>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.

Right - and that all did not happen last week either did it? I was pointing out that while we, at our age, were able to do this - people today are not. Furthermore minimum wage has hardly kept up with the cost of living - which is of course my whole point to begin with. I also can assure you that the cost of your schooling was way WAY WAY less that it would be now.
Plus a bartender is not really a minimum wage job - there are tips involved. I know several bartenders in south Florida that were making more than I was being a programmer. Your comparisons are not valid at all. Anyway so now you have a better life - so screw everyone else? Hardly seems right.