Reply #19: That's close to 30k [View All]

That's probably reasonable for a starting wage. Honestly, kids graduating from college are lucky to make that much these days just starting out. Which is more of an argument against that being a starting wage than for workers making that. But whoever wrote that is using it as an example of someone asking for way too much money. So they're thinking $14 an hour is a "pipe dream" amount of money.

It's frustrating because I remember, here in Michigan, when auto workers made enough on one salary to create a good life for their families. It wasn't that long ago - I remember in the early 80s knowing kids whose parents worked for GM and that they lived comfortably. Not rich, but their houses were in good shape and the kids wore new clothes, which is a far cry from how working people are living today in Michigan. People who did union labor had enough to buy their house and know they'd own it at some point, take the kids on decent vacations every so often, have a couple of cars in good condition, eat well, and save up some money to send the kids to college if they wanted. That is now considered an unreasonable demand. What happened where it became considered unreasonable for someone to work full-time at a job and make enough for a modest but good life? How much would it cost to attain that life at the current time? At just under $30k, which is what 14/hour is, you'd be living in a small apartment, not have vacations, buy used clothes, and be pinching every penny. People starting out do that, and that is reasonable for people who are starting out, but at some point, people used to move beyond that. Not anymore.