"PeterLucas" > wrote in message
0.25...
> "Cindi - HappyMamatoThree" > wrote in
> et:
>
>
>> judgement on a single person's experience. Though I have to agree,
>> there is a huge gap in pay from job to job here in the U.S.
>
>
> With people relying on tips to live. That sucks.

Amen. Servers here (waiters/waitresses) can be paid the pitiful amount of
$2.13 an hour. Their tips must at least equal out to minimum wage or the
employer has to make up the difference. This is, of course, the minimum and
there are restaurants that pay better as with any job. That rate still sucks
and I don't know how people in that position can survive on their wages.
Though some people like the fact that they can rely on their performance to
earn more in tips. To each his own.

>
>
>> Some
>> fields pay an exorbitant amount for the job done, while those who are
>> toiling every day in physical jobs make pennies.
>
>
> Which is why we have a very good wage system over here. If someone tries
> to diddle the workers, they're up the creek.

The U.S. does have a minimum wage law. However that minimum wage law does
not guarantee a "living wage." At minimum wage of $5.85 an hour is only
$234.00 a week for only a bit more than $12,000 a year. I realize there are
people who can make it on that, but it isn't easy and you have to live in
the right place and not in an area of extremely high cost of living.

>
>
>>
>> We learn to live with what we have though. Even if we do need a little
>> help from outside sometimes.
>
>
> The poor old age pensioners over here are the worst off. They have to
> try and survive on about $300pw.

Even that is more than what minimum wage would pull in for a 40 hour work
week.

>
>
>> Being a single mom with a deadbeat ex was
>> vary hard because I had to either work a job that my schedule met that
>> of my children, or pay for childcare which saps a paycheck.
>
>
> I was a single dad with a deadbeat ex :-)
>
> But I was fortunate enough to have been retired at age 33, so I could
> look after the kids myself.
>
> Childcare is a *huge* issue over here, it costs a bloody fortune!!

Childcare seems to be the sore spot no matter where the conversation is.
It's expensive. It isn't that we as parents don't think those taking of our
children aren't worth every penny, we just can't afford to give every penny
to them.

>
>
>>Just
>> saying, every situation is so different, it's like comparing apples
>> and turnips.
>>
>
>
> No matter what situation you have over there, we have the same or
> similar over here....... except for the wage issue.

Australia has the benefit of some understanding how big our country is and
how diverse the areas can be in themselves. I guess that's to say that every
country has people living on each rung of the financial ladder.

Cindi

>
>
> --
> Peter Lucas
> Brisbane
> Australia
>
>
> Wars begin where you will...
> but they do not end where you please.
>
> Machiavelli