In 1963 I worked at an A&W fast food restaurant. In those days you didn"t have to be 16
years old to get a job. I know my hourly wage wage was so small I quit and starting selling coffee and candy on a cart in a bowling alley. I made only tips but sometimes I could make five or ten dollars an hour.In the1963 era,THAT was a making REAL money!
I remember in college eating at fastfood places,never would you see anyone other than kids working behind the counter.It was always considered a job you took until you could
get a "real" job.
I submit it was after 1980 when our nation"s economy began to change. Air-traffic controllers were fired,Wall street began to ignore decency in exchange for greed. Single mothers were keeping their babies. That was not always the case earlier. Our middle class which was very much alive when I was a kid,slowly began to disappear.
Many jobs were availabe without a college degree when I was young. That fact was
ending.
Now at the end of 2013,people of all ages work at fast food restaurants. The number of poor people in our Country has never been higher. A dream was born in a tiny city
called Sea-Tac,Washinton to set the minimum wage at $15.00 an hour.The Republicans
went nuts,outside groups tried to stop it. But after an election, The idea passed! Now
people in this small city will earn more than clerks,some mechanics,probationary E.MT.
folks. Care givers to your Grandmother,starting grocery store clerks.I have a huge list.
The minimum wage SHOULD be $15.00 an hour for everybody. Everyone will have more money to spend,more jobs will be created. Prices probably will go up. The corporations
that own everything will survive just fine.
The middle class has gone now. $15.00 an hour gives food and clothes and dignity to the poor. Under God,the poor are just the same as the rich man. Let them live with pride and purpose and a chance to smile. they deserve it.