• ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    13
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    2 months ago

    the minimum wage can’t support a family. But minimum-wage jobs are important stepping-stones, allowing workers to gain experience and move up to higher-paying jobs.

    The article is suggesting to just stop being poor by getting a higher wage job. What if the person can’t? No family for you?

    • Neuromancer@lemm.eeOPM
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      arrow-down
      16
      ·
      2 months ago

      Personally, I think the minimum wage should be abolished and a living wage implemented. The term minimum seems to cause a lot of debate about the idea of the wage or a bargaining system like many of the European states have.

      A living wage should be able to pay rent, own a basic car, have health insurance, etc. As such it would be regionally adjusted to guarantee a basic standard of living.

      The idea of a national minimum wage is just silly since the cost of living varies so much regionally. It ends up screwing people in areas where the cost is higher.

      • BobaFuttbucker@reddthat.com
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        13
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        2 months ago

        The minimum wage was intended to be a living wage.

        The fact that you just tried to make a distinction between the two shows how far we’ve fallen.

        • jimbolauski@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          11
          ·
          2 months ago

          Minimum wage was never intended to be a living wage. In its inception in 1938 minimum wage was $0.25 an hour. Here are things that could be purchased for 25 cents in 1938. A gallon of milk, 8 postage stamps, a matenee movie ticket, 2 gallons of gas, … Rent was half a months wages. Minimum wage was never a living wage.

          • BobaFuttbucker@reddthat.com
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            10
            ·
            edit-2
            2 months ago

            Minimum wage was never intended to be a living wage.

            It absolutely was, and more.

            https://www.minimum-wage.org/articles/history

            As part of the FLSA, the minimum wage was enacted at $0.25/hr to maintain a “minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency and general well-being, without substantially curtailing employment”.

            FLSA also largely-restricted child labor and established an hourly work ceiling (overtime).

            Better luck next time, Jimbo.

            • jimbolauski@lemm.ee
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              2
              arrow-down
              10
              ·
              2 months ago

              If It was intended to be a living wage then why wasn’t it enough to be a living wage?

              I will refer to your own source.

              without substantially curtailing employment

              You have to look past the political propaganda and hyperbole. Minimum wage was implemented to get close to a “living wage” without hurting businesses.

              It shouldn’t surprise me that you blindly believe politicians.