[Steve_Seattle]

$7.25 an hour is about $1,160 a month. How many of you tough talkers could live on that, or even 150% of that?

[stremba]

Most of us make quite a bit more than that. If you are making minimum wage you either are likely

1. A kid just starting out in the work force
2. Making some bad life choices

Most career-type jobs (and indeed many jobs that normally aren’t considered such) pay more than min wage. You don’t need a degree either. Trade employees like plumbers, carpenters, auto technicians, welders and electricians make significantly higher than minimum wage.

Further, anyone making money wage and trying to run a household will be eligible for the EITC plus various benefits like subsidized housing, food stamps and Medicaid that effectively increase their income beyond the amount you posted.

[1756-L85E]

“How many of you tough talkers could live on that, or even 150% of that?”

We don’t have to, because we have real jobs. Screw you

[central_va]

The undercurrent from Free Republic is they think it is their God given right to get as much labor out of their workers and if US workers won't work for 3rd world wages offered then they will import foreign scabs. This goes from fry cook all the way to software engineer. I wonder how many here really have a problem with the open border as log as they will work for peanuts?

[fwdude]

No one is expected to “live” on $1,160 a month.

This is an entry wage for very young, beginning workers. That’s it.

[bert]

Implicit in your assumption is the fact that people in an area with a high cost of living will accept a job at the minimum allowable.

The fact is, the market controls the wage level.