I understand, you think it is more import that you can buy your things and services on the cheap, so you can have an artificially high standard of living. Exploitation of the poor is not a concern of yours
I don't set the prices. But what I do control is how I spend it.
Any business out there is free to double their clerks' wages.... which in turn will increase the price of their products. But they don't because of competition.
Now if they want to keep business afloat and similar prices and quality, then get rid of some employees, double their wage and have them double their workload to balance everything out. Not going to happen.
Business have a hard enough time staying afloat, and most of these retailers and food places pay their employees less than $15/hr. So to expect them to bump up wages, have the manager eat the costs, assume the business is still profitable enough to survive, or that suddenly a lot more customers suddenly come in and buy stuff to balance out the increased wages is.... living in dreamland.
I understand you are trying to fight the plight of the low wage earner, but you are fighting a losing battle of reality.
And besides, nobody ever said or guaranteed that working at a store stocking shelves would be a good career able to support themselves or a family of 4. In fact, nobody has ever guaranteed that if you become a doctor that you automatically live the high life. All that is known is that some jobs pay a lot, some moderate, and some pay a low hourly wage. It's up to people to choose, earn and get what they want.
These kinds of low end jobs are meant for students or people in transition trying to make a few bucks to keep float. That's why no guidance counselor, career adviser, teacher, or parent ever tells their kid to strive to be a stockboy.
I don't know what the most menial job is out there..... paperboy?..... but for you to expect every job pay a decent livable wage is laughable.
What you want is some kind of expanded government controlled set of wages, prices and costs where an entity (government) gets involved and sets laws and controls things from City Hall. the gov already sets certain wage and benefit and vacation standards. And business have to provide comp all those gov deductions and such. You want more control.
Money isn't infinite. So your ideal world is some kind of communist set of policies where whether you are Al Bundy selling shoes or a surgeon, everyone kind of makes a similar amount of money in a tight band so it's very leveled out.
No thanks. I went to school, earned two degrees and like to earn what I get. No disrepect to that stockboy who helped me get something from the top shelf, but too bad. Our jobs are different, our backgrounds are different, and if my job pays more, that's the way it is. Don't blame me if a company wants to pay me much more than that $14/hr job.
