[quote]BrickHead wrote:
[quote]usmccds423 wrote:
McDonald’s can afford it.
[/quote]
Of course they can afford it. But unfortunately, if some bloated CEO does decide that his employees deserve some dignity and shouldn’t be in the pathetic position in which they have to go to the government for food and housing, he might not be able to build that new wing on his mansion or buy that new McLaren. A pity.
But wait, “companies exist to make a profit”. And, here comes my favorites: “No one owes anyone anything,” and, “What are you, a communist?” And can’t forget, “But if they get that increased wage, they thereby won’t be motivated to do something ‘better’”. AS IF someone initially aiming for med school, or perhaps even a mid-skilled position such as nursing or teaching, would not follow through because they can make fifteen bucks per hour buttering bagels.
Lovely.
I don’t believe every expense should be paid for simply because it can be afforded, but when it comes to keeping a human being alive I believe it should be so because a human being in America can’t remain alive on seven to eight bucks per hour without help from someone else.
But hey, I am letting my feelings get involved in this, feelings for people who need food and housing to stay alive, not just treating them as economic units to be overworked, used, and exploited, and who in turn have to rely on others and the government.
I personally have never faced poverty, have a decent profession, and am working on developing a spare time business, but I have a heart for those less fortunate than me and can empathize with their situations. The first time I saw a homeless man at age about seven years old, I could not get over the sight of him and needed my mom to calm me down later in the night.
This does not mean I condone people not pulling their own weight in nearly all cases. In my profession I am exposed on a daily basis to the blood suckers and parasites of this country, people who will never lift a foot or hand for anything! However, I am also exposed to many poor and unfortunate people who wound up in their situations to no fault of their own.
No one in their right mind believes fast food workers and dish washers should be paid the same as tradesmen, and mid to high skilled professionals, but it would be nice to see people not facing poverty–DANGEROUS poverty that is–because they do an honest job, whether that’s serving my cup of coffee, buttering bagels, flipping burgers, stacking shelves, or holding my table at a restaurant.
And the economic landscape in which thousands of qualified, upright, decent–albeit perhaps not the brightest or most talented but not stupid–American adults are now working in fast food and hospitality because of the lack of jobs in this country at the present time. So fast food and other hospitality jobs are generally not just entry level positions being filled by high school and college students on spring or summer break or in between or after classes, people who indeed naturally might not be independent because of their age and spot in life.
I’d also like to see how people who are worried about their next meal are going to “up their skill set”. Show me a person working two to three minimum wage or low paying jobs working twelve to sixteen hours a day are going to increase their skill set.
[/quote]
Very well said.