I think this much is lost on many political conservatives that see nothing wrong with the propagation of WalMart, but dislike social welfare programs. The money has to come from somewhere. We subsidize low-paying employers. IMO it really isn't worth any adult's time to work for $7.25 per hour unless they are desperately trying to find another job. Otherwise, it becomes a trap.Of course, minimum wage workers aren't really entirely on their own, especially if they have children. There are programs like food stamps, Medicaid, and the earned income tax credit to help them along. But that's sort of the point. When large companies make profits by paying their workers unlivable wages, we end up subsidizing their bottom lines.
I can't even believe the minimum wage in the USA, it's half what it is in Australia. 40 hours at minimum wage there is the same as unemployment benefits in Australia, which you are entitled to indefinitely while unemployed. I think the generally high pay, which equals high tax, which equals good unemployment benefits (simply put) leads to a solid standard of living for all in Australia. Corporate profits really seem to rule supreme in the USA. Unbelievable that your government really supports the rich. Sad really.
IMO it comes down to lobbying. I would be shocked if Australia's lobbying laws are as relaxed as they are here in the US. Corporations can spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns whereas individuals are limited to a few thousand dollars. Our political leaders answer to their constituents, and some of their most important constituents are corporations.Corporate profits really seem to rule supreme in the USA. Unbelievable that your government really supports the rich. Sad really.
I understand how the lobbying works, it really is a sad state of affairs. Laws and policies are influenced by money. We have similar prob;ems here in Australia but nowhere near the extent as in America. Here politicians still try and hide who they're in bed with and we have limits to what your dollars can get you. Ultimately it all comes down to dollars, we have a two party system here where votes are passed onto the two parties as preferences and I'm cynical enough to have zero faith in my politicians promises and intentions. Sooooo, I've finally realised the way of the world and now donate money to a group calld GetUp on a weekly basis and additionally for other serious matters. They are having great success in Australia bringing issues to the public that people wouldn't otherwise know about. Then, more importantly, getting money and signed petitions out of people to combat the issue with campaigning, advertising and lobbying. That could be the future of positive change, money from the masses.
The minimum wage here is a joke, really. Unfortunately, the butt of the joke are the workers who have to work for those wages. Well, and the taxpayer, whom these companies steal from every time one of their workers has to apply for federal benefits, because their children would starve otherwise. Wal-Mart is the most highly subsidized company in the US, and so many of those subsidies end of lining the Waltons' pockets. It's sad, especially when economic studies show that higher wages make the whole economy stronger. I guess it's a vicious game of prisoners' dilemma that these companies are playing.
Damn, two full-time jobs just to scrap by.As Jim Cook at Irregular Times notes, the $1,105 figure up top is roughly what the average McDonald's cashier earning $7.72 an hour would take home each month after payroll taxes, if they worked 40 hours a week. So this budget applies to someone just about working two full-time jobs at normal fast-food pay.
There's been a trend lately of minimum wage employers playing scheduling games with employees to prevent them from finding a second job, where an employer might give you four morning shifts then an evening to throw a wrench into job 2's schedule. It's actually pretty sickening.