64 percent of people living below the poverty line in this country work full time.
Oregon has the highest minimum wage in the country so to give you an idea of how this is possible I've written out a minimum expense budget simulation based off oregon min. wage. This is a bare bone model and doesn't include healthcare, debt, having to provide for a family or whatever other expenses may come up for the average person.
Wages
8.00 * 40= $320.00 a week w/o taxes
$1280.00 a month w/o taxes
Expenses
1 bed apt.- $600 to $700rent
Gas- $300
Food(1 person)- $200
Car insurance- $150
Electricity(1 person) $70
Credit Card/Bank fees- $30
Personal Spending - min. $100
TOTAL COST OF LIVING- $1450 to $1550
MONEY LEFTOVER- NEGATIVE $170-$270 W/O TAXES DEDUCTED
TOTAL COST OF LIVING MINUS CAR EXPENSES ADD PUBLIC TRANS.- $1100 to $1200
MONEY LEFTOVER- $80-$180 W/O TAXES DEDUCTED
I wrote this blog to show how difficult it is for the majority of americans to pay there monthly bills and how minimum wage doesn't come close to supporting the cheapest lifestyle society has to offer. Keep in mind this would only be ONE PERSON providing for themselves and not someone who has to provide for a family or child. With a child expenses would inflate by about fifty percent. We desperately need to seperate from this system of economics that refuses to give us an affordable life and instead keeps us immersed in the monthly struggle just to keep your head above water. Is it worth the stress? Do you feel like you have no other options? I'll make a million dollar bet this system will die in our lifetime, we need to start thinking of alternative routes right now with this system failing in front of our eyes.
Poverty isn't a natural part of life but a forced policy to keep the powerful powerful and the powerless powerless.
Conflicktion 08'
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