When I was growing up in the 1990s and 2000s, I never heard much about the minimum wage. That’s because its usefulness was almost entirely confined to people in the 16-22 age bracket. You know, the people dipping their toes into the workforce for the first time. The majority of these people generally worked at a grocery store, fast food restaurant, or another retail establishment to both gain experience and pay for things like car insurance, part of a car payment, or, in the case of college kids, beer for ragers. But the minimum wage has been rapidly transformed into a lightning rod for the biggest losers.
Minimum Wage Was Never Intended To Fund An Adult Life
I’ll repeat that for the people in the cheap seats: minimum wage was never intended to fund an adult life. It’s not meant to pay grown-up bills and it is certainly not a tool that can be used to provide for a family. And basic math backs up that notion. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 which, if working 40 hours each week over 52 weeks per year, comes out to just over $15,000. Even the magical $15 per hour number that Democrats ogle over only generates $31,000 per year. And the liberal bastions that mandate $15+ per hour (California, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, etc.) aren’t exactly affordable places to live or raise a family even if you’re making two or three times the minimum wage.
The hilarious thing about these adults clamoring for a higher minimum wage is the inability to come to terms with the most basic aspect of economics. I’m not even referencing the financial literacy problems our young people are facing. I’m just talking about basics like supply and demand. When businesses are mandated to pay low-skilled employees more, they won’t eat it. They’ll raise their prices to compensate for the change. That means even though an employee gets an unearned raise, they’ll still effectively pay the same percentage of their income for the good they purchased before.
What Ever Happened To Shame?
Lost in the endless conversation about the minimum wage is how shame has turned into mostly a historical artifact. Whether it’s ‘celebrating’ Pride Month, cheering on dudes competing in women’s sports, or grown adults announcing they’re losers who make minimum wage, the era of putting your head down and working for the things you want is largely dead.
And it shouldn’t be a surprise. Too many people think they’re entitled to a nice place to live, healthcare, a big-screen TV, an iPhone, and even retirement security. That stench of loser is now being passed on from father and mother to son and daughter in our culture. Instead of being trained to work hard and be a good person, children are being taught that they’re owed things just for gracing us with their presence, and the way they treat people is irrelevant.
If You’re A Grown Adult Making Minimum Wage Then You’re A Failure
It may sound harsh, but it’s the truth. If you’re in your 30s, 40s, or 50s working the register at your local fast food chain or bagging groceries at the supermarket then you’ve majorly failed at some point in your life. These people can usually be painted with one of these four brushes: 1) drug or alcohol addict, 2) past criminal, 3) dropped out of high school, or 4) teenage pregnancy. If you don’t step on one of those four easy-to-avoid landmines then the statistics have laid out, as sad as it is, that you’re above average in the United States.
That doesn’t mean there’s no value in doing work or that these people will never amount to something. But these are the people who should be used as models for your children. There’s a reason, “Do you want to end up working at Mickey D’s?” is a popular refrain.
And if a person is working for minimum wage, stepped on one of those landmines in the past, and shows up to a ‘$15 minimum wage’ rally then they’re not only a failure but are squarely in ‘peak loser’ mode.
Stop Making Your Problem, My Problem
We all know there are consequences to actions, but when something affects us negatively because of a decision we’ve made human nature turns most of us into defensive creatures. That’s what the minimum wage debate has turned into. When that $3 fast food burger goes to $5 because of a mandatory minimum wage increase, everyone gets fu*ked instead of the adult losers who have convinced people to feel sorry for them. Those of us who haven’t made horrific life decisions are being made to correct the mistakes of the adult fu*k ups working for minimum wage.
If I choose to make stupid fu*king decisions I need to accept that there is the chance of super sh*tty consequences. For example, if I commit a felony, I must understand that I’ll be lucky to get any job, including one for minimum wage. If a person can’t accept that, or arguably worse, a person’s kids see them sympathize with those people then what lesson is being taught? I can assure you it’s not a lesson that will be taught to my children.
Let’s Keep Fighting The Failures
It’s time to recognize that the minimum wage debate isn’t about fairness; it’s about responsibility. As parents, we have an obligation to instill values of hard work, perseverance, and accountability in the next generation. We must always encourage our children to strive for better opportunities rather than settling for the minimum.
Many adults making minimum wage have largely given up on fighting for their best interests. Most have made the calculation that they’re fu*ked no matter what. Of course, it’s much easier to piss, whine, and bitch than it is to make even minimal improvements in one’s life.
So, instead of allowing these losers to win, let’s teach our kids personal responsibility. Let’s use these people as examples of what not to be. Let’s turn back the tide and return to the times when the true value of work is recognized and rewarded–not frowned upon. Let’s set up our kids for success.
