7 Days @ Minimum Wage: Jessica (Day 4 / Part 2)

[blackflame03]

There is no chance in hell that I would ever subject myself to this life style!!!! Join the military!! Start a cleaning, lawn, babysitting, business and don't pay taxes!!! STRIP AT A DANCE CLUB, SELL DRUGS OR DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO, BUT DON'T EVER SETTLE LIVING IN DISPAIR!!!!

This woman obviously doesn't have any hustle. No education, no hustle, no life. Simple.

[hoomelemele]

Not fair? What's fair? That she doesn't have to start at the bottom? She can't go to school? She has to have children? It's not fair she can't have fancy clothes? are you shitting me? Well our creepting socialism will make sure that we are all as poor as her and then she will be happy.

[messiahschild]

Sister you will make it,trust me I have been there.Take it one day at a time and watch your life start to change...Put your eyes on Jesus and he will help you...Hebrews 13:5 I will never leave you nor forsake you...

[kcuskcid]

help has come. dont rely soley on jesus because jesus and god only seem to help the ones who help themselves. my tip is to try and apply for a postal job like a clerk or mail sorter. around $20 fuckin dollars an hr.

[MikeT2005]

When I'm a wealthy business person, I'm recruiting people from the US. Hard-working, honest, eager people who get stood on and trod down. Pay for airfares and get them set up in housing with a few weeks free rent. And most of all pay them what they're worth. A Woolworths worker in Australia gets paid about AUS$630 a week - or US$541 a week.

[adeart72]

Are you telling me that the Australian minimum wage is that much better than the american wage? they tell us here that everything in this country is the best. have we been lied to?

[MikeT2005]

Oh dear. Of course you have been lied to.

Did you not know?

There are only exceptionally wealthy people in America because there are the exceptionally poor.

Though the exceptionally wealthy wouldn't want to demean their own acheivements by admitting they only got where they were by exploiting the weak.

[ChesterDoraemon]

its a zero-sum game. someone wins someone loses. i intend to win.

[MikeT2005]

If you think that by you being filthy rich, and someone else being dirt poor, you somehow 'win', then you are sadly mistake.

Because we that person, so poor and downtrodden by society, stabs you in the face and steals your wallet, then it is he who has won, because unlike you, he has nothing to loose.

[kcuskcid]

amen

[dannidandannikins]

both of you are completely stupid. It's not a zero-sum game and if you win society has no right to steal your stuff.

[MikeT2005]

I don't believe it's a zero sum game at all. There is simply a limited amount of resources to go around, with multiple stakeholders competing for their share. When the share of resources is too heavily focused within one sector of the population, then it creates problems. For example... a person having to choose between seeing a doctor and eating shouldn't happen. It doesn't make sense for stakeholders as a whole for that person to either go hungry, or remain sick.

[dannidandannikins]

'There is simply a limited amount of resources to go around, with multiple stakeholders competing for their share.'

That is pretty much a definition f a zero sum game.

Look, the supply of resources is not zero sum because people are always creating new resources or discovering new sources of energy or whatever.

In your example you suggest a human right to be medically treated and a human right to be fed. Such rights do not exist because they would require forcing someone to feed/treat them.

[MikeT2005]

But the resources to feed and provide medical attention are there. It's just that one stakeholder, who has control, decides to assign himself a larger share of resources. But his employee won't work as well if they are malnourished or ill, and he will have to train someone new if his employee dies an early death from poor diet and medical care.

Assigning people such a low share of resources doesn't work out efficiently for anyone. Not even the employer who assigns himself a larger share.

[dannidandannikins]

'But his employee won't work as well if they are malnourished or ill, and he will have to train someone new if his employee dies an early death from poor diet and medical care.'

In that case it is in the employer's self-interest to pay a higher wage

[kcuskcid]

yeah you have been lied to. if america was the best ghettos would exist and racism would be tolerated

[adeart7]

But aren't we better now since we have elected a black president? We are no longer racist!!

[McConsumer]

wow, do you really think so, or is that sarcasm? I can't tell, but I definitely disagree.

[kcuskcid]

oops typo. ghettos WOULD NOT exist and racism WOULD NOT be tolerated

[yollam]

Listen how she wishes she could buy her kids Nikes. Lady, don't be brainwashed. They are just overpriced and you're paying for the label. I drive a used car and buy my kids cheap shoes. They outgrow them anyway. Use the money you save for more important things. It makes me sad that anyone other than rich people think they need "brand" clothes or a cool car. Save the money for a rainy day like our grandparents did, or a down payment on a house!

[ifranqui58]

I agree - the love of fancy products is at the root of poverty in this country; there's no longer value in being hhappy with less, and corporations (through tV) have a negative impact on children's attitudes about what's ReALLY important for happy life - the nag-factor is then passed onto the parents.

[twisterwiper]

It is so true! We need to rediscover the key to being happy with less. There is nothing more liberating than coming to the realization that you CAN actually be happy with just the bare necessities. Those necessities should not be struggled for though, they should be available to anyone for a reasonable effort.

[kpuc1973]

I don't understand the having 4 kids whilst on min wage. Surely cutting the cloth according to what is there is more "fair" to everyone, especially the kids. No mention of the father(s) either, where is their input cashwise? Raising the min wage is not the answer, it will just export more jobs. I'm not harsh, I've just seen life in the former communist countries which is worse, but they don't have many kids.

[Artemis54]

Jessica, you are awesome. Thank you for sharing your story.

[jess4847831]

You are welcome.

I pray that you are a registered voter and if you are...please vote.

[jess4847831]

You are welcome.

[SorrySar]

My parents never said we (enlisted navy w/9 kids) were poor... just broke. I married an enlisted navy man and lived far away (overseas & in Podunk, VA & IL) from a support system. Childcare, decent jobs, & transportation were tops among problems for us bottom feeders. I finally started to visualize where I wanted to be, and created a strategy to find jobs through volunteering and working at groveling wages. My good hub put up with a lot in my dark days while experiencing the depths of despair.

[ownthepress]

The thing that doesn't add up is that employers are allowed to under pay. Works hard, gets education, takes care of her family = still living in poverty. You shouldn't have to live in poverty in America. Period.

The opportunity for Jessica to get ahead isn't presenting itself because no one is holding employers accountable for exploitation. That's why we need a raise in the minimum wage -- so employers are forced to do better.

[AMP721]

This womans story breaks my heart-many can argue with the reasons that she is in her position-an many like hers. But if you don't see that society and the people in power bear much of the responsibility for her position you are part of the problem.

[Elmonellie]

Well, I like her. Still, I don't get why she had 4 kids on min wage. I don't get that she said that she has been getting education...but still no progress. Something isn't adding up here.

I know it tugs at yer heartstrings but...16 years + 4 kids + staying 1 hour after work + continuing education... What is really the problem here? I doubt it is the min wage law.

[jess4847831]

Please take my shoes. Please take my education. Please try to understand that everything does not go as planned.

[Stcoty]

Don't knock it 'til you try it.

[jacko39]

I loved this video. It was very important for me to be able to see how people in cities are coping with minimum wage issues. The difference in living conditions is that living in public housing or low income apartments are in somewhat decent areas. Our small community makes you shake your head in response to how the community is going to pot. The change from a working neighborhood to a community of crime involves children who are looking for instant gratification.

[Ryanasaurus]

The rich get richer and the poor stay poor. We are the perfect slaves.

[nikker1985]

If she made that speech in front of a croud she could be a president

Think of how many people would vote for her. Shit, I am going to translate that speech and use it as mine in my own country

Am presindent bitch!!!

[kayse1123]

JessicaI don't knowhere you live but you are so awsome! Go downtown and pick up a Reader! There is a job in there for you! Put this video on your resume!!!

You deserve much better!

[Chasson0318]

What a beautiful lady. In my heart of hearts, I believe she's gonna make it. There's no way on earth a person working with children should be making minimum wage...it's unacceptable.

[Elmonellie]

Why does the choice to have children make a worker with minimum wage skills, getting minimum wage, unacceptable? Frankly, she made some really bad choices. Could not provide for 4 kids. I feel bad for her kids. She seems like a very nice woman, but, my gosh, WHY have 4 kids when you can't provide?

[dashley67]

Actually there are many women who are married with kids working near minumum wage. Who is to guess what her circumstances were when she had her children? Her youngest is 10. Many circumstances can change in 10 years. She is the sole bread winner now. Do you assume all women who are now alone raising kids made bad choices? What about the SAHM whose husband leaves her? And how would you know if her skills were sub-par?

[yollam]

All I know is, I struggle to make ends meet and feed my kids and I make a lot more than minimum wage, so my heart goes out to those struggling on a measly $5/hr. Must be nice to feel so superior.

[chicagocarless]

I interviewed Jessica (I'm the other voice on the tape). If you think she's brave in the video, you ought to meet her in person. This was the first time anyone ever asked her to tell her story, and in one candid moment God somehow allowed us to get on tape. Before the end of this year, this woman will have a full-time job with benefits, and a great Christmas for her kids. I don't have any doubt. Because Jessica doesnt have any doubt, either :-)

[joshryker]

So what, are -you- offering her a job, without an education or training or experience of any kind?

[jess4847831]

He has a spirit.

Since our last contact. I have had three interviews...

[dashley67]

*smile*

[dashley67]

~Smile~

[jess4847831]

Sorry for my delay in responding. I had to do a lot more soul searching. I want to say that I will always remember you.

-You with a camera.

-You that chose to videotape.

-You that allowed me to speak.

-You that listened.

This person that chose to approach me has a very special talent. He is God-Sent.

The extraordinary task he charged me with was the following: He elaborated that seven out of many people in the United States would be selected to speak about living at minimum wage.

[jess4847831]

More...

As I do live in Illinois, one would be aware that it is not one of the states subjected for a change in the minimum wage law, but this man approached me with a simple, but complex question... "Would you like to speak about how it feel to be at minimum wage?" As I looked into his eyes, I saw a calling to serve. He was unaware that I asked God every morning the following question...a question that I learned from Oprah Winfrey..."What can I do for you today?"

[CL0SETGEEK]

I want to help her somehow...

shes so unselfish. she and her family deserve better.