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

7 Days @ Minimum Wage brings you 7 real people with 7 real stories of living on the minimum wage, hosted by Roseanne Barr and sponsored by the AFL-CIO and ACORN. On Day 4, Jessica, an educated mom of four, tells her life-story of struggle to get ahead and make a future for her family. Jessica does everything she can to break out of a daily cycle of pain inflicted by having to scrape by on the minimum wage. Part 1 is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps0JyNakyQQ

Category:

News & Politics

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• seven
• days
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• minimum
• wage
• middle-class
• politics
• election
• day
• economic
• justice
• Roseanne
• Barr
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• afl-cio
• acorn
• vote

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[McConsumer]

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

[adeart7]

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

[kcuskcid]

amen