I assert that individuals can make it on minimum wage.

[Chrysia]

Internet is not a necessity. The OP wants to prove life is possible on minimum wage. Internet is not needed. Go to a fucking library and use their computers if you must connect.

Probably half of minimum wage jobs in my area don't even have paper applications. Relying on a public library compute severely limits your options.

[Tijuana]

Or those of us who are working 40-50k/year jobs because we worked to get to the Middle. Now people want to have it handed to them for free.

If Burger Flippers are getting a $5 raise, where is my $5 raise? Burgers are going to be more expensive now, and it will hurt my bottom line unless I also get a raise.


You can't just raise the minimum wage for everyone, and not expect prices to go up. If the people making 40-50K a year don't also get an increase, they will be hurt by the increased prices.

If you are expecting Democrats to consider the unintended consequences of legislation, you are going to be disappointed. They fail to see the obvious fact that, even if you set the minimum wage at $100, people working for the minimum will always be the poorest.

[Gamdwelf]

I propose you prove it. Step one, get rid of your computer. No more WoW, no more Facebook, no more email. Step two, get rid of useless services like cable television and internet. Step three, you are allowed to have the following luxury items: A digital antenna for your television and a library card. With the card you can access internet from your local library, as well as have an infinite amount of reading material for entertainment.

Finally, get acquainted with your local postal service. The remaining bills you have will be at their mercy.

And may whatever god you believe in have mercy upon your soul should you live in an area where you must pay for heating.

Done it, and I made enough to have internet at home.

[schwarzkopf]

I read them. I obviously disagree.

It wasn't an opinion - and btw, based on what you said - you actually supported the fact.

[Jtbrig7390]

Did it for 3 years which is why I don't believe it.

Where,When,How many hours and what was the min wage at the time. Give us details because what you believe doesn't disprove fact.

[Spectral]

And you would be wrong with some quick google fu champ. There is parts of Cal where $1600 a month barely gets you a apartment unless ur ass moves out into the boonies.

Do you realize how poorly this addressed what I actually wrote, chief?

[Dragoncurry]

The answer is very simple. Everyone who can't afford to live in a state with a minimum wage job should just leave that state to a state where you can afford it.

Then the state would lose a massive workforce and be forced to adapt. They won't because the infrastructure doesn't exist and then they would raise the minimum wage. Pretty easy solution.

[Tijuana]

This thread is moronic.

The graphic shows how much you would have to work without paying for anything and just saving 100% of your wage.

But thats not how it works is it? We have to pay for food/electricity/heating/rent/water etc

This youtube did a chart and added the minimum prices for everething and this is what he came up with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXQ8Wdhucdw

It shows that a minimum wage guy can barely have any money left at the end of the month. And that is IF something does not break. IF he does not have kids.
IF he does not get sick

Luckily how ever minimum wage is a stepping stone. People do not get stuck at minimum wage.
People do marry and pull resources together

What makes you think the chart didn't account for that?

[Teebone]

Probably half of minimum wage jobs in my area don't even have paper applications. Relying on a public library compute severely limits your options.

That sounds like you're not trying hard enough. Go door-to-door for work. You either work or you go homeless. Blame the OP's assertions.

[NineSpine]

The answer is very simple. Everyone who can't afford to live in a state with a minimum wage job should just leave that state to a state where you can afford it.

Then the state would lose a massive workforce and be forced to adapt. They won't because the infrastructure doesn't exist and then they would raise the minimum wage. Pretty easy solution.

If you can afford to move, you are unlikely to be making minimum wage.

[Enthusiastic Steward]

The answer is very simple. Everyone who can't afford to live in a state with a minimum wage job should just leave that state to a state where you can afford it.

Then the state would lose a massive workforce and be forced to adapt. They won't because the infrastructure doesn't exist and then they would raise the minimum wage. Pretty easy solution.

Except states already do this, many sates have a minimum wage higher than the national rate.

[Zomis]

Below is an infographic posted by Bernie Sanders Facebook page showing how many hours an individual must work per state to afford a 1 bedroom apartment.



Honestly I don't believe it.

I think it's very possible for an individual to live off minimum wage comfortably for an extended period of time, if need be.

Is it easy, no but possible, yes.

No real source accompanied the information which adds to it being sensationalized. Which I think is the main problem. You can't have real discussion about poverty when people can't talk about the actual facts.

The only "source is that numbers are from the 'low income housing coalition' with no research or explaination as to how they generated these numbers.

PS:. In before bootstraps

Bernie is a moron, also if you work minimum wage an your an adult maybe you should look at yourself in the mirror and think to yourself "now where did I go wrong?"

[The Firestar]

This. If you're working full-time to put yourself through college, you're not taking a full load of classes. I'd rather (and did) just pull loans, get it over with, and pay them back after I graduate. Not to mention almost every school imaginable has merit awards, financial aid, scholarships, etc. You might not be able to attend a super-private tiny liberal arts school that way, but in the end a degree is really all that matters for the first job, and after that it's all experience-based anyways.

And then you're shackled by student loans for then next 15, 20, 30 years. No way to refinance them at lower rates (Rates in the US are upwards of 8% annually for student loans), declaring bankruptcy doesn't resolve these debts, and a degree isn't a guarantee of a decent job in the first place.

Gotta solve the student debt problem before you can say "Oh just get a degree no excuse hurr durr." You're struggling as it is on minimum wage. Add on student loan repayments? You're fucked.

[schwarzkopf]

Everyone who can't afford to live in a state with a minimum wage job should just leave that state to a state where you can afford it.

With all the spare money they saved after not being able to afford to live ?
Or is the government going to give them assistance to move?
Or should they expect free transport etc?

Again - folks, don't assume people have money as a solution to not having money.

Be rational.

[Chrysia]

That sounds like you're not trying hard enough. Go door-to-door for work. You either work or you go homeless. Blame the OP's assertions.

Except I make more than minimum wage. Nobody, nobody takes door-to-door applicants seriously anymore.

[Low Hanging Fruit]

60 hours or less a week. LOL. That is like no days off or insanely long days. Having days off isn't lazy. It is fucking required to remain productive. 80 hours or more a week? Fucking insane. Since most minimal wage jobs don't give you a full time option (differs at state levels but roughly 35-40 hours) you would have to juggle 2-3 jobs at nearly a full time hourly rate. Good luck getting that schedule to work out. So you would also be getting fired from 1 or 2 a month and having to find 1 or 2 a month just to get around that.

Utter bullshit.

[Macaquerie]

My impression of the average American is "Me, me, me!", but I might be wrong on this.
So it was less meant as an insult, but more an observation.
Might also be a cultural thing.
But I find it weird that people in the US would actually fight REALLY hard against people actually making a decent living, even if the work is menial. Does it really hurt you as a person if they have a better life?

The short answer to this is that it's just racism, plain and simple. Politicians and businessmen have found that it's a lot easier to placate the white working class by focusing their anger on minorities and immigrants, rather than actually address their concerns by conceding to ever greater wage increases.

And quite frankly, Europeans are just as guilty of this, just look at all the bitching and moaning about benefit seeking refugees we've heard over the last couple of years. Enlightened democratic socialist utopia my ass.

[schwarzkopf]

Bernie is a moron, also if you work minimum wage an your an adult maybe you should look at yourself in the mirror and think to yourself "now where did I go wrong?"

Oh dear, another one of these people that think an individual has complete control over the world around them...

Fun fact: Your decisions are a MINOR player in your outcomes. That's called reality.

[Teebone]

Done it, and I made enough to have internet at home.

Grats! You have been granted [Expendible income]! Fuck you and your rich ass interwebs =D

[Bodakane]

Bernie is a moron, also if you work minimum wage an your an adult maybe you should look at yourself in the mirror and think to yourself "now where did I go wrong?"

Wow, so out of touch.

So riddle us this, if you have to work 100 hours a week just to make rent, when is their time to better yourself?