"Over the past several months, activists and some fast-food workers, including Shenita, have been organizing for higher wages. They point out that, like Shenita, almost 40 percent of all fast-food workers are 25 or older, and more than 25 percent are raising children. It's not just teenagers flipping burgers part-time."And what is the response of many commenters on the story? Generally one of two things:
- It is not the responsibility of companies to pay a living wage.
- Don't have kids if you can't afford them.
So there you have it. The ideas that the whole reason people work is so they can afford to live unassisted is lost on many people, as is the idea that it's wrong-headed that only rich people should have kids. Any wonder the problems aren't being addressed, let alone solved?
Voltaire got it right: "The comfort of the rich depends upon an abundant supply of the poor."
