Income Inequality.

[Kfox]

There were three categories and the US came last or within the three last in all of them.
And we could make our own, more exact study. Let's take the median of the states and compare that to the other countries, shall we?

Median might not work either; some of the most populated states also have higher minimum wages.

 

[Heyo]

Median might not work either; some of the most populated states also have higher minimum wages.

What would work?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It would be foolish to have the same minimum wage in California that you have in Idaho because the cost of living between the two states are so drastically different. This study is based on the idea that the people of expensive states like California or New York are dealing with the same wages as the people of Alabama or Idaho. This makes the study inaccurate.

Even in cheap Indiana $7.25/hour just isn't enough.

 

[Kfox]

Even in cheap Indiana $7.25/hour just isn't enough.

Isn't enough for what? A single person to rent a room, and monthly bus pass for transportation?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Isn't enough for what? A single person to rent a room, and monthly bus pass for transportation?

There's rent, and at minimum wage (which full time less than $1,000/month after taxes) you'll be rent broke, plus there's utilities, transportation, hygiene products, clothing and food to buy.

 

[Kfox]

There's rent, and at minimum wage (which full time less than $1,000/month after taxes) you'll be rent broke, plus there's utilities, transportation, hygiene products, clothing and food to buy.

Most minimum wage jobs are not full time, so they would have to work 2 minimum wage jobs, one in the morning and one afternoon or night. That's what I did. Usually between both jobs you would get more than 40 hrs in a week, more like 50.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Most minimum wage jobs are not full time, so they would have to work 2 minimum wage jobs, one in the morning and one afternoon or night. That's what I did. Usually between both jobs you would get more than 40 hrs in a week, more like 50.

That doesn't address the poiny that that's not enough money.

 

[Kfox]

That doesn't address the poiny that that's not enough money.

Probably not. Starter jobs usually don't pay enough to live on. Those are the type of jobs you get while you are still living with your parents.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Probably not. Starter jobs usually don't pay enough to live on. Those are the type of jobs you get while you are still living with your parents.

These so called starter jobs, they're still jobs and thise working them still deserve to live without being a burden on the tax payer. Those who want to work them and can't get anything else shouldn't be penalized, especially as adults are filling more and more of those jobs that traditionally were usually held by teens.
And those aren't the only minimum wage jobs. I've been at a warehouse that paid minimum wage.
And there's no probably to it. Even in Indiana working minimum wage leaves you housebroke. You'd have to make closer to $10/hour to avoid that with a cheap apartment.

 

[averageJOE]

Probably not. Starter jobs usually don't pay enough to live on. Those are the type of jobs you get while you are still living with your parents.

Define "Starter Job".

 

[Kenny]

In my view, income inequality is mostly due to desire and effort. The are always exceptions, of course, but generally speaking the United States give a great opportunity for anyone to have a forward movement. I am speaking "generally" - there are factors that can be addressed in some cases to fix problems. Of course, single mothers and or dads is a great problem for income inequality.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Define "Starter Job".

Probably the ones that are among the hardest and most stressful I've done (like fast food).

 

[Shadow Wolf]

In my view, income inequality is mostly due to desire and effort. The are always exceptions, of course, but generally speaking the United States give a great opportunity for anyone to have a forward movement. I am speaking "generally" - there are factors that can be addressed in some cases to fix problems. Of course, single mothers and or dads is a great problem for income inequality.

Then why don't I have ****? It's no problem of effort on my part.

 

[Kenny]

Then why don't I have ****? It's no problem of effort on my part.

Each case is different and I don't know you or how you came to your current place.

I can speak of my case and those who I have counseled.

When I was earning $300/ week raising 3 children (and sometimes more - extended family members younger that my wife and I) - it was a matter of spending less than what I made. That equated to $3 a week that went into savings. Budget included $3/week for dentist; $3/week for entertainment; and $3/week for clothing.

Hard work, faithfulness, consistency, promotion et al over the years and now our house is paid off and we have a retirement fund. Always an upward movement.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Each case is different and I don't know you or how you came to your current place.

I can speak of my case and those who I have counseled.

When I was earning $300/ week raising 3 children (and sometimes more - extended family members younger that my wife and I) - it was a matter of spending less than what I made. That equated to $3 a week that went into savings. Budget included $3/week for dentist; $3/week for entertainment; and $3/week for clothing.

Hard work, faithfulness, consistency, promotion et al over the years and now our house is paid off and we have a retirement fund. Always an upward movement.

Except when you just can't get it.

 

[We Never Know]

Each case is different and I don't know you or how you came to your current place.

I can speak of my case and those who I have counseled.

When I was earning $300/ week raising 3 children (and sometimes more - extended family members younger that my wife and I) - it was a matter of spending less than what I made. That equated to $3 a week that went into savings. Budget included $3/week for dentist; $3/week for entertainment; and $3/week for clothing.

Hard work, faithfulness, consistency, promotion et al over the years and now our house is paid off and we have a retirement fund. Always an upward movement.

You were working two jobs and paying your bills? Damn you were privileged lol

 

[Kenny]

Except when you just can't get it.

Again, I don't know your circumstance and certainly there are times when someone needs extra help to start the process. But I would say that is the exception and not the rule. If you are the exception, by all means, let's get help

Help those who need help but address habits for those who have bad habits.

I remember a guy on food stamps who had no problem forking over money for cartons of cigarettes and other unnecessary things. I know of a friend in financial duress that when he won $10,000 on a lotto ticket, he put a down payment for a pool. A lot of people just make bad decisions.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Again, I don't know your circumstance and certainly there are times when someone needs extra help to start the process. But I would say that is the exception and not the rule. If you are the exception, by all means, let's get help

I've been unable to get a job for over a year now. Applying for suitable, appropriate level jobs, even many I'm out in orbit overqualified for. No one has wanted to hire me. My situation is so bleak that it's kind of a good thing my shoulder got messed up as a result of covid so i can get on disabilities and never have to worry about getting hired again.

 

[Kfox]

These so called starter jobs, they're still jobs and thise working them still deserve to live without being a burden on the tax payer.

Why?

Those who want to work them and can't get anything else shouldn't be penalized,

Isn’t the penalty of low wages better than no wage at all?

especially as adults are filling more and more of those jobs that traditionally were usually held by teens.

What does age have to do with it? If you allow yourself to reach adulthood without any valuable skills to sell, why does this entitle you to more wages than a kid with equal skill level?

And those aren't the only minimum wage jobs. I've been at a warehouse that paid minimum wage.
And there's no probably to it. Even in Indiana working minimum wage leaves you housebroke. You'd have to make closer to $10/hour to avoid that with a cheap apartment.

Story of my life. When I was a teenager, I was forced in a position that I could no longer live at home; I had to live on my own and I had no skills to sell. I got a part time job at McDonalds, and while there, there was a culture of other poor workers always looking for a room mate to share rent because nobody could afford rent by themselves. I joined 2 other guys who were renting a 2 bedroom house, they had the bedrooms and I slept on the couch. After a couple months I was able to demand pm shifts only at work allowing me to get a day part time job at the competitor restaurant down the road. Between both jobs, I worked around 60 hours per week giving me an income where I could afford a cheap apartment on my own and still put a little aside for savings. The skills I learned other than cook between the 2 jobs were register skills (allowing me to apply at grocery or department stores), janitorial skills (allowing me to apply as a janitor), shipping/receiving/inventory skills (allowing me to apply at warehouse). Nobody goes to school to get skills for these type of jobs, these type of skills come only from working starter jobs. Eventually I got a job at a warehouse that paid better than fast food jobs, and eventually got skills from that job allowing me to get move up financially from there.

 

[Kfox]

Define "Starter Job".

A starter job is basically a job that will hire someone with no valuable skills, and teach them the skills while paying them to work. After a while, you can take those skill somewhere else that pays more money.