The MW was not designed to get families out of debt, or lower the poverty level below what it is now. The MW was started as a means to an entry point into the job market. To get off the MW and still retain a wage, you aspire to move yourself up in the world by moving up to a higher paying salary, and not burden the whole country and the job market by moving up the MW.
I never realized that flagmen and pilot car drivers were white collar workers earning $16.00 to $45.00 an hour.