Last night, I had my usual monthly political group meeting, and the topic was poverty in America. Yes, believe it or not, poor people live here too. We talked about the minimum wage, living wage, and some numbers. According to the speaker, about 13% of the households in the US live below the poverty "threshold," which is how poor is defined. Considering multiple people often live together in these instances, it probably means more like 20% of the total population. The threshold level is just over $10,000/year; $10,787 to be exact for an individual, $17,600 for one adult with 2 dependents, $21,027 for 2 adults and 2 dependents. A "living wage" for my neck of the woods is more like $30,000, $50,000, and $60,000 respectively (NJ is the 4th most expensive state to live in). So what is the minimum wage and why does it matter? The federal minimum wage is currently $6.55, and is scheduled to go up to $7.25 in July (roughly $14,000/year in salary). Many people think of minimum wage as applicable to high school/college workers who live at home, so who cares. Yet 80% of the workers on minimum wages are over 21. State minimum wages can also be adjusted lower for certain types of businesses - farms, childcare, and of course tip businesses, such as restaurants and car washes. In some states, workers can be paid $2/hour, such as on a Kansas farm. In NJ, tip minimum wages are $2.13/hour. NY tip workers are guaranteed 65% of the full state minimum wage.
NJ is one of the few states (possibly the only one) to have a Minimum Wage Advisory Commission. Comments can be made to the commission at njmwac@dot.state.nj.us.
After my meeting regarding this important topic, I went to my next meeting, which is probably more important to most helicopter parents out there, youth soccer. We went over schedules, available dates, roster changes, and protocol for the season. Unfortunately, as it seems is always the case, issues revolve around the "turf wars" of who can do what, use what field, what team is my child on, and the pissing matches that ensue. Even after relinquishing much of my administrative role within soccer, I still wind up in the middle of it. Hopefully I can appease the egos, and we can get on with the season. Priorities.
When I returned home, I settled down to some nice headache medication and enjoyed the Republican convention. It reminded me of the two old guys on the Muppet Show who used to heckle everything. They never actually had their own act on stage, but they crapped on everyone else. For the record, I have no issue with Sarah Palin. I would label her story as interesting, perhaps compelling (if Don Lafontaine were alive, he'd label it as riveting). However, my issue is with the Republican Party and what they have thrown. Family values, tax and spend, and inexperience. People in glass houses should not throw stones is what I believe is the appropriate term. As someone inately aware of the issues of a developmentally disabled person and/or a patient in need of significant rehabilitation, the costs and life changing issues are staggering. As I've stated previously, costs (not including time) associated with disabled care is $100,000/yr, sometimes more depending upon geography and level of need. We have a very well-populated world with inadequate infrastructure. To spend $100,000/year to keep a person alive, such as Terry Schiavo, or to spend similar to kill another in a convoluted war is unfathomable to me. And to cast themselves as fiscally conservative, in this case, is just plain wrong. I don't see how Sarah Palin's choice is inspirational to others. She has a staff to help out. What about the single mother who is a waitress in NJ or the undocumented worker in a meat packing plant in Kansas? Choice is something we have in this country. I think we should keep it that way.
I should be ordering "Overlooked in America" shortly. I'll let you know how it reads.
