I actually think I got a lot out of working through HS and college. My two younger brothers didn't work, but I did.

It gave me some experience with types people I probably wouldn't have otherwise met. Today, this allows me to be able to prove to people that I'm not an evil elitist with a personality disorder.

I don't know if you've noticed this, but simply because you don't want to work at wal mart does not make you some "evil elitist." Working at wal mart would be a waste for most people I associate with, and thus I would advise them to do something more deserving of their abilities.

I would to have loved to work at some place "more deserving of my abilities", but when you're in highschool, you don't have much choice.

I did work for awhile in highschool at my mom's private practise, but her Program Coodinator, who was technically my boss, was the biggest asshat in the world, and I couldn't handle working for him.

Unless you're a really crappy server, you can easily make at least $6/hour with tips, even at the smallest small-town greasy spoon. Yes, I know there are some people who don't know how to tip, but if you find yourself in a restaurant like that, it's time to find a different job.

I've had 2 wait staff positions and 3 bartending positions. I make on average, 500 a week in tips. However, not everyone does. That's my point.

I would never work for Wal-Mart, their politics are abhorant. However, many of my friends have to take any job they can, and it's shameful how Wal-Mart treats their workers.

Also, I didn't call names, I asked if you were retarded, which isn't any worse than you insisting that I have no reading comprehension.

I hate poor people?

It really isn't that hard to end up homeless... This is the scenario that happened to the lady who bought the house across the street from me:

Had a great business that she inherited from her family (the only business she ever knew), trucking. She owned a few trucks. Bought the house across the street from me and worked her business out of the house. Has 3 kids, ages 17, 12, and 3.

6 months later, her business went dead. Gas prices and a huge lull in manufacturing in Michigan slowed it to a halt. Business went bankrupt. As a result, her income went to 0. She immediately put her house up for sale,but due to the bum economy, housing prices had gone DOWN and she couldn't sell it for what she bought it for a year later. She couldn't pay the mortgage and couldn't sell the house. She ended up foreclosing and filing bankruptcy. She was looking for work, but with no skills other than trucking and three kids and a mortgage to pay, combined with a 7% + unemployment rate in Michigan, she had a hard time finding work. She had taken a job at Walmart, but that didn't cover the mortgage, utilities, food, etc. So, she lost her house, couldn't get an apartment because of her credit rating, couldn't get ADC because she was working (and what she would get from them otherwise was barely enough to cover day care). She ended up moving in, with her 3 kids, to her aunt's trailer.

If she didn't have a relative to move in with, what would she have done?? Some of you make it sound so easy, but the economists still report that 80-90% (depending on which report you read) of Americans are one paycheck away from bankruptcy.. meaning, if they lost their jobs, within one paycheck, they'd be drowning.

That said, I see both sides of the "raising minimum wage" issue. In the late 90's, when things were booming around here, nobody was paying minimum wage. They were begging people to work there. Now that the economy has crashed here, there are former professionals working 2 or 3 minimum wage jobs to make ends meet. It's the basic supply and demand theory and more places can get away with paying only minimum wage.

Also, the services and assistance that are available to people varies greatly from state to state, so you can't assume that someone who can get public assistance in your state can get it in another state. If you do not have children in Michigan, there is no public assistance. The job placement agencies are totally overwhelmed.

There are no easy solutions to these problems. If there were, they wouldn't exist. But don't be quick to judge. Would you be ok if you had to go a few months without a paycheck or if it was reduced by 75%?

This would be an example of the type of person who is homeless in the interim but can get back through social service programs.

This right here is why I would like more social service programs to teach people how to sacrifice and save. There are options before you get to the point where you're drowning. Too many people say, "I could NEVER live like that." We're more resilient than we give ourselves credit for. Certainly not everyone will be living ultra-comfortably, but they will be ok.

And you go on to talk about jobs. But the bottom line is raising minimum wage pushes up costs. I can understand raising minimum wage with inflation, but there's no way to raise minimum wage and not affect cost of living.

That doesn't sound right, but I don't have time right now to go research it. It's true that some states are a bit more free with their money than others, but you also have to factor in non-profit services. There's always a way.

Where did you find this fact?

How can she "get back" by using social service programs? Should she quit her job so she can get aid, which wouldn't be enough to pay for housing? I don't get it.

At least in my state, being jobless is not a qualification for public aid -- only a low income.

I don't really think the facts are out there, but I do know FOR A FACT that the agencies are overwhelmed. My sister-in-law works as a head hunter and couldn't even find me a job. She's been working long hours trying to place people and it's hard right now. One of my lil sis's works at a head hunter agency and her's is also pretty packed.

I don't think anyone can truly understand what's going on in Michigan unless you live here and experience it.

My roommate was working this summer in Mich, and he has made repeated statements that it appeared as though the entire state was dying.

Yeah, it is. The funny thing is we may be the highest educated state in a few years. A lot of new grads can't find jobs so law school and grad school are becoming increasingly popular.

I think in Florida, it depends on what sort of aid it is. I believe that most federal aid programs do require you to be unemployed.

The individual in the story is homeless with no job.

I don't know that the agencies are overwhelmed as much as employers are already fully staffed.

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Wagner-Peyser are huge federal grants/programs that are available nationwide. Participants are unemployed OR underemployed. These are social service programs to help people get employed.

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/training/onestop.htm

For employment centers, see: http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/on...onestopmap.cfm

As for housing, food, medical, etc. each state has somewhat different requirements, BUT if you are truly in need, you can find help.

ETA: I was wondering what some folks were talking about with minimum wage not applying to certain businesses. Now, I see! http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm

It says she had taken a job at Walmart???

Woops! Ok - homeless and underemployed.

And when the employers are already fully staffed, that backs up agencies hence making them overwhelmed.

AND we just found out that yet another auto plant will probably be closing.

In my area, for some reason, there are a ton of pharmaceutical manufacturers. They are constantly laying people off and re-hiring (sometimes the same people). It's crazy!

If you have an auto plant closing, your local one-stop (I'm not sure of the geography of Michigan, but is the auto plant near Detroit? http://www.detroitsworkplace.org/) should already be working on alternate employment. Nationally, unemployment still isn't as bad as it's been in recent years, so there aren't as many people to back up the agencies.

A side note...I think people need to understand the fact that everyone in this country is not going to make good money, nor should they. Wal-Mart is a perfectly good job for a lot of people. I know its nearly impossible to provide for a family on minimum wage, but guess what, you shouldnt have a family if you're making minimum wage. Increasing wages for workers isnt the answer, teaching them responsibility and planning is.

I'm putting this nicely so please don't think I'm trying to be a bitch... but you really don't understand. These plants are all around the Detroit Metro area. When they close a plant, 100s of people are losing their jobs--- and I mean in the high hundreds. With all the college graduates right now who are have to work at restaurants and other jobs not using their degrees, you add on all those who didn't go to school and are working the other jobs... then you add on hundreds of people who are getting laid off. There's no way. I'm not sure what kind of unemployment these people get. My ex got fired from one of the biggest liquor distributors in the area, and he was making "ok" money from unemployment, but def not enough to get by like what he was making there.

You just really need to understand... Michigan is in over its head as far as employment goes. Even if someone is receiving unemployment, they can still be going to agencies to try to find jobs.

Looks like Michigan is working hard to help though:

http://www.michiganworks.org/pdf/2006ROI.pdf

Hence why the Bush line on abstinence-only sex ed is stupid - these people should be taught how to use BC so they don't have kids they can't afford.

And, seriously, while they're at it, get insurance companies to support BC on a larger scale. :(

NO SHIT! I pay $47 a month and I'm on it for medical reasons. Insurance covers nothing... not even my damn $900 knee brace I was supposed to get.

Oh, but you know birth control just means everybody will be more promiscuous and therefore increase abortions

*kicks people*

LOL! With the effectiveness rate of BC, I'm not sure how many abortions would even need to take place. Insurance companies are out to get women.

Sorry, and I'll be more than happy for you to correct me, but I can't find anywhere in your posts that you have said 2.13 plus tips is inadequate. All I can find are your statements that waitresses make 2.13 and that 2.13 is inadequate-- period.

It's alway possible that we misundertand what someone else has written on a board like this, but it's also quite possible that, assuming you meant what you say you meant, you did not say it nearly as clearly as you think you did.

Bull. You didn't ask if she was retarded (which would have been bad enough), you asked: "Are you a retard?" If you don't think that's name calling, then I simply don't know what to say.

(And either way, yes, it is worse.)

I'm sure MysticCat Jr's got some wise words to impart about name-calling. Care to enlighten us??

I'll field this one.

You're all acting like a bunch of bunglicks.

Well, he knows there will be a consequence if he calls anyone stupid, an idiot or the like. (And he's always looking to catch his sister in the act.) I'm starting to try to work with him on the difference between insults and trash talk -- information every boy needs.

His current favorite insult is "bongo belly." But he's also working on comebacks: "I know you are, but what am I" and "well, that may be your opinion, but it doesn't look like anybody cares about your opinion."

That last one is awesome ;)

My dad's got a good one for him: Opinions are like butts[edited for the discerning 8 year old], everyone's got one, and they all stink.

The "I'm rubber and you're glue and whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you" is a classic as well :D

I like this one:

http://www.compusmart.ab.ca/mystyk/pancake%20bunny.jpg

Tee hee, the bunny pic is always fun.

It never gets old either.

I wonder if the bunny gets min. wage.

/Just so we're on topic.

In Answer to your question, no where!!!!!:mad:

Minimum wage is nothing but a politcal ploy to say the least.

If you do not work for what you are paid, then leave!

If you work hard, then you will be paid!

The mind set of todays Youth and people are over stated for what the hell they are worth!:mad:

Either work or dont work.:rolleyes:

The intelligence of todays youth is like a walnut. It is hard and stupid!

I am a small business owner, and my one employee is paid $7.25 an hr.

I would love to give him a raise as now He makes more than I do, but He comes in late, or not at all as He has problems. Should He call? Hell Yes. Does He No!

So who works? Me! What if I have things that I need to do?

Screw Minimum wage! If you work and show a good job, there will be a raise. If you dont, then get paid for what you are worth!