• TheAlbatross
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    1 year ago

    I’m just below the median income for my area. Before the pandemic, I was comfortable. I largely didn’t have to worry about expenses, I could dine out a few times a month, cook meat more than once a week, buy a few hobby luxuries every few months. Could air travel for vacation once a year.

    I drive a newish economy sedan, live in a decent area with one roommate, didn’t have all that much but the 401(k) looked good and I had all I wanted.

    Now things are tight. Just the other week, went to a bar that sold a damn good burger for $9 with fries. Could have a beer with it and get out under $20. The damn hamburger is $18 now and the beer doubled in price. I try to buy meat twice a month to eat, but my diet is far more bean and lentil based now. Eggs, while doubly more, are still cheap enough to be a frequent protein. My vacations are all at home now. I’ve taken to enjoying fishing, which is admittedly great, but I used to fly to Europe or other parts of the US once a year.

    I do not know how folks on minimum wage get by here. Without forming a support network of other minimum wage workers to pool for rent and groceries, it has to be an insane struggle.

    If this is the “improving economy”, I don’t want any of it.

      • aesthelete@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I went to buy eggs and they were like 12 dollars. I could have swore eggs were a lot cheaper in the past.

        Man some things have really hit the “I mean, it’s one banana, Michael. What could it cost? $10?” levels of ridiculousness price wise.

          • aesthelete@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            I’m a republican but we need to seriously raise the minimum wage.

            Uh, you might wanna consider if being a Republican is more important to you than not living in a country full of homeless starving people is before you cast your next vote.

            Most of your fellow Republicans believe deep down in the abolishment of the minimum wage, and are adamantly against ever raising it again.

              • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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                1 year ago

                Every single Senate Republican voted against raising the minimum wage to $15, all but 3 House Republicans did the same. It wasn’t really a surprise political result to anyone, nor will it be surprising when they all vote against it again.

              • aesthelete@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                Historically they’re been concerned about the inflation risk with raising minimum wage.

                So inflation is bad already. They blame rising wages for inflation, and you think they’re going to raise the minimum wage? Why? Is there something in the party platform about raising the minimum wage?

                I highly doubt there is, and I highly doubt that if they got more power that that’s what they’d do.

                  • aesthelete@lemmy.world
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                    1 year ago

                    Yeah and how far did that get? I see it was “announced” in 2021. He pass it? He even really do anything besides a press conference?

                    I’ll expect it to pass at exactly the same time as Trump’s replacement for Obamacare. 😉

                    I pay attention to what Republicans are “trying to get done”. That’s the problem is that I pay attention to it. They always find a way to speak big on things for working people and then get in office and pass tax cuts for their millionaire donors.