3 ms·

I am not sure how that is a "sensible metric", how would you even begin to create a wage around that? What is "supporting yourself" even mean? Does a teenage

I am not sure how that is a "sensible metric", how would you even begin to create a wage around that? What is "supporting yourself" even mean? Does a teenager need to make the same wage as a mother of 3? if there are 2 20yo waitstaff one is a single mother living alone, and the other is guy living in his parents basement should one be paid differently due to their life situation? This is problem with basing wages on an individual needs, in reality the wage you are paid should have, and does have nothing to do with the amount of money you "need" to support yourself.

standardUser 4y ago
The concept of a living wage is not new and it is calculated and used by many governments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_wage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_wage
- phpisthebest 4y ago
  the problem here is none of that is actually connected to what a person needs. "Living Wage" Laws are just a different way to implement minimum wages, none of the laws shown on that page are connected to any kind of structure or process by which things needed to "live" like food, housing etc are tabulated where by a wage is set. it is just a arbitrary wage picked by legislatures exactly like a "minimum wage" law only the "living wage" seems to apply to older people, where "minimum wage" laws apply to everyone. For example a 20yo in the UK can make "minimum wage" but a 24yo will need to make "living wage" both of which are just numbers pulled out of thin air, not connected to "the amount of money you need to support yourself. "
  - standardUser 4y ago
    The numbers are in fact calculated, not pulled out of thin air. You seem to be cynically assuming they are not with no proof and no interest in proof one way or the other.
  - tomalpha 4y ago
    > both of which are just numbers pulled out of thin air The living wage is not in the UK. Dispute the method all you want of course, but there is a method: https://www.livingwage.org.uk/calculation https://www.livingwage.org.uk/calculation
ceejayoz 4y ago
All of those examples should be able to afford the basics off their wage. An apartment that isn’t three hours from work or requiring hot beds, transportation, food, healthcare, etc. Yes, it gets complicated, but “$7.25/hr isn’t enough” is not complicated.
- phpisthebest 4y ago
  Amazing the market already figured that out. I would love to know what jobs out there are paying $7.25 Not everything needs a government mandate. Every drive thru, and service job I see is has $13, $15, $16 per hour wages, and this is in the midwest where the median income is hovering around 50-55K

standardUser 4y ago

The concept of a living wage is not new and it is calculated and used by many governments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_wage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_wage

phpisthebest 4y ago
the problem here is none of that is actually connected to what a person needs. "Living Wage" Laws are just a different way to implement minimum wages, none of the laws shown on that page are connected to any kind of structure or process by which things needed to "live" like food, housing etc are tabulated where by a wage is set. it is just a arbitrary wage picked by legislatures exactly like a "minimum wage" law only the "living wage" seems to apply to older people, where "minimum wage" laws apply to everyone. For example a 20yo in the UK can make "minimum wage" but a 24yo will need to make "living wage" both of which are just numbers pulled out of thin air, not connected to "the amount of money you need to support yourself. "
- standardUser 4y ago
  The numbers are in fact calculated, not pulled out of thin air. You seem to be cynically assuming they are not with no proof and no interest in proof one way or the other.
- tomalpha 4y ago
  > both of which are just numbers pulled out of thin air The living wage is not in the UK. Dispute the method all you want of course, but there is a method: https://www.livingwage.org.uk/calculation https://www.livingwage.org.uk/calculation

ceejayoz 4y ago

All of those examples should be able to afford the basics off their wage. An apartment that isn’t three hours from work or requiring hot beds, transportation, food, healthcare, etc. Yes, it gets complicated, but “$7.25/hr isn’t enough” is not complicated.

phpisthebest 4y ago
Amazing the market already figured that out. I would love to know what jobs out there are paying $7.25 Not everything needs a government mandate. Every drive thru, and service job I see is has $13, $15, $16 per hour wages, and this is in the midwest where the median income is hovering around 50-55K