneurkopfen9741]

SF taxes are the problem, y'all need to stop electing communists, then you could support yourself.

[@evamaggard]

At least you got parents.. Prayers for you and family

[@shawnpersaud9326]

i make 23 here in nyc, and i still live with my parents to survive, i feel you on that one.

[@martinlawrence8986]

Despite the economic downturn, I'm having the best time of my life financially. Earning over $83k in the last 2months with an investment of $19,000. Money can be made even in a bear market. Make the most of it.

[@kelvinwilliam1681]

How did you do it?

[@martinlawrence8986]

@@kelvinwilliam1681 It's by simply investing in the stöcks and Cryptó market,with the help of my advisor.

[@kelvinwilliam1681]

@@martinlawrence8986 I really want to ínvest heavily but I don't know how, Can you please recommend a good advisor?

[@martinlawrence8986]

@@kelvinwilliam1681 Personally,i trade with Rebecca.F.Cassar . Her services are exceptional and her returns are great

[@kelvinwilliam1681]

@@martinlawrence8986 how may I be able to reach out to her ?

[@soniarena5250]

Minimum wage is the same here in GA. The town I live in continues to build restaurants and shopping stores that wont pay a livable wage. If the minimum wage is raised up, the prices for all things will go up. We need to find a real solution to the problem.

[@jbar_85]

Prices are going up without raising minimum wage.

[@carlgharis7948]

Prices should NOT go up. Thoes places have more money then they know what to do with

[@jamesgram2429]

Sounds like you live in the 229

[@jalicea1650]

That's actually the lie rich people tell poor people. We believe it because we hear it so much. The costs of items don't usually if ever increase because employees are just paid more. There are other factors. Mostly revolving the greed of the wealthy hoarding all that wealth while convincing millions of Americans that even if they ask for 1% increase in wages is just 1% too much.

[@happygolucky7241]

I can so relate! Working low wage jobs over 2 decades was a brutal journey.

[@royharper2003]

and whose fault is that?

[@welovemarbles7191]

Get a better job then

[@iamcosma7065]

Lol do you see the response? Theyre like programmed robots. Good for you dude/ette! Im glad youre no longer in that position.

[@iamcosma7065]

@@welovemarbles7191 gee you dont think they ever thought of that one? Where were you 20 years ago? You could have saved them a ton of time with your brilliant idea!!

[@welovemarbles7191]

@@iamcosma7065 I was working 20 years ago at my good job. Perhaps he could have done the same thing

[@MyFavoriteColorIsBLUE]

Peggy King needs to STOP taking care of her extended family. They are all young and able to work.

[@mimisam18]

...and stop having babies they can't afford. Sorry but it's the truth. Let the grandmother enjoy life for goodness sakes. It's her turn to be taken care of.

[@BeautygyaanBG]

she made that choice

[@Amison197]

You don’t know her situation. Perhaps they ARE working and STILL can’t get by because they’re caught in the same loop. So the family banded together to make sure no one starved. There may be disability. There may be childcare issues (you know how freaking expensive it is?!?). Any number of issues that are none of our business. Who are we to judge? And who are we to say poor people don’t have the right to have a child?

[@lc6636]

@@Amison197 Yeah. Right.

[@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403]

I've said this before and I'll say it again: if I was 72 years old and was forced to work because I didn't have enough to pay the bills, I'd move to central or south america or somewhere in Portugal. Every year, financial magazines put out the best places that you can retire on $1,000 a month. The average social security check is $1,400. I simply wouldn't stay in America where you can live VERY WELL on $1,000 in, for example, Costa Rica. In this woman's case, the family that I was supporting would have to come with me or stand on their own two feet. At 72, what are you doing to do? Work until you're dead?

[@autumngirl5194]

Portugal and Costa Rica is too expensive

[@cancel.lgbtq.6892]

Not that easy to just pack up and move. Other factors involve.

[@MRkriegs]

How would you get social security if you moved to another country? Is that a thing?

[@yesiownfrodo]

Have you been to any of those countries? Those are third world countries, hot as hell, little infrastructure, and unstable. So you're going to move to a third world country where you know no one, and have to learn a new language at 72. smh.

[@cryinginstyle]

@@yesiownfrodo for the rising Hispanic population in America, Costa Rica would be a good place to retire. Relatively safe, cheap, and somebody who is bilingual in English and spanish would fit in perfectly.

[@_Wai_Wai_]

At the same time, big agriculture corporations, with the threat of sanctions and economic isolation from US government, are forcing poorer foreign countries to grow cash crops for export instead of growing actual food for their people.

[@Caroline.123]

Such a sad country and the infrastructure is so old. America needs to catch up with the rest of the world .

[@djdigital3806]

I’m 57 years old and never earned over $12.50 a hour. Now l’m on unemployment. Let me tell something, it’s not how much money you make it’s what you do with it.🤨 Today l’m a Las Vegas Dj and founder of a technology startup.

[@vincem257]

There’s a lot of truth to that. How you handle your money is probably more important than you wage, but 12.50 an hour isn’t what it was 30 years ago either.

[@djdigital3806]

@@vincem257 Facts Vinny. (dj.digital01) Instagram

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

You are not unemployed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are still working, so what did you do with it?

[@fearless6947]

@@Michelle-pn9xt i think he invested it.

[@wendybreault3157]

Cudos to Nick! Finally, an ally of the backbone of this country!

[@Its_a_me_WSA]

This is a perfect case study of what happens when a country's society takes capitalism and amps up the degree by a million. You get a small group living like royalty and the rest are all peasants. Hasn't differed much from the concept of monarchy in the middle ages

[@meljahic3624]

Capitalism is cancer for all society...

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

Socialism produces the same outcome though.

[@Leicht_Sinn]

@@zuzanazuscinova5209 therfore social democray is the way usa should go But that has these evil social in the name which no one really knows what it really means (ironic)

[@georgebalan6201]

@@Leicht_Sinn Social democracy isn’t a good idea either. Communism never works, socialism never works, none of the systems will ever work no matter what you try and say. People will never, ever be equal no matter what. At least with capitalism you have the chance, no matter how minute that Chance might be, to work your way up to become one of those billionaires

[@Leicht_Sinn]

@@georgebalan6201 well social democracy is in the capitalism side ! You should inform yourself better and look both sides Look at Norway or Austria which have a strong social democracy which supports the poor well (cheap healthcare, school, strong worker rights and paid unemploment way above USA and still paing less for these services then US) I mean USA talking about socialism is like it being the devil intself from my european perspective they focus on the cons but forget what other contires do right now and where it works well but if we look a bit closer in the USA you litterly have no party / news even what more equality due to the fact its benefits the wealthy which pay these systems I mean US isn't even a democracy its a Oligopol

[@CDN1975]

God bless Peggy. She is a good grandma.

[@timoasmara6267]

Beautiful soul and deserve to get rest at this time!!

[@davisholman8149]

Thank God for grandmas.

[@zaad5273]

It's really refreshing to see that individuals like Peggy exist in those states, that they're not all numb to the status quo and are just expected to shut up and go along with it.

[@imDaJuggernaut2323]

you should not be allowed to pay someone under minimum wage just because they get tips! its the company's responsibility to pay its employees not the customer

[@pauld9561]

It's kept that way so that the employer saves on not covering overhead expenses like workmans comp. ,and unemployment comp. Loopholes.

[@noone-um4hk]

27.53 is just shy of $53k a year... Yeah, you're not making that flipping burgers.,

[@robinrynearson7212]

Or....would you pay someone $27.53 an hour to do anything? People will get paid what they are worth. Don't like your salary, then change it. Don't expect the government to change it for you.

[@KillersWalkFree]

I knew a girl working at McDonald's in Australia making $29 an hour. She wasn't a manager either.

[@johnmartin4641]

@@Danny-jl2sd true, but most people graduate with only about $30,000 in debt. The typical new car is about $40,000 and people usually pay that off in 3-5 years, so it’s not as impossible as you think.

[@classicasi88]

Long story short: If you ever want to get ahead in life, don't depend on a job or the government. Its an endless rabbit hole. You will need a career or make your own money.

[@Eddieteddy965]

Easy to talk when you came from a stable background. Do you realise that poorer children cannot get proper food, or a peaceful environment to study - grades will he affected. There’s the stress from your parents, and your siblings. By the time you are at the age to go to Uni, you can’t afford it, and you are more worried about where to get your next meal from. Unless there a helping hand, how can one make it. America was once the land for all. Now is the piggy bank of a few.

[@classicasi88]

@@Eddieteddy965 There will always be excuses or reasons why someone can't do something. Use your pain to become great or use your pain to cry about why you're not great. That's the choice people have.

[@icecrystal3255]

So true

[@classicasi88]

@Co Co You do know you're wrong, right? 👀👀 Please check your definition. You could have used Google...its free.🤷🏾‍♀️ A career is a profession or occupation CHOSEN as one's LIFE work. Such as an accountant, a teacher, a police officer, a lawyer, a nurse, a music producer, a chef, etc. Someone who works as a cook at McDonald's, then a stocker at a warehouse, then a cashier at Walmart, does NOT have a career. They have a JOB! You're welcome. 👍🏾

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

@@classicasi88 Exactly!

[@sussannerandall85]

why is she at her age supporting her grandkids??? that's part of the problem. Why should people be paid $15 to scan groceries? I make $17 as a dental aide. If you really want to change your life ....sometimes you have to take that student loan and go to SCHOOL

[@sussannerandall85]

Actually I do ..... nice assumption

[@sussannerandall85]

Actually I do ..... nice assumption

[@sussannerandall85]

Actually I do ..... nice assumption

[@sussannerandall85]

Actually I do ..... nice assumption

[@sussannerandall85]

Actually I do ..... nice assumption

[@Kaff231]

Its appalling what this country deems as acceptable I bet if the government officials got paid minimum wage there would be a change in the system.

[@iqbalindaryono8984]

Changes like making the entire bureaucratic system be more corrupt. What you want is accountability, accountability from the government and the people they are protecting from laws and taxes.

[@KennTollens]

That is why they elected to be able to declare their own pay raises.

[@likeablecloud2454]

it's pretty easy to buy a house on minimum wage within a year... people just aren't doing it... and that's the sad part... noone's doing it. they think it's better to rent than to buy a house after 8 months of saving. they also think it's acceptable to eat out every day, or to pay an internet bill when a small phonebill and bumming free wifi does wonders. there are literal unlimited plans for 30 bucks a month... we all choose the more expensive ones out of convenience... that's how stupid decisions cripple you.

[@KennTollens]

@@likeablecloud2454 Outright buy or come up with the downpayment? Would a bank give a min wage worker the loan?

[@likeablecloud2454]

@@KennTollens dude i know banks will loan to minimum wage workers. how else did i get my car. it's simple if you make 3X the monthly payment the banks will lend to you. if the loan is amongst 30 years for a house and you have 10% down it's pretty damn easy to find homes under 300 a month... and you actually own it. also it's pretty easy to get a loan on a car. cars are pretty easy. mine is 183 a month for a brand new 2022 subaru forester... it took a big down payment around 8k but it's still affordable. but the same for other stuff like on houses. to buy outright you can get a 400sqft home for around 7,000 dollars... obviously the cost differs depending on where you live etc... but you get the point you can get small manufactured homes for that pricepoint so i know it's possible. small manufactured homes are all over the place, or you could get building kits and build the house yourself... and the whole banks won't lend on minimum wage is stupid... most people who work minimum wage in the United states pull out loans just to get by... why wouldn't they lend on a car or a house?

[@debbieframpton3857]

I worked 20 years for company last leaving making 1380 an hour with no pension now I'm living on Social Security 1069 a month I was able to retire at 65 so this lady is working at the Safeway gas station making over $15 an hour and drawing Social Security it's not that she can't live on her income it's that she's helping other family

[@janicehuff1183]

👍

[@joyaustin6581]

I purposely looked for a career that offers retirement. I’m constantly looking for a better job

[@a.h.3014]

Maybe her bills are different than yours? Both amounts you mentioned would have me evicted and in a food line where I live, and my mortgage is less than most people's rent

[@debbieframpton3857]

@@a.h.3014 , I also said it's not that she can't live on her income it's that she's helping other family that is probably where all her money is going. I help at a food pantry one person can make up to 1797 gross and qualify for food stamps in Illinois my income is way below that.

[@debbieframpton3857]

@@a.h.3014 , When I had a mortgage it was $460 and that included real estate taxes I paid my house insurance separately but I paid $800 a month and that was how I was able to take a 30 year mortgage and pay it off in 14

[@usjsjdnzjzjzsn6269]

I will never forget living on $35 a day if I was lucky! Slept in a parking lot for 4 years! All while dealing with all these people and problems!

[@a.h.3014]

If you own a business and can't afford to pay your employees a livable wage maybe the business owner can't afford to be in business and should be shut down

[@gpk1982]

Amazon can afford to pay more but the biggest issue their workers complain about is the inhuman workload and lack of bathroom breaks.

[@patricksaxon3983]

It is not the business owner's fault that the cost of living is way too high. Walmart is one of the very worst paying employers that starts you off at minimum wage, are you going to have them shut down?

[@patricksaxon3983]

@@D73GT It is not the fault of the employer that the cost of living is so high, but Amazon starts you off at $15/hour.

[@dannystranahan1004]

The United States should go back to how it was before 1913 when you did not get taxed on your income. There's no need to tax a person's income. We could still have sales tax and property tax and we can have a tax on foreign countries that sell goods in the United States, but don't tax the American worker. Put America and Americans 1st!!!

[@lesleyhubble2976]

I thought the United States was the land of plenty, it’s appalling and sad

[@dawna4185]

ya, plenty for the rich

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

When I was young in the late 60s it was for me but not so much anymore Self employment and hard work ethic you can do well if you’re lucky and smart

[@cakeisyummy5755]

@@frederickmuhlbauer9477 Hussle Culture is Toxic.

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

@@cakeisyummy5755 Yeah right I almost forgot

[@equaltemp7075]

You can't expect to make $30/hr working as a waitress for 5 decades.

[@ducks4sale422]

Minimum wage is also $7.25 in VA. It's getting raised to $9 this year and is slowly going up but no employees pay that because in Norther VA working 60 hours a week on minimum wage wouldn't be enough to afford a place to live.

[@catgirlow]

Interesting I just got my first job at McDonald’s and the starting wage is $10.50/hour I’m not entirely sure what companies pay minimum wage.

[@scottsteiner8931]

You live in a high cost of living state

[@hernanmontoya3343]

Actually, the minimum wage is going from $7.25 to $9.50 an hour in Virginia on May 1 2021. Then, it will go from $9.50 to $11.00 an hour on January 1 2022. Then, it will go from $11.00 to $12.00 an hour on January 1 2023. Then, the state legislature will have to act again to raise the minimum wage to $15.00 by 2025. If no action is taken in 2023 to raise the minimum wage, then the minimum wage will be indexed for inflation on January 1 2024 and beyond instead of raising it to $15.00 an hour. Even if you raise the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour, it's still not a livable wage in Virginia. Politicians are captive to multi national corporations willing to exploit workers at all cost.

[@atomicstyle7344]

Nationwide this is the case., People want to say minimum wage is for teens but that’s not true. There is a problem when working several jobs will not afford you a roof over your head. Businesses that refuse to pay living wages shouldn’t be in business. We the tax payers subsidize these businesses in the form of food assistance and Medicaid. Get a good education. Get a good job. Stay out of trouble. You can do everything right and lose.

[@atomicstyle7344]

@@scottsteiner8931 All states are high cost! Wage stagnation is REAL.

[@tjr4459]

It’s amazing how people can justify low wages yet fully support lower taxes for big businesses. They always say raising the minimum wage will lead to increased unemployment which is a lie.

[@NoOne-y5d]

They support lower taxes for everyone not just big business. Wyoming is one of the best places to live in the entire country for a damn reason

[@TheNecessaryEvil]

Make poor decisions, live with it. The best way to not be poor is: graduate high school, start working as soon as your 16, get married, have kids after marriage. If you’re 40 and making $8 an hour, wtf do I need to spell it out that the economy and business and society isn’t the problem, you are. You did nothing with your life and now you’re 40 and making $8 an hour and I’m supposed to feel bad? Get bent.

[@galegrazutis964]

I totally get where you are coming from. We all need essential workers but if you are doing that job past a certain age it's on you!

[@carerforever2118]

Thank goodness my parents moved to Australia, minimum wage in Australia is $19 an hour. ( which is about $15 U.S dollars )

[@runolite]

Yeah now remember australian taxes and cost of everything

[@carerforever2118]

@@runolite Yes, they know, they've been living here for years and years now.

[@rtufs26]

Is the cost of living there higher than the USA?

[@nightowlpiont1]

@@rtufs26 Yes it is.

[@nightowlpiont1]

@@runolite Even after tax and stuff it still seems the US average Joe is making a heck lower than our minimum wage, and we have the bonus of free healthcare.

[@tonyyero7231]

No one working FT in the USA should make these wages!! I dont care on your education. The cost of living is UNREASONABLE!

[@ewalker1057]

Before the mass outsourcing in the early 1980's manufacturing employees earned $12.50 to $15.00 per hour. Those jobs are gone. Why Americans are turning to minimialist lifestyle. People purchase a retirement homes back then in addition to their main home. Now cannot even afford a main residence.

[@patricksaxon3983]

Yes, that is so true! I am a qualified soldering specialist who has worked assembling circuit boards, now my job went to China.

[@garnetrose6162]

There were no billionaires until Ronald Reagan. Reagans policies destroyed the ROBUST middle class Franklin Roosevelt fought for & created. Now the Super Rich & Mega multinational Corp pay a minuscule amount of Taxes because they control the weasels in Congress & steal our resources 🐉

[@dexm2010]

@ E Walker There are plenty of entry level manufacturing jobs that will start at $12.50 an hour, some of them will even start around $14 an hour. Part of the problem is, $12.50 and $15.00 back in the early '80s, is obviously not the same as those amounts in 2021 dollars. $13.00 back in 1982 is equal to about $36.06 today.

[@ewalker1057]

@@dexm2010 That's the point I made. $15 an hour is no where near what is needed not only to pay bills but to have leftover discretionary funds. People just don't go to work to be able to pay rent and purchase food. There needs to be extra including for savings. The downhill spiral for the American worker began with Reagan's presidency and escalated under Clinton.

[@patricksaxon3983]

@@dexm2010 I am not finding jobs in electronics manufacturing like it used to be any more. Too much electronics devices are being made in China.

[@pwu8194]

I was making between $100 and $120 a week when I was in college. That paid for my living expenses and tuition. We had 5 people living in a two bedroom apartment, my monthly share was $100 on rent and utilities. Thank heaven the tuition was affordable back then. I did that between 1982 and 1986, both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

[@DirasatLanguage]

There is greed wherever you go. It's really sad. It makes you lose faith in humanity.

[@margarethawinarto3931]

This is what equality means in the most powerful country in the world.

[@user-gz4ve8mw9l]

@@medebarr Good little sheeple, your masters, and overlords are proud of you.

[@JohnJohnson-qm3mr]

Wages have not kept track with productivity, this is due to market failure, fixing it with minimum wage increases is the main solution. Inequality is good and proper but we must make sure the gap between classes doesn't doesn't explode

[@richardbowers3647]

Re-read "Grape's of Wrath" for a clearer picture. Steinbeck laid it out very well.

[@margarethawinarto3931]

@@richardbowers3647 But the setting was during the Great Depression. The world is different now.

[@ladonna2u742]

@@margarethawinarto3931 that’s part the problem with this country’s leaders. they’re running this country like we’re still the industrial revolution...smdh

[@ronimay3932]

"A lot of businesses were drawn to the area because of the cheap labor." These are the same businesses that won't offer any sort of health insurance to their employees and are fighting the raise on minimum wage, and it's disgusting.

[@supertouring1]

Companies always say they have to pay executives big money in order to stay competitive. Interestingly, for the frontline workers, they say the opposite, they can't afford to pay big money, in order to stay competitive. Interesting...

[@coolbuddydude1]

The minimum isn't the issue. The government made the dollar worthless.

[@untangled99]

In 2015, Humana Healthcare overbilled Medicare $200M in Florida, and they refuse to pay the money back, while paying their CEO $17M a year. Humana is my Medicare provider. I am suppose to take 10-12 medications a day for a heart condition, but I had to stop the prescriptions, because on S.S. I could no longer afford it. I lived in my van. Medicare is running out of money and may be bankrupt in 2035.

[@garnetrose6162]

Universal Healthcare! Medicare For All! Dump the “ Insurance Industrial Complex!

[@trash-girl84]

I make $1500 a week throwing trash. People need to think outside the box.

[@samspencer7765]

If your business cannot afford to pay a living wage, then it doesn't deserve to exist.

[@captainsunbear5472]

The land of the "free" Its not so free when you have to work 70 hours a week to make a living is it.

[@garnetrose6162]

& No health care

[@lillybotswayer882]

Slave to your job here

[@georgebalan6201]

Free has NOTHING to do with having to work or make a living. Have you seen China where workers are paid literally nothing and are forced to live in horrific conditions (take a look at tech companie factories)

[@matthewmorel3758]

@@georgebalan6201 have you seen Denmark where McDonald’s workers get $22 an hour, healthcare, paid leave. No surprise why they rank as one of the happiest countries every year.

[@georgebalan6201]

@@matthewmorel3758 That’s horrible. A person who flips burgers absolutely deserves none of that. It’s no surprise why the economy of Denmark isnt comparable to the US economy or the Chinese economy.

[@christopherduplechin3154]

Peggy is a wonderful woman. May the Good Lord watch over her.

[@tyn6211]

The US needs to tackle both sides. Increases wages at the low end AND rein in oligopolies that are driving up prices in every industry.

[@Johnca48]

Stop the BS. If the pay is to low, DON"T TAKE THE JOB. Nobody is going to pay $20 for a burger and frys. If you get $27/hr everything else will go up and you'll still be poor. Use your head.

[@BeyondChange]

Wow, how does anyone live off $7 an hour! Where I live, you need to earn $28/ an hour to just keep up,.

[@patricksaxon3983]

Then you should look at getting a job with Amazon as they start you off at $15/hour. The cost of living is not the employer's fault. You could look into the USDA Rural Development program to help you buy a home.

[@gregorycyr9272]

@@patricksaxon3983 I live in Raleigh NC and I might look into doing that.I just don't want to commute a long way to work.

[@1984marykay]

Id like to know where they are coming from saying WA state minimum wage is $15hr? Its not. Its just over $14. Bear in mind the cost of living here is very high. Rents on a 1 bed is $1300+ with no utilities inc. Gas is $3.25gal. You cant rent a 1 bed apt here on $14hr unless u wanna live in the hood. The high living cost drives many out. I make over $20hr n do ok but many dont. Im not saying all states need to be at $15hr but definately not $7.25 federal minimum wage.

[@AO-nr7kl]

Higher wages drives higher prices because people compete for the same good and services and business charge more for rent and gas because they can. How do we raise minimum wage rates without keeping the buying power the same with higher costs for goods and services? We need to tie corporate taxes on the qualify of life of their employees-if their employees qualify for state aid their tax rate goes up to 50% maybe more while if their employees don't qualify because their wages are competitive and allow a qualify of life their taxes go down. If the corporation hurts the environment taxes go up and so on. We make it beneficial to corporations to benefit their employees and communities.

[@kistelkistel]

I think if it's over a certain number of employees it's more

[@gpk1982]

They should definitely implement some sort of tax on businesses that do not offer a living wage.

[@hsingkao2024]

As a whole, higher wage encourages daily spending that benefits small businesses.

[@susanlippy1009]

It benefits all buissness. I for one would love to see a movie in theaters again. As it is I go once a year when my son takes me for my birthday. I'd gladly eat out again as cooking for one sucks, gladly buy Christmas gifts and happily purchase home improvements. I do little of any despite full time employment at well over minimum wage. My stove died, was not replaced. My fridge soon will be joining, I'll get a dorm fridge if anything as I can't consume. Sad thing is rise in wages don't help if inflation outperforms pay.

[@leeeduncan]

All the factory jobs were shipped overseas.

[@angeldark404]

Im going to throw something out here for the people saying no minimum wage increase. Have you looked at the rent costs and food costs in your area? Divide the median by 4, and make that your weekly budget requirement vs local/federal minimum wage. Then remember that roughly a full half or more of the jobs that make your life convenient and possible as it is, make minimum wage.

[@greenearthblueskies8556]

💯

[@Chinunit22]

Yes, but with minimum wage increase will create higher inflation. I live in Denver Co and make over 20$ in hour, with current inflation this is a bare minimum hourly wage here

[@starstuff5324]

@@Chinunit22 have you stopped to consider you’re not being paid enough either?

[@patricksaxon3983]

Minimum wags is not meant to be a living wage, and it should increase after 90 days, based on your job performance and productivity. It is not the employer's fault if the employee cannot afford the rent. There are many programs for the low income, such as the USDA Rural Development program to help you buy a home, with no down payment and month payments based on your income. Amazon starts you off at $15/hour, and there are manufacturing jobs that pays decent wages.

[@angeldark404]

@@patricksaxon3983 the problem is, though, the minimum wage was supposed to be the minimum wage required to afford a 2 bedroom apartment and food. Waaaaay back when it started. It was bare bone basics because people werent paying their workers.

[@shubert418]

The reality we live in is heartbreaking. My mother raised 5 kids, while getting her college degree, and working two jobs. I remember picking her up from retail jobs when I was little, before teenage years. I'm the youngest of the 5, at 29 years old. She passed away with Ovarian Cancer the summer before retirement. She worked literally until her dying days, and poof, all her hardwork is forgotten from the school she represented and worked so hard for. So I ask, what do we really work for other than money? Money is SO EVIL. Working for companies, and their own personal agendas is a sick joke! I say, screw these companies, make the people making 6 figures come down and get their hands dirty!!

[@bs4real]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your wonderful Mom.

[@welovemarbles7191]

Why did she have 5 kids if she couldn't afford it? That's no one's fault but hers.

[@johndoe-ek6vl]

this is why the germans fought in ww2 and why after the war america went in the shitter - the people who run the world only used us to build a massive military to take it over.

[@liltrill8976]

@@welovemarbles7191 right where’s the dad??

[@GirlsNDragons]

@@welovemarbles7191You should use critical thinking skills if you’re going to be online.

[@tedthesailor172]

It's rather quaint how people claim to be poor while still owning & driving cars. I don't own a car; I have a bicycle. I don't have more than $12,000/year as a retiree, but I don't think of myself as poor. I'm in fair health, have a roof over my head and 3 wholesome regular meals a day (which I prepare).That puts me ahead of most people on the planet...

[@Nikalish1031]

Either pay a living wage or pay base livable bills for employees to live including health care. No exceptions. Greedy a$$ corporations. America is getting absolutely ridiculous.

[@DrSchor]

in america, anyone can own a share in a greedy corporation. why not invest and cash in yourself? either learn a skill people will pay you to have or be stuck with the 15/hour losers.