Well, take up comparing base wage with the OP, whose post was intended to make that exact comparison just not with these results. That comparison was very commo

Well, take up comparing base wage with the OP, whose post was intended to make that exact comparison just not with these results. That comparison was very common before wages rose so much over the past few years. I'm well aware of how hard comparison is even in the USA, but I am still curious about recent changes in the EU, given how the system is touted, even here. How is their system responding to similar challenges compared to the one I live in? But instead of responses, I get told I could not possibly compare due to all the complicating differences. Well what was the original point then? I'm likely inclined to agree with OP on policy, for whatever that is worth, but I am still curious and want to understand the details. I'll note the jump to say "hey don't compare those" only came after I followed OP's implicit desire for me to compare. Unfortunately, that comparison didn't go the way it used to, so now we have a rush to say I shouldn't have done what the OP clearly wanted me to do.