Quote from jamis359:
I can't believe the heartless cold attitudes on E.T. Posters that advocate no minimum wage, no healthcare system, no Soc Security, little or no government -- just free market anarchy with a dog-eat-dog mentality. Grandma can't afford an operation? Too bad, it's her own damn fault for not saving enough money. Let her die in the gutter so my taxes stay low -- now that's the American way!
Jamis, just think how much more benevolent the Chinese and Indian ass kicker are going to be versus the evil American capitalist who wont let granny get her gall bladder removed on HIS dime.
Dont you get it? Globalization is here to stay. China/India has got a taste and unlike the American whiner they're willing to work 14 hrs a day/7 days a week, no pension, no healthcare, no bathroom break.
To the OP, minimum wage is irrelevant. So long as the Central banks of the world pump out fiat "currency" and the pimps in politics pander to the have nots by giving them said currency out of thin air in exchange for their vote and thus encouraging them to create nothing in their lives, so that Goldman Sachs executives can laugh all the way to Switzerland, doesnt matter what "living" wage orphans receive. It wont be enough.
Two ounces of gold when Nixon took us off the gold standard was enough to pay ones rent. Today two ounces of gold will still pay ones rent. Think about it. How many people could gut out the cost for two ounces then? Probably about the same as now. But you still somehow find a way to buy your cigs, lotto tickets, porn, itunes, Thunderbird wine and god knows what else.
Just think if you buy gold now in 40 years you'll still be able to afford your rent. Are you buying gold? Course not.
It's gut check time for ALOT of America.
Would you really want to take your chances with those great social scientists: Castro and Chavez?
Or Goldman Sachs?
King George and Aunt Hillary dont care that they spend more than they make. Because their rate of graft exceeds the rate of inflation. If you dont even understand that, $100/hr wont help you. Just be thankful they dont want your blood. Not yet anyway.
But its also a matter of perspective. Andrew Carnegie never lived at any time in his life with the opportunites that the least of us has in America. You may, however, have to work for them. And work even harder to keep them.
It's yours for the taking.
Or not.