I started tax-paying work at 16, in 1970. Dishwasher and p/t janitorial at a local golf club. I was mowing lawns for money before that. I wasn't from a poor family, it's just that if you wanted something, you were expected to earn it.
Entered the exciting world of heavy construction when I was 17, carpentry apprenticeship at 18, spent 30 years in the trenches, becoming a contractor along the way. I could have gone to college after high school, but nobody was going to help me, and I wanted to get a real life started....
Back in school at age 48 (having figured out that the back and shoulder weren't likely to continue to support me), got a cert. in engineering technology, and thought I might look into jobs in environmental engineering. I found out that nothing was available with my educational level; in fact, even if I had a Masters I could still only expect entry level work at about $15 an hour.
I do residential remodeling sales, estimating and project management now. Straight commission, my paycheck depends on my being good at my job. The position is as near to a perfect fit for my knowledge, skills and experience as I could hope for, and suits me well.
The least I will pay a laborer on my jobs is $15 and hour, but I expect hard work and the ability to show up. I certainly pay people more depending on their skills and productivity, but that's up to me, not anyone else (or the .gov). And, there have been a couple projects I've done that wound up paying me far less than any minimum wage ever set; blessedly few, but it can happen.
I never figured my minimum wage job was going to carry me through life; I worked hard to gain skills, education, and create opportunities for myself. Still doing it, and will probably continue to do so until I die, or at least until it looks like SS will pay my bills.
So, no, not much sympathy for the $15/hr movement. I do realize that America has lost a lot of its manufacturing base, and that skilled technical jobs aren't as easy to fall into as they once were. But the free market system is pretty good at figuring out what people's work is worth, and if someone wants more, they have to be ready to earn it with their increased value to an employer, i.e., getting the skills, education, and experience that makes them a more valuable commodity in the workplace. It really is just that simple, and it's worked that way since people started making things, hunting and gathering, and bartering.
Just looked this up -What cost $1.60 in 1970 would cost $9.62 in 2014.
Yep, not much sympathy... of course it will go through in a lot of places, if not nationally. I guess the min. wage workers will find out how competitive the job market will be then...oh well.............got to go get the yard picked up, got a few bushels of leaves out there. I'm sure not going to pay someone $15/hr to rake leaves.
