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Originally posted by lpowell0627
Part of the reason is that people now think a minimum standard of living includes a car, flat-screen TV, satellite cable channels, DVR, cell phone for every family member, McMansion, etc.
It is, quite possible, to raise a family, put a roof over your head, and food on the table working at an actual job, not government checks, making minimum wage for a normal work week of 40 hours. You won't have a luxury car, you won't have an in-home entertainment room, but you will have a roof and food.
Further, the bottom line is that you can not call something you aren't even working for slave labor.
I'm not even sure how not working but getting a check anyway amounts to any kind of labor at all, let alone calling oneself a slave.
Lastly, you have a choice. Everyone has a choice. You may not like the choices available, but they are choices nonetheless.
Next time the government wants to give you taxpayer money I would recommend turning it down. You certainly can't be enslaved if you break the chains holding you down.
Originally posted by Submarines
I never utilized any kind of social services or took unemployment (even though I have paid into it.)
There are no jobs out there. I have to laugh when someone says there are no jobs. Look at the classifieds, there are tons of jobs available. There was an employer on a local radio show here in Cleveland last week that said the he was unable to get people to work for him for 2 reasons:
1. Because you can collect benefits for up to 2 years now, so people wont work until the benefits run out.
2. Because they don't like the job that is being offered. Whether it is landscaping, cutting grass, digging ditches, or working at McDonalds.
BTW, I'm 47 grey and fat!
[edit on 9/7/2010 by Submarines]
Originally posted by subject x
Sure, the wages suck. We all deserve to make at least "minimum wage", preferably more.
However, slavery it is not, due to one major factor.
You can quit. Any time.
Slaves do not enjoy that option. They have to stay and work. They get beaten or worse if they try to leave. Not so with your situation. You may need the money, and I know that decent jobs are scarce now, but you can still quit. Just walk out. They won't flog you. Honest.
Consider what it actually means to be a slave before complaining that you are treated like one.
Originally posted by nixie_nox
reply to post by Amaterasu
Well as someone who has to manage WEX, or work experience workers, you are lookign at it the wrong way.
First off, to pay you minimum wage would simply be giving you a job, not just experience. Then you would have no need to go looking for a job elsewhere.