Shake that thing!

[cyrano]

I now have all six episodes of 'Thirty Days'. I was just struck by the factoid that families that make under $25K a year are twice as likely to divorce. So... sanctity of marriage people, how about a raise in the minimum wage law to preserve marriage? Or a more healthy and robust public welfare system? Think of the children!

Watched 'Last Boy Scout' and 'Presumed Innocent' this weekend. Netflix Noir Film Festival. (: I really enjoyed both of them--very different but at the same time very similar. Each gets four wags.

I got to see my friend Anne (who is now a teacher in Bakersfield) and help her with her lesson plan yesterday, even if I was sad and lame lying on my back guy.

Sitting on the couch very quietly, currently on the 'heat' of the 'heat and cold' programme. The heat is a sticky pad so it's going to hurt to remove it. Plus I'll have to get off the couch to get the freezy thing. I'm not in a big rush. (:

Comments

[your-liquid-sky.livejournal.com]

This is an interesting discussion.

In Washington state, minimum wage is an exorbitant $7.35/hour. One of the highest in the country. If one and one's partner could both find full time jobs, your family's gross monthly income would be $2548. If we estimate generously for taxes and say 20% off the top, that's $2039 take-home. Licensed and insured daycare averages $1183 a month for newborns. Rent in King County, where I live, is not less than $750 for a two-bedroom apartment (and it is illegal to rent anything smaller than a two-bedroom to a family with children). That leaves you $106 a month for food for three, utilities, transportation, clothes, and, god forbid, anyone ges sick and needs medicine or misses time from work.

There are those who think that one minimum-wage job ought to support a family of four, if modestly.

Myself, I'm making nearly three times minimum wage, and I would be hard-pressed to support a child, with a spouse who makes more than I do.

[sararainmaker.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Minimum wage MAY support a family if you own your home and have it paid off (likely less than 1% of the population) and/or live in some po-dunk town (you know, the ones without a wal*mart) in the midwest, (again probably about 5% of the population and yes I am pulling the numbers out of my ass).

[sararainmaker.livejournal.com]

Oh... and I make around 30k a year now my Fiance makes around $58k a year... thats a combined income of a little under 90k a year. After taxes, rent, utilities, bills, food and other necessities we have a little over $2000 a month. We do not have car payments. We do not have excessive debt (Just a school loan and some credit cards). What gets us is having to pay over $2000 in taxes each month, Having to pay $1200 in rent in a small one bedroom place... *sighs* We are probably making more money than 80% (another number I am pulling out of my ass) of the couples in our county... and a 2000 square foot house in my city built in the mid-70's goes for around $800-900k... ugh.

If we are left with so little afterward... I figure it would take... 4 people making our California minimum wage to be able to live here in a 1 bedroom place... 5 people for a 2 bedroom place...

I am apparently *above* the poverty level making close to 30k after taxes... and yet on my own I could not afford to have an apartment... things are very skewed here.