A girl on my facebook used this picture to start a discussion on why minimum wage should be raised. According to the picture, for "a minimum wage worker" to be able to afford a two bedroom place at "fair market rent" the minimum wage would need to be $13.60.

Is the minimum wage too low or the rent "to damn high"?

I say raise it to $25/hr.

What say you?

3/16/2012 6:52:12 PM

[no]

3/16/2012 6:55:35 PM

A lot of things in this country have artificially inflated prices. Apartment rent, Gas, etc.

3/16/2012 6:55:42 PM

Wot?

$7.25 * 40 * 4.3 = ~$1250

So... that's about two two-bedroom units.

And why would one need a 2 bedroom apartment anyway? It takes about 15 hours to earn enough for a 1 bedroom where I live.

[Edited on March 16, 2012 at 6:59 PM. Reason : asdfasdfadsf]

3/16/2012 6:57:17 PM

Tipping should just be the standard practice at all businesses

I'm Krallum and I approved this message

3/16/2012 6:57:18 PM

minimum wage =/= living wage

3/16/2012 6:57:55 PM

The cost of living is the same in dc as it is in harrisonburg

I'm Krallum and I approved this message

3/16/2012 6:59:40 PM

Quote :

"Wot? $7.25 * 40 * 4.3 = ~$1250 So... that's about two two-bedroom units."

you didn't give uncle sam his cut

3/16/2012 7:00:30 PM

You mean his welfare check and food stamps?

3/16/2012 7:02:20 PM

i didnt even know they had apartments in alaska

3/16/2012 7:25:27 PM

also this is why there are roommates and who the fuck on minimum wage gets a 2 bedroom place

[Edited on March 16, 2012 at 7:29 PM. Reason : lkj]

3/16/2012 7:28:27 PM

I should earn x amount, no matter my skills, diligence, work ethic, or value to my company or the economy.

3/16/2012 7:29:49 PM

everyone should earn x amount

3/16/2012 7:31:06 PM

and i think the picture really means "rent, rims, cable, etc"

3/16/2012 7:31:53 PM

Minimum wage earners with kids get a LOT back when they do their taxes and just blow the shit. I am saying it probably needs to be raised some but not more that $2/HR. They also can get other assistance (which most people are too proud to seek).

3/16/2012 7:42:54 PM

im not too proud. where do i sign up?

3/16/2012 7:52:17 PM

Oh shit, I'm about to move to Maryland!

3/16/2012 7:54:24 PM

don't care to get involved in the actual substance of this debate, but:

Quote :

"$7.25 * 40 * 4.3 = ~$1250 So... that's about two two-bedroom units"

this is definitely not the case where I live.

3/16/2012 8:09:36 PM

how many people making minimum wage live where you live

3/16/2012 8:11:11 PM

I think engineers should have a minimum salary.

3/16/2012 8:13:06 PM

^^ well, we live in the NYC metro area, so ... more than I count.

[Edited on March 16, 2012 at 8:13 PM. Reason : ^]

3/16/2012 8:13:12 PM

note to self: never get to the point in life where you'll have to suffer with a minimum wage job

3/16/2012 8:13:59 PM

^^minimum wage workers in NYC have nothing to complain about. Those unused subway tunnels stay quite warm.

[Edited on March 16, 2012 at 8:14 PM. Reason : ^]

3/16/2012 8:14:19 PM

I was able to rent out a 2 bedroom house for $650... but it was in the middle of fucking nowhere.

3/16/2012 8:19:39 PM

Quote :

"note to self: never get to the point in life where you'll have to suffer with a minimum wage job"

i'm guessing this is sarcasm, but pretty much spot on-in my book. you say that like it's a given that every reasonable person would carry that sentiment...but that's not true. a lot of people are content working shitty jobs while simultaneously bitching about how little they have, and *if only* the government would help them a little more, they could magically get over the hump.

3/16/2012 8:24:37 PM

damn right it's not true. there are countless people who want to do just enough to get by, but then feel the right to bitch about not having enough

3/16/2012 8:28:23 PM

shit, I'd be happy (in theory) to have a job... then when I get it (in theory) bitch and moan about said job and how I'd be happier without it...

First world problems

3/16/2012 8:28:54 PM

If I didn't pay a majority of my income to the government, I'd be over the hump.

3/16/2012 8:30:26 PM

Get a boat, move your business over seas (literally)... profit.

3/16/2012 8:32:42 PM

Every job @ 40 hours should be able to afford an apartment. Our society is broken in the US. All the propoganda fed to you about this country is myth. Apartments are all too large in the US and there are not enough micro studios. Wages are too low and rent are too high.

3/16/2012 8:32:53 PM

^that and modern day marketing has everyone to believe that we all need iphones, crazy fast internet, digital cable tv and that new 40k+ v8 sedan, then how you could pay for it all is by credit cards...

3/16/2012 8:34:44 PM

the map in op doesn't include anything but apartment.

3/16/2012 8:36:39 PM

The taxes are too damn high.

3/16/2012 8:37:45 PM

lol I love these arguments. What is someone who works a minimum wage job doing renting a 2-bedroom apartment on their own anyway.



[Edited on March 16, 2012 at 8:42 PM. Reason : ]

3/16/2012 8:41:39 PM

Boxes are free and you can find newspapers for free in the trash for insulation. No rent needed.

3/16/2012 8:42:52 PM

Quote :

"I say raise it to $25/hr. "

Why stop there? Let's go $1000/hour. Then everyone will be rich. Flawless logic.

Quote :

"and i think the picture really means "rent, rims, cable, etc""

Actually, you can rent rims, so that should be bundled into the rent figure. I'm sure as fuck not hiring anyone with lame ass hub caps. That's some pleb shit and I won't have it.

3/16/2012 8:51:11 PM

Quote :

"Actually, you can rent rims, so that should be bundled into the rent figure. I'm sure as fuck not hiring anyone with lame ass hub caps. That's some pleb shit and I won't have it."

lmao at the plebe comment

3/16/2012 8:54:03 PM

Let's end the Fed and restore the value of a dollar.

3/16/2012 9:07:46 PM

lol you people are fucking hilarious

YOU KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY? THE POOR PEOPLE AND THEIR OUT OF CONTROL CONSUMPTION

lol

3/16/2012 9:39:11 PM

and the government with its out of control spending!

3/16/2012 9:40:57 PM

OH YES THE GUBBA MINT

I'MA SAY IT'S SPENDING A LOT BECAUSE A TRILLION IS A VERY LARGE NUMBER

3/16/2012 9:42:18 PM

a trillion? try something closer to 20 trillion

3/16/2012 9:51:16 PM

solution: don't live above your means

3/16/2012 9:54:48 PM

^tell that to the tyrants we call our elected officials.

3/16/2012 9:55:11 PM

you present a valid point sir

3/16/2012 10:08:36 PM

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3/16/2012 10:15:07 PM

get a job that doesn't pay by the hour
problem fucking solved

3/16/2012 10:32:06 PM

Quote :

"get a job that doesn't pay by the hour problem fucking solved"

no, the problem is not solved.

the problem is "everyone can't have a job that doesn't pay by the hour."

3/16/2012 10:48:08 PM

then there needs to be a nationwide strike of ALL hourly employees. I know the old saying, "Somebody has to pump the gas / clean the hotels / make the food in this world" and wholeheartedly DISAGREE with it. Nobody should HAVE TO serve another, when we will soon have robots to serve us.

3/16/2012 11:07:33 PM

This thread needs a raise to 2 pages

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

[Edited on March 16, 2012 at 11:08 PM. Reason : ^but people will gladly serve. Who are you to take that away from them]

3/16/2012 11:08:03 PM