Depressing Factoid

Jan 03, 2006 19:09

The last time the Federal minimum wage was raised was right before I got my first job-- which paid the minimum wage-- in 1997 ( Read more... )

politics

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Comments 34

nongamer January 3 2006, 19:23:11 UTC
i ran similar numbers after congress decided that an increase for next year wasn't needed.

the current minimum wage would be over 8 dollars if we took it at its highest and adjusted for inflation/consumer price index.

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nongamer January 3 2006, 19:45:35 UTC
I've been looking for an online list of companies that hire at minimum wage versus those who hire above it. When I was in high school, if you wanted to get paid more but didn't have any skills like auto repair or the like, McDonald's was a good option because they paid two dollars or so above minimum wage, even to start. Most places in the mall were minimum wage or a few cents above, but that was mostly a tradeoff -- the mall jobs were easier and had better hours, but McDonald's paid better.

Still, it floors me that, since the last increase in minimum wage, I've earned a diploma and a degree, and had my rent nearly double.

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papercuppie January 3 2006, 19:48:13 UTC
Dammit. That was me.

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nongamer January 3 2006, 20:57:30 UTC
there are still people renting houses for 400 bucks a month - certainly not here though. the district's minimum wage is also not 5.15 - its about 2 bucks higher if i recall. any county where the average 3-bedroom apartment is well over a grand a month should not have a 5.15 minimum wage, but then half the world of retail would collapse if that were the case.

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nongamer January 3 2006, 19:24:09 UTC
there was also some deal i saw on a blog where santorum was in FL as a guest of Outback, inc. because he supports completely wiping out minimum wage for restaurant workers.

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pakgwei January 3 2006, 19:45:00 UTC
$5.15 wouldn't even cover a value meal here, anymore.

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papercuppie January 3 2006, 19:47:38 UTC
Don't worry, I hear they're going to introduce the "Ketchup and Mustard Packet Value Meal" any day now.

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translucent_eye January 3 2006, 21:27:22 UTC
hehe.....

Do I get crackers with that?

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anonymous January 3 2006, 20:16:32 UTC
There is a great place in Gaithersburg called Roy's Place. The point is they serve a "7. A GOOD COLD SANDWICHTM (Because of inflation the price was raised.) Two stale heels of bread enclosing a freshly-made ice cube $1.13". (http://www.roysplacerestaurant.com/menu.html) Someone on minimum wage could make a real killing.

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papercuppie January 3 2006, 20:37:36 UTC
Ah, yes, Roy's Place. They had a decent knockwurst if I remember correctly.
How is the new job going, by the way?

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verlise January 3 2006, 21:08:20 UTC
Damn, I hate the fact that livejournal allows one to post anonymous and that I am too hard head just to allow it to save my info.

The new job is great for the aspect of better pay, hours and not retail. The new job blows in the aspect that there isn't much thinking involved. I am going to have to start bring outside work so my brain doesn't rot.

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papercuppie January 3 2006, 22:14:30 UTC
If you're looking for something more brain-stimulating, you might try for the helpdesk... and if you've got experience in electronics, you could probably pass the A+ with little study, which would give you some alphabet soup to get you past the HR drones.

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(The comment has been removed)

Re: Is Rome truly declining? papercuppie January 3 2006, 22:21:56 UTC
As far as food goes -- you've got to try pretty hard to starve in this country. Food bank food sucks (believe me, I've eaten it), but it's food. Ditto for soup kitchens and shelters. Now, medical care and shelter are other issues entirely...
There's a problem in that there are two types of people getting paid minimum wage -- high school and college students, who are dependents and don't generally need a living wage, and unskilled laborers who have no other options. But then, how does one decide a living wage? Jane Doe, a twentysomething with no children, has far different expenses than Jill Doe, a thirtysomething with four kids. It's all so complicated it makes me want to hide in a cave somewhere.

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