>>If the minimum wage isn't supposed to be a livable wage - then what exactly is it's purpose? I believe that ANY full time job should at least allow you to pay rent and eat food.
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>>Purpose? one word - incentive.
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>My take on minimum wage is this: If a full time employee still has to consume government assistance to meet their living needs then their employer is profiting off of taxpayers. McDonalds, Wal-Mart, etc. with their droves of minimum wage employees are essentially being subsidized by taxpayers. Let the cost of their product assume the role of providing the living wage to their employees rather than increasing the burden on taxpayers.

Right. Good example is what Wal-mart did during the last holiday season. They put out food donation boxes - wanting donations for their employees! That made me want to puke.