Originally Posted by TheSquealer

"blaming"?

Oh...Thats what you're calling my expecting people to strive for more, to constantly improve their skills, to continually educated themselves and therefore be worth more in the marketplace and have the life they want instead of just doing nothing and demanding that everyone else pay for their xbox and iPhone5?

"blame"... uhm... yeah...

Working at McDonalds used to be embarrassing. It was supposed to be. It means you are on the very bottom rung of the ladder of the workforce and should immediately start climbing.... That is how you get past the shame and earn respect.. the respect of others and build self respect. That doesn't happen by just pounding your fist and demanding those who did pay you more so you can wash lettuce as a career choice. Thats not a good message for anyone. Thats a formula for economic failure.

Originally Posted by L-Pink

It's the cheap ass AMERICAN CONSUMER that dictates a low wage not business.

American consumers don't care manufacturing jobs moved to China or they would insist on buying "made in America" labeled goods at slightly higher prices. They don't.

If there is a demand for something American business would fill it. If a fast food owner opened a location guaranteeing $15 an hour and great benefits per entry level worker he would be out of business in 6 months.

The same people whining here about low wages would be to cheap to pay the higher food prices and shop at the cheaper restaurants. American consumers are all about price and not about pride in quality. Why do you think the largest retailer in the country is fucking walmart. American consumers don't care their clothes are made in sweat shops. American consumers don't care their Christmas ornaments are made by 10 year old children locked in dirt floored rooms. They sure as shit don't care about the person flipping a burger.


.

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

These issues are about what we expect of people. What society expects of people. What standards a society has. What standards a society wants to hold its people to.... and what we expect of each and every person. The "American Dream" was never "get a low paying job and then demand more from society".

The message "hey no-skilled assholes who have no value in the workplace because you have no skills, experience or education - you deserve more". is not a great message. I will pay for it directly with higher costs. I will pay for it indirectly as we continue to create a society that - instead of demanding the best effort from everyone and that expects everyone to strive for greatness is slowly being replaced with self entitled idiots who know absolutely nothing about how the world works and believe they need to be rewarded for non-achievement.

The message should be "you need to keep moving up. You need to keep working harder. Keep improving your skills. You need to keep improving your education and INCREASE YOUR VALUE in the workplace. Not simply demand more for a job you shouldn't be doing for more than a year anyway... because its not a career, nor was it ever meant to be"

I am not uber wealthy. I don't try to be. I try to enjoy my life. I don't think I am better than anyone because of my bank account. I think I am better than those who don't try.. because I and those I choose to surround myself with, do.