>The biggest argument that I actually hear is that if you don't want to make minimum wage, then you need to work harder and get a better job....which is of one of the dumbest statements ever. When I was in high school back in the early 80's most of the people that made minimum wage were students or kids that still lived at home with their parents. That is simply not the case anymore - take a look inside your local McDonald's and see how many adults are working in there compared to students. Then to top it all off - if you want the better job I guess you need to go to college - yet the republicans are against providing community college for free too. So there you have it - if you don't like minimum wage - get a better job - by going to that school you can't pay for - because you have a minimum wage job. This ignorant "trickle down economics" concept where you don't tax the rich so they can "trickle down" the money is again a proven dismal failure. There is no 'trickle' - just a bunch of old rich white guys keeping everything for themselves at the expense of everyone else.
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>Well I was making less than minimum wage as a bar tender when I left my first husband at the age of 30. I did not want to be doing that when I was 50. So I worked hard, put myself through school, earned my BSCS and now I have a better life. And I am not an old rich white guy.
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>I do not think that it is so dumb to work harder and get a better job. That is exactly what I did.

Just making a WAG here, but I'm guessing this was in the 80's? Since then, according to many studies the price of college tuition has tripled (or more). In the 70's/80's a person COULD work full time at a minimum wage job and afford to go to college and pay rent (average rent in the 80's, including subsidized, $251) and actually eat. Not so much today.

So, sitting there and saying "I did it, so everyone else can too" is kinda like comparing apples to oranges. How about asking yourself, after having checked out current costs, "Can I do that today?"