Announcement

**MrFun** · September 9, 2003, 01:12

So in one of the richest countries in the world, it's justifiable that we still have a segment of the population that works their asses off, yet still live below poverty line, MTG??

**Al B. Sure!** · September 9, 2003, 01:15

i'm questioning this whole poverty line thing when people who live in slums wear a different pair of 150 dollar sneakers everyday... and thats the truth

**Al B. Sure!** · September 9, 2003, 01:19

oh and i'm not really seeing why anyone besides teenagers and immigrants should have to work minimum wage jobs... it don't take too much to go to community college and that will get you at least a few dimes above minimum wage. all you got to do to graduate from community really is not get pregnant or impregnant a girl by your 16th birthday, not get arrested, and put down your bi-daily blunt...

if everyone did those things, they would be able to graduate from college and get more than minimum wage easily

**MrFun** · September 9, 2003, 01:21

I'm not talking about teenagers nor illegal immigrants here.

I'm talking about part of mainstream American society of independent adults who are legal citizens, who work their asses off, yet still live below the poverty level in one of the wealthiest nations in the world.

**Imran Siddiqui** · September 9, 2003, 01:22

Imran is a libertarian... of course he never worked no minimum wage job.

Yes, Speer, people of certain political persuasions are ALL the same, you dumb moron.

Perhaps you missed all the times I've talked about working for CVS for 4 summers. You think they pay well for cashier positions?

And my family has only become 'well off' with in the last 10 years. When I was younger we lived in a tiny apartment because that was the best we could afford. My dad was an immigrant who had little money, who worked hard and carried himself up.

The moral of the story? Get some facts or shut the Hell up

.

**MichaeltheGreat** · September 9, 2003, 01:24

Poverty line is relative. You want to see poverty line, get your ass down here. Then go to El Salvador, and the worst situation you find here will look pretty good. Go to Haiti, and El Salvador ain't bad.

Even here in Mexico, there is opportunity to get ahead and improve your skills and the market value of your work. In a lot of the world, you don't have that at all. In the US and the developed world in general, you have an abundance of opportunity to get off the unskilled, low value labor dead end.

It doesn't matter if you work your ass off - what matters is the marketable value of what you do, and how replaceable your skills (or utter lack thereof) are in the labor marketplace.

You're not owed a lifestyle by your employer. You're owed the agreed upon value for production of your work product, whatever it may be. If you don't like that number, start finding a way to do a more valuable work product.

**MrFun** · September 9, 2003, 01:28

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
Poverty line is relative. You want to see poverty line, get your ass down here. Then go to El Salvador, and the worst situation you find here will look pretty good. Go to Haiti, and El Salvador ain't bad.

Even here in Mexico, there is opportunity to get ahead and improve your skills and the market value of your work. In a lot of the world, you don't have that at all. In the US and the developed world in general, you have an abundance of opportunity to get off the unskilled, low value labor dead end.

It doesn't matter if you work your ass off - what matters is the marketable value of what you do, and how replaceable your skills (or utter lack thereof) are in the labor marketplace.

You're not owed a lifestyle by your employer. You're owed the agreed upon value for production of your work product, whatever it may be. If you don't like that number, start finding a way to do a more valuable work product.

I've lived in Ecuador for the summer of 2001 -- I have gained a little first-hand view of poverty. In fact, one day, I saw this homeless guy in Cuenca, and I had bought a nice blanket for myself earlier. I gave it to him, then moved on.

Granted, I have not seen any of the sort of poverty that you're describing in other areas, but don't assume that I'm completely naive.

But you're right -- perhaps the people living on poverty wages should find ways to become more marketable. But how difficult would it be for them -- where could they even start with the meager resources they have?

**BeBMan** · September 9, 2003, 01:29

Originally posted by MrFun
I'm not talking about teenagers nor illegal immigrants here.

Ha, so it´s ok for teenagers or illegal immigrants to live below the poverty limit? /cheap troll

**Berzerker** · September 9, 2003, 01:29

complete and utter b0llocks

Ah yes, reds4ever has employed the non-rebuttal rebuttal. You know, the kind of "rebuttal" that is conspicuously immune to analysis.

**MrFun** · September 9, 2003, 01:30

Originally posted by BeBro

Ha, so it´s ok for teenagers or illegal immigrants to live below the poverty limit? /cheap troll

point one -- teenagers -- in most cases -- live with their parents

point two -- illegal immigrants went into the country illegally

MTG -- I posted a response above, for you.

**Imran Siddiqui** · September 9, 2003, 01:31

But how difficult would it be for them -- where could they even start with the meager resources they have?

The main problem is that they didn't take schooling seriously. Because as Speer pointed out, going even to community college (which is usually very cheap and if you can't afford that, you can ALWAYS get a federal loan), will pull you out of minimum wage work... unless you have an English degree (kidding, kidding).

So if they didn't take it seriously then, what makes you think they'll take it seriously now?

**MrFun** · September 9, 2003, 01:32

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

But how difficult would it be for them -- where could they even start with the meager resources they have?

The main problem is that they didn't take schooling seriously. Because as Speer pointed out, going even to community college (which is usually very cheap and if you can't afford that, you can ALWAYS get a federal loan), will pull you out of minimum wage work... unless you have an English degree (kidding, kidding).

So if they didn't take it seriously then, what makes you think they'll take it seriously now?

Nice generalization -- all people living below poverty line is through their fault alone.

**GePap** · September 9, 2003, 01:33

Its good to know a man ife is worth only whatever the market cares to provide and pay for it at any time...

**MrFun** · September 9, 2003, 01:36

Originally posted by GePap
Its good to know a man ife is worth only whatever the market cares to provide and pay for it at any time...

We might agree on some points, but you're still not having any luck converting me to communism's ideology.

**GePap** · September 9, 2003, 01:36

Any system that has rich needs poor. not everyone has the time to take of to study, and as I have said before, if everyone studies and gets an associates or bachelors, then having it becoms the requirement and the value of it goes down (supply and demand, supply and demand). The only reason we can say "go to college so you can get a better job" is that there are enough people out there qho don;t go to college and you can skip right over them. If they all had a degree, then it becomes "go get a doctorate and a good job boy!"

Announcement

Minimum Wage

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment