There's something we are missing in the debate over fast food wages.

[RandySF]

Last edited Sat Nov 30, 2013, 05:30 PM - Edit history (1)

When I was growing up, a fast food restaurant was the kind of place you worked to earn spending cash during high school. It wasn't really meant for adults to support entire families. So what I think so many people are missing is that we've reached the point in our economy where adults are trying to feed families off jobs that were meant for kids. This is a meltdown.

[dem in texas]

1. Yes, now is is young adults working in fast food

Why, because the good paying factory and manufacturing jobs no longer exist in the US. Either they are shipped overseas or a robot is doing the work. Nothing left for the entrance level jobs for young adults but to work fast food or go to Walmart.

[shenmue]

2. Don't know about the 'not meant to last' idea

Why shouldn't they?

[BainsBane]

3. What happened to the argument, if you don't like it don't eat it?

Or does that only work when ignoring the pay and poor working conditions of porn workers?

[CFLDem]

4. I'm glad someone else gets it.

Walmart cashier and McD burger flipper are not supposed to be careers.

Yet here we are.

[roguevalley]

5. consider this. My granddaughter told me that the minimum wage

for waitresses in Georgia is ... wait for it ... $2.13 an hour. Guess what else? They are forced to share tips. Remember that when you tip. I don't know a waitress that works forty hour weeks.

[alfredo]

6. If someone suggest you get a second job, remind them that your schedule changes weekly.

[awoke_in_2003]

7. That is because adults...

used to be able to get decent paying manufacturing jobs.

[vrp]

8. True enough!

But, these huge corporations should still share their profits with the employees on the bottom level. These people deserve to make more, because it is their labor that makes the company profitable. Simply put, they are exploited. Pay them a living wage. I cannot support huge transnational corporations whose profit margin exceeds "reasonable" levels because of exploited labor. McDonalds is a welfare queen, Walmart is even worse.

[hughee99]

10. What would you consider a "reasonable" level? n/t

[Shankapotomus]

9. Saying their jobs

are intended for kids is just an excuse for low wages. It's why factories higher mostly women. Because the traditional role has been men need higher wages to support a family and their wives only "require" supplementary wages. It's a scam and has always been a scam. Anything to pay less in wages.

[ileus]

11. Same goes for all non-skilled labor

16 year olds aren't worth paying 5 bucks an hour much less 12.

[cstanleytech]

12. The issue isnt the type of jobs it that the wages for most people havent been growing

and companies like mcdonalds and walmart have zero interest in fixing the issue as long as the tax payers are willing to foot the bill with welfare.
Not saying do away with the welfare though but rather we should be making the companies pay into the welfare program itself to support it with their profits depending on a number of factors such as the % of part timers vs full timers and the gap between the lowest paid vs the highest paid also the % of people who work for the company that has to resort to filing for welfare because their employer either cannot or will not provide them with a decent wage.