July 19, 200719 yr Folks, free or reduced health care and raising the minimum wage will solve the problem. It will make life more bearable for the underprivileged, but will not bring them up to even average living conditions. This is just more of the same promises and entitlement programs that keep people at this level.
July 19, 200719 yr 12k for a full time employee figures out to $6.00 per hour. Current minimum wage is $5.85. Surely you know someone working at McDonalds or the local convenience store making 12k or less. 5.85 x 40 x 52 = $12168. Pretty sure the fast food joints are now paying more than minimum. Mostly students work these jobs part time...And for every full-time minimum wage person there are several doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers, coal miners, truck drivers, stockbrokers, bank employees, hospital employees, secretaries, and on and on who make several times $12k...
July 19, 200719 yr I'll assume the figure quoted includes all workers - not just full-time. Take something you read as gospel and then add you own assumptions... ok...
July 19, 200719 yr 5.85 x 40 x 52 = $12168. Pretty sure the fast food joints are now paying more than minimum. Mostly students work these jobs part time...And for every full-time minimum wage person there are several doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers, coal miners, truck drivers, stockbrokers, bank employees, hospital employees, secretaries, and on and on who make several times $12k... You're right. My fat fingers on the calculator let me down on the figures. The rest of my post stands. I'm not sure what area you live in, but there are many working for minimum wage in my county.
July 19, 200719 yr 5.85 x 40 x 52 = $12168. Pretty sure the fast food joints are now paying more than minimum. Mostly students work these jobs part time...And for every full-time minimum wage person there are several doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers, coal miners, truck drivers, stockbrokers, bank employees, hospital employees, secretaries, and on and on who make several times $12k... Wow! $168 more than 12K and you're nitpicking! :lol: Curious, though. You say you're "pretty sure" the fast food joints are now paying more than minimum....how certain are you? What is the going rate now? Other questions I have: What are the main sources of jobs for the majority of people in EKY? Who are the largest employers in EKY? What are the numbers of each of these employee? Is you scope of knowledge inclusive of ALL of EKY? Or a limited part? If limited, which area would that be? Are conditions different in the northern part, than the southern part? A lot of questions, but I think if you can answer some of them, it will help us all learn what you know. Instead of just pointing out that we're wrong, educate us.
July 19, 200719 yr I can only answer the part of your questions relative to my area. The largest employer is the school systems. Teaching positions are a way for our young people who attend college to put their education to use and competition among recent grads for the few positions that open each year is keen. This in turn leads to a system that not always hires the best and brightest, but often those who are family friends or have "called in an owed favor". The distribution and management of various entitlement programs such as Social Security, Welfare, WIC, and various health programs are also a means for those with a degree to make a living. We have more than our fair share of lawyers and druggists, seemingly, to me anyway, a disproportionate to the population. There are also a scattering of corporate plants and warehouses. Those that come to mind quickly are Pepsi's bottling plant in Corbin, Coke's in Middlesboro, Walmart's distribution center in London, and various call centers in Barbourville and Corbin. Without direct knowledge I believe hourly wages run from 8.00 to 20.00 per hour. See. It's not a bleak as it was in the '60s when Kennedy visited. Raising the lower end of the pay scale or providing more free services, while welcome, will not improve the overall living conditions.
July 19, 200719 yr Wow! $168 more than 12K and you're nitpicking! :lol: Curious, though. You say you're "pretty sure" the fast food joints are now paying more than minimum....how certain are you? What is the going rate now? Other questions I have: What are the main sources of jobs for the majority of people in EKY? Who are the largest employers in EKY? What are the numbers of each of these employee? Is you scope of knowledge inclusive of ALL of EKY? Or a limited part? If limited, which area would that be? Are conditions different in the northern part, than the southern part? A lot of questions, but I think if you can answer some of them, it will help us all learn what you know. Instead of just pointing out that we're wrong, educate us. No, only pointing out that full-time minimum wage earners (a vast minority of workers) make $12k, and it's not the "average" worker...again, 99% of the people I know make many times this amount...
July 19, 200719 yr If those reading both this thread and the other concerning E. Ky. notice, it seems that I and Billyrayjoebob are painting two different pictures. Truth is, we're both right. It is that diverse.
July 19, 200719 yr The difference is you're providing details. BRJB is just pointing out that everyone is wrong, but not telling us anything to prove his point. 99% of the people he knows make more than minimum wage. But, does he know every single Eastern Kentucky resident? I'm trying hard to get the facts. Things that make a difference are opportunities. Now, if the opportunities are there and one doesn't avail themselves of them, that is their own fault. If however, there is a shortage of opportunities, I think that's something completely different, and something to discuss, unlike scenario #1. You mention the largest employer in your area is the school system, and the opportunities it presents, but the abuses it enables as well. If the best and the brightest, or at least the most ambitious, are availing themselves of higher education and then LEAVING the area, it doesn't help anything. It's still the same scenario that you mentioned above about the 3 R's. I don't know the region, but what entreprenual opportunities are there? If someone could get their education, and wanted to return, what opportunities besides teaching and healthcare are there? It's not a snide question. It's sincere.
July 19, 200719 yr The difference is you're providing details. BRJB is just pointing out that everyone is wrong, but not telling us anything to prove his point. 99% of the people he knows make more than minimum wage. But, does he know every single Eastern Kentucky resident? I'm trying hard to get the facts. Things that make a difference are opportunities. Now, if the opportunities are there and one doesn't avail themselves of them, that is their own fault. If however, there is a shortage of opportunities, I think that's something completely different, and something to discuss, unlike scenario #1. You mention the largest employer in your area is the school system, and the opportunities it presents, but the abuses it enables as well. If the best and the brightest, or at least the most ambitious, are availing themselves of higher education and then LEAVING the area, it doesn't help anything. It's still the same scenario that you mentioned above about the 3 R's. I don't know the region, but what entreprenual opportunities are there? If someone could get their education, and wanted to return, what opportunities besides teaching and healthcare are there? It's not a snide question. It's sincere. The same opportunities as everywhere else.
July 19, 200719 yr If those reading both this thread and the other concerning E. Ky. notice, it seems that I and Billyrayjoebob are painting two different pictures. Truth is, we're both right. It is that diverse. The difference is...you're willing to see that.
July 19, 200719 yr The same opportunities as everywhere else. So, a person could go away, major in Finance, and hope to become the CFO of....???? Or, he/she could get an MBA, and become a high level manager at....???? Or, he/she could major in Computer Programming, and become the corporate IT person for....??? Or, they could go to culinary school and get a job as a chef at...??? Or, they could major in International Law, and become the corporate legal counsel for....????
July 19, 200719 yr So, a person could go away, major in Finance, and hope to become the CFO of....???? Or, he/she could get an MBA, and become a high level manager at....???? Or, he/she could major in Computer Programming, and become the corporate IT person for....??? Or, they could go to culinary school and get a job as a chef at...??? Or, they could major in International Law, and become the corporate legal counsel for....???? Yes.
July 19, 200719 yr Yes. At which companies. I realize you're being deliberately vauge, and trying to provoke hostile responses. But, seriously...if you want people to understand where you're coming from, it would really help if you provided informative answers.
July 19, 200719 yr So is the solution to abandon the area? Not a funny subject but many years ago Sam Kinneson did a funny bit about not sending money to help people overseas. He said to send them uhauls. "Know what this is? SAND! Know what it's going to be in a hundred years? SAND!! MOVE!"
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