I will hazard a guess that by 'here' you are referring to your specific locale, since I can immediately state truthfully that if you are referring to the State of California or the nation in general you are greatly in error.
I live in a very rural area in the mountains of Northern California, and by personal knowledge can attest to the fact that people will and do work and live on minimum wage. There are not very many jobs here, and since the number of individuals exceed the number of jobs by a significant amount, the vast majority of available positions pay only minimum wage. There are some that pay more, granted, but not all that much more nor are there really that many of them. This is primarily a seasonal-work area, since when the snows arrive many people leave for the valley and jobs dry up, so most of us strive to find work that both pays more than minimum wage and lasts longer than just the summer months.
When the only work available pays only minimum wage, you work or you starve. If you are unwilling to do the work, there is always someone else who will -and the position will be filled very quickly indeed. The concept that americans will not work for minimum wage is simply and totally wrong.
"But, you say, the Minimum Wage is too low, $6.25 per hour here in Kalifornia. No one can live on $6.25 an hour."
This was a more or less quote from our do-gooders to justify raising the minimum wage and welfare.
Actually, I agree with most of your response. Frankly, I work about 12 hours a day six days a week. Most people could do pretty well on the minimum wage, if they put in more hours.
The problem is welfare, in my view.
Take care and have a great day!