That pertains to people on the bottom of the ladder as well as the ones at the top. “Burger flippers” as much as you seem to hate them and their choice of profession (assuming they had any choice) are just exercising the same desire to better themselves.

OK so you want to abandon the micro level discussion. OK you say I’m too stupid to understand the macro truth that informs your righteous opinion. Fuck it, then.

In the end, I stand by my motto. “They also serve who only stand and wait”

Hell, I have no answers. All I know is that if I want something badly enough, I will find a way…my own way. My decisions will be based on that premise. I wanted three children. This was not a wise decision. I had an opportunity to own my own hair salon. I wanted no part of that because I saw what my father went through with his business. I made a different choice.
I have lowered my expectations over the years, and especially since we have retired.

I am just grateful I can watch my granddaughter after school.

I don’t want people to go without. But this is not a land of milk and honey.
Testicular and ovarian fortitude are a dying attribute.
I love California. My absolute favorite place on earth. I can’t live there. This is an unwise decision on my part.
Life is hard and people think if they wish hard enough and long enough, and if they are good enough then, by golly they deserve it. Well…deserving it and having it are apples and oranges.

And the corporate bonuses that we all have varying grudge matches with the demonic inequity of? Jeebus…get over it. Move on…breathe…give it your best shot and try some more.
Resting on your laurels is a subjective concept.

Now before someone opens the tiny crack in my rant and starts the “what abouts”…stop it. You know damn well that I understand the difference between want and need. Do you?

I am truly happy for the individual getting a raise. Picture this, I have a 25 year old son who has been a burger flipper for 5 years. He has become disgusted and is planning to either go to community college at night or look for employment in a higher paying field. The next day he gets a raise and decides to forget community college and looking for a new job. I am disappointed but I am glad that my son got a raise.

This is a micro view. I am not going to try to make you understand the macro version because it would be futile.

As for all that about giving “one” a raise, etc is just another example of micro thinking.

I have always worked in jobs where my compensation was based on periodic reviews or production. In the review process I have asked for a higher than normal bump, if that counts. In my first job I was paid minimum wage of $1.00 per hour and I did experience having to go hat in hand to appeal for a raise. It is a demeaning ritual and is a major reason I decided to go to college.

I would think you would also see that it is demeaning. It is the very reason for Unions in the first place. There should be a process in place for regular increases. For non-union jobs it should be periodic reviews. The recourse for Union jobs is obvious, a contract that is reviewed periodically. An individual asking for a raise is for Dagwood Bumstead and has little place in this century.

Regardless of my personal “macro” opinions, I am glad my son got his raise and I am glad my friend Onie got a new union contract that raised his annual income 20%.

Forest/Trees, get it?

I’m done you get the last pointless word if you want it.

And all that bs about having to show that giving one a raise will somehow improve the economy, is just absurd. The sole reason for a raise is to improve one’s personal economy. It need have no other justification.

You act as though you’ve never asked for an increase. If this is true then you should grow a pair and try it. It’s a rite of passage for all responsible adults.

You offering to pay higher prices for goods and services is just plain backwards. You’re placing the burden of lifting the working poor on the shoulders of the low and middle class.

What needs to happen is to raise taxes to pre-Reagan levels and eliminate tax subsides to thriving industries. The tax child credit should also be eliminated for a savings of 52 billion dollars. That money could be used to feed the hungry and help give a hand up to those in need. Incentives for off-shoring need to be removed.

I managed to stay out of that rumble, but couldn’t stop myself on this one.

And I also apologize for any assholiness on my part. I just get steamed when the victims are always being blamed for problems over which they have no possible control. I was brought up by, and around, poor but very hard-working people. I know for a fact it’s not their fault. Blaming them for their condition is like blaming the rape victim.

I despise rapists.