Wow, I can definitely see how this will be a controversial discussion. Lots of deep stuff in these readings. There are two sides to everything and with this particular topic - I can see both sides and sympathize with them as well.
To start off, fast food workers get a bad rap. We automatically judge (if you are not in high school or college) them by assuming that they are of low class. I admit, I do assume that. Statistics show in the article, "Why US Taxpayers Pay $7 million a Year to Help Fast Food Workers" that 52% of fast food workers are on public assistance programs such as food stamps or insurance. Is this a stereotype if it is true? This article also touched on the fact that even though many of these workers have very low income, they typically tend to have a lot of children. Now, I am not here to tell people that they can and can't have kids, but to me - speaking from a financial standpoint - it doesn't make sense to do that. Why would you have more kids if you can't even feed/support the ones you have? Just a thought. That may sound harsh, but not as harsh as the commenter for the article, "Pay Fast Food Workers Sufficient Wages". This person claims that fast food jobs are primarily meant for high school and college students and stressed that it is NOT a career. They also said that if they should stop complaining about minimum wage - if you don't make enough get a different job or move so you can actually afford rent. I do agree that fast food jobs are typically meant for adolescents, however I give the older people that work there credit. At least they have a job and are trying to make some money instead of sitting at home and living off government assistance. This brings me to the next article, "Show Respect for Fast Food Workers with Sufficient Pay". I truly admired the man who worked construction and fast food - he has a good work ethic and is really making an effort to provide for his family. He fights for his rights and proves that not all fast food workers are dead beats. He is breaking the stereotype. In my opinion, this is okay for an older person to work at fast food, because they are trying and working hard.
One thing I truly believe in is that money does NOT equal happiness. However, the chart "Money and Happiness"contradicts that. They claim that the more money you make the happier you are. I highly disagree and that unfortunately says a lot about our society - that we actually think that money will make us happy. How materialistic is that? Not something I believe in at all. This in a way ties in with Mark Twain's "Million-Pound Bank Note"- Henry is much happier when he is granted money or at least that is what I took away from it. People also viewed him much differently For example, I doubt that Portia would not have even given him a chance if he didn't have money. And that's how society is - we associate money with happiness and success. In a way it is true, but in many ways it is not. Everyone views success differently. We even judge people based on how much money they make. For example, the movie "Trading Places". Once Eddie Murphy's character (was it random that he was black - is it insinuating that blacks are usually poor?) was of higher status they treated him differently and vice versa with Dan Ackyroid (sp?) and his character.
I really feel that the "Inequality for All" trailer brought together everything. It shows that the U.S. has the widest distribution of salaries than any other country. With that being said, why is there so much judgement and prejudice to those who make very little money? I think that if they are putting in the effort to go out and get a job then good for them. They are taking their lives in their hands and not anyone else's and that is something that I admire.
I am looking forward to this controversial discussion and seeing what others have to say about it.
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