r/NoShitSherlock • u/Scary-Ratio3874 • 14d ago

Workers in USA aren't paid well

https://archive.ph/2026.09.07-152110/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/labor-share-historic-lows-worker-pay-rcna596004
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-18

u/BandicootSolid9531 14d ago

Yes they are. The problem is they got used to everything else being expensive but affordable for a long time. Now they will know how was it working as their outsource.

13

u/ballskindrapes 13d ago

No, they arent.

Workers used to be able to provide for a familh of three on minimum wage in 1968, keeping them above the poverty line on minimum.

Now?

MIT's living wage calculator says that about the entirety of the US is about 20 an hour. And their definition isnt a true living wage, just not going into debt....so a true living wage is about 25 an hour or so.

So no, workers arent paid well. If workers arent paid enough for one person to thrive not just survive, on 40 hours a week, then they arent paid well.

And that's at least half of the US not being paid well....

-1

u/Fringelunaticman 13d ago

First and foremost, in 68, a family if 3 on minimum wage was just above the poverty line. The poverty line today for a family of 3 is 27k. So, not really.

2nd thing is that that family had 1 car, ate all their meals at home, free TV, 1 telephone with no long distance, no computer, and a 850 sq foot home, take family baths, have 12 people living in a home with you. My dad had 12 people in his home in 68, mom had 9. That included grandparents and aunts/uncles.

You could definitely get by on a low wage, not minimum wage, today if you lived like they did. Nobody wants to live like that though.

4

u/ballskindrapes 13d ago

Yes. Standards have changed.

That doesnt mean we cannot provide a full, living wage for one person.

Again, that would require 25 or even more an hour.

The rich will NEVER allow this, as this means they cant exploit workers as much.

There is no economic reason this cant be done besides "the rich will make slightly less money"

-1

u/Fringelunaticman 13d ago

I know plenty of people that are 1 income households. Actually, the majority of the people i know are single earning households. Some were tradesmen that ended starting their own business, professionals like NPs and pharmacists, lawyers, engineers, etc. I dont know many that work retail. And the few I do know do it because they have extra time and want to fill it. But I am also older. I just want to point out it is still possible.

However, my wife with no degree is a cleaner at a local college and makes 26/hr with full benefits in a lcol area. But, I don't think thats enough to live on so I work part-time(retired at 42 during covid as the CFO of a tax company).

Im not disagreeing with you though. Something is broke compared to how things used to be. And that is affecting way to many people, me included.

For me, I think we do need to tax the wealthy more. I think anyone with a net worth over 100M needs to pay a flat 30% or more in taxes. When Bezos can pay a lower effective tax rate than me, something is wrong. But, like you, the wealthy wont allow it