At Least Some Are Beginning To Understand

[Flash]

That means nearly half of all minimum wage jobs are held by people who are not advancing but trying to live on minimum. It is hard to claim they are entry level workers.

Which is only 2.3% of hourly employees. But that does not mean they are not advancing because by 25 they are still earning minimum wage. They may have served in the military or done something else or nothing for a few years.

Most of those people do advance to higher level salaries.

According to IRS/Treasury mobility studies those in the bottom 20% of income had moved to a higher level within the next ten years (some to the top 1%). About 30% of those in the bottom 20% had moved to the top 60% within ten years.

Of the top income earners only 25% remained in that top category (the top 1/100 of 1%) ten years later

[climate+equality]

Yup, and they shouldn't HAVE to do so...

Somebody must ensure everybody can survive.

[PoliTalker]

Hello Flash,

Which is only 2.3% of hourly employees.

I hope your point in mentioning this is not that it's OK to simply write them off and forget about them. That doesn't feel like doing the right thing to me.

But that does not mean they are not advancing because by 25 they are still earning minimum wage. They may have served in the military or done something else or nothing for a few years.

Most of those people do advance to higher level salaries.

According to IRS/Treasury mobility studies those in the bottom 20% of income had moved to a higher level within the next ten years (some to the top 1%). About 30% of those in the bottom 20% had moved to the top 60% within ten years.

Of the top income earners only 25% remained in that top category (the top 1/100 of 1%) ten years later

That's all fine and well and I hope it makes it easier to forget about the retirement age folks who have no net worth, no SS, and are forced to work at dirt pay jobs for paycheck to paycheck existence.

[Earl]

Each person who is not physically or mentally impaired must ensure his/ her survival.

Self-reliance is freedom. No one owes you anything.

Accountability and consequences for poor choices are facts of life...except to the radical Democrat Socialists.

[Flash]

I hope your point in mentioning this is not that it's OK to simply write them off and forget about them. That doesn't feel like doing the right thing to me.

Not at all. The point is that very few workers are actually making minimum wage and most of those are under 25. A large portion are high school and college students working part-time while living at home. Most of those are not the main source of income in their homes and are not making a career at their McDonald's job.

That's all fine and well and I hope it makes it easier to forget about the retirement age folks who have no net worth, no SS, and are forced to work at dirt pay jobs for paycheck to paycheck existence.

They would qualify for housing, welfare, SSI, Medicaid, food stamps, EITC. If they are retirement age why do they have no SS---did they not work most of their lives?

What would you do about these people?

[PoliTalker]

Hello Flash,

Not at all. The point is that very few workers are actually making minimum wage and most of those are under 25. A large portion are high school and college students working part-time while living at home. Most of those are not the main source of income in their homes and are not making a career at their McDonald's job.

True. But some are living on it.

They would qualify for housing, welfare, SSI, Medicaid, food stamps, EITC. If they are retirement age why do they have no SS---did they not work most of their lives?

Zackly. Ship happens.

What would you do about these people?

Keep the government assistance programs alive so they have some dignity. Honestly, the way Republicans fight social programs smacks of blaming the poor for their own condition.

[Flash]

Keep the government assistance programs alive so they have some dignity. Honestly, the way Republicans fight social programs smacks of blaming the poor for their own condition.

This year's budget raised non-defense discretionary spending by 11%. Where is the fight?