You're Essential, get a different job

We should be supporting these folks as much is safely possible.
I think temporarily they should be treated like Royalty
free meals,hotel,extended health,overtime..the works.

We have been given pause to the system
If we deem these life sustaining jobs to be the most valued, it is up to us
We are in a very unique position to be able to choose our future.

a reply to: blueman12

Agreed but some companies are recognizing the risk by offering higher wages till the crisis is over.

Cards on the table time.
When non-essential people got sent home, non-essential businesses closed, it blatantly demonstrated we have absolutely no clue in separating our "wants" from our "needs" as a society.

A nail technician while talented, can't restore electrical power after storm.
"Want VS Needs"
Mike Rowe currently has every right to be screaming "I told you so !!!"

In a crisis we NEED people who can address whats needed to keep our infrastructure sound & safe.
Arline workers and traveling are wants, not needs. They may see it like needs only insofar as our manufacturing
For profit reasons relocated. Had they remained here air travel wouldn't be needed.

Aside from that, a bulk portion of our society just discovered they are non-essential. The shock is mind boggling.
Lots of peoples egos just took a major hit. Not to mention the non-essential list of businesses came from our own govt.
So a double wammy.

a reply to: all2human

Sweet, I like grapes, you know how to do that whole feeding thing, right? Either that or the leaf fan thing. Maybe a foot massage.

a reply to: Puppylove

I'd just be thankful there are still people willing to spend money on XYZ supply (which in turn requires work from ABC employees)

Essential doesn't mean high paid. Due to the rather low qualifications, there are plenty of others (especially now) willing to line up and take their places if they aren't happy with the wages.

Pay is usually the result of scarcity vs. some concept of societal need. For example, nobody *needs* fast food. It may be convenient, often tasty and such but if it disappeared there are still other sources of food

No if anything this event totally refutes the left's (especially socialism) claims of their cockamamie workforce/labor theories vs. our real-world proven economic model.

BTW, there is nothing "brave" about "staring down" a 1% (more or less) fatality rate. I'd take those odds any day. Heck, I do take those odds. I still venture out freely, despite wearing all appropriate PPE I'll never put anyone else at risk with my own stubbornness, but I'll gladly take the risk in exchange for the freedom that comes from telling the government to kiss off.

originally posted by: Puppylove
a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan
There's no emphasis on the importance of a job, it's entirely determined by a chaotic system of manipulation and greed. It's about what can be manipulated for the benefit of the most clever opportunists, the rest of society can be damned so long as the wool can be pulled over everyone's eyes.

Our entire system is screwed up.

Actually, what screws the system up is the artificial manipulation of free markets through government regulations that do anything more than protecting both individuals (I hate the word 'consumer') and businesses (especially small/new, but even the large ones) from fraud and actual physical harm - ie, laws against environmental pollution.

It’s a bit hard to follow your post, seems just like an angry rant. Not all positions pay equally, not should they.

The only bull I smell is in the OP here. Are you really trying to argue fast food workers should be paid the same as medical professionals? What a joke.

a reply to: Puppylove

a reply to: Rob808

Not even close. I'm saying all these jobs need to be treated as real jobs and not something undeserving of a living wage.

Most of the people in these essential jobs can't even afford proper health care.

I have never once promoted in my life for everyone to be paid the same. All I've ever promoted is that we need to raise expectations for what is a base standard of living because society is failing too many of us, not just here but world wide.

If you contribute to society you should never have to worry about medical care or a lifetime of debt in order to receive that care. I don't care what job you do.

And medical is just one thing people in these jobs are lacking.

We can and should do better. Stop treating people that do their part to keep society running for everyone, that do jobs most of us benefit from or need as subhuman and not even worthy of medical care without debt slavery.

a reply to: peter_kandra

EVERY Job is Essential ! All People Need to have Access to an Avenue of Income to Literally Survive .....Which Begs the Question ....?

a reply to: Puppylove

Are you willing to pay a higher price for items to accomodate higher wages tot he masses? Thats what will happen.

Which then just pushes their higher wages into cost. So we all pay more (including them) for goods. its like giving a minimum wage increase, only instead of devaluing the dollar by putting more in circulation via wages, you drive down the spending power of a dollar by driving up cost of goods.

originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan
a reply to: Puppylove

Are you willing to pay a higher price for items to accomodate higher wages tot he masses? Thats what will happen.

Which then just pushes their higher wages into cost. So we all pay more (including them) for goods. its like giving a minimum wage increase, only instead of devaluing the dollar by putting more in circulation via wages, you drive down the spending power of a dollar by driving up cost of goods.

Inflation Without Any Representation ............Hmm....

originally posted by: Puppylove
a reply to: Rob808

Not even close. I'm saying all these jobs need to be treated as real jobs and not something undeserving of a living wage.

You "deserve" whatever you're willing to sell your time for. If that's sub-living wage, then it's entirely on you.

a reply to: burdman30ott6

Everyone needs to work and there's a limited amount of jobs and every position needs filled. If one more person says people can just ignore life until they find a job that pays what they think they are worth I'm going to flip. People have needs and responsibilities, and they need to compete with others also with needs and responsibilities. We also have a crazy large population of humans, it's not like people have the power to negotiate when there are billions of desperate people competing with them for scraps just for basic survival short term from day to day.

No, I will not accept the argument that the population is large is an acceptable reason to not meet their needs. That paying people as little as possible or not meeting medical needs is ok simply because there's a large desperate enough population to make doing so easy.

Just because you can get away with something by manipulating people's desperation and pitting them against each other does not make it right, nor does it make it something we should find acceptable.

originally posted by: Puppylove
a reply to: burdman30ott6

Everyone needs to work and there's a limited amount of jobs and every position needs filled. If one more person says people can just ignore life until they find a job that pays what they think they are worth I'm going to flip. People have needs and responsibilities, and they need to compete with others also with needs and responsibilities. We also have a crazy large population of humans, it's not like people have the power to negotiate when there are billions of desperate people competing with them for scraps just for basic survival short term from day to day.

No, I will not accept the argument that the population is large is an acceptable reason to not meet their needs. That paying people as little as possible or not meeting medical needs is ok simply because there's a large desperate enough population to make doing so easy.

Just because you can get away with something by manipulating people's desperation and pitting them against each other does not make it right, nor does it make it something we should find acceptable.

So you want a government controlled economy? Because that is the only way to make what you are saying happen.

If you think its not right to not pay people a certain amount...its also not right to tell a business owner he will take a pay cut to pay people more. Or that, instead of that, he will need to increase his pricing (government controlled pricing...when has that ever worked?) to afford his newly minted millionaire staff?

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

Nonsense. We don't even need to force an employer to do anything. I don't think medical care for example is an employer's responsibility. It's societies as a whole. Needs like medical, choosing whether people live or die should not be determined based on what's profitable. People should not have to choose between torture and death or debt slavery it's morally and ethically detestable, it's just plain wrong.

Stop making things like this dependent on what an employer can pay you, and this is all less of an issue.

As long as you all want insurance companies and big pharma as predatory entities jobs need to pay enough to afford these predators prices.

Fix health care and stop allowing predators to enslave and kill people through threat of pain and death and we're all good by me.

That one basic thing for everyone is all I desire.

I'm right wing on a majority of issues but one I will always rail against is the rights support of predatory health care.

originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan
a reply to: Puppylove

This whole argument is nonsense.

"Essential business" does not mean "highly valued".

I think you should have more respect for people who do some of the services that are really essential (not necessarily fast food).

Here's the logic: by admitting they are essential, you are admitting that the strategy that Republicans tout (get a different job if you're so poor) fails logically. Here's why: even if one person gets another job, even YOU would want a second to come in and take their old job so that you aren't denied essential services.

Therefore... it is illogical to state that an essential worker shouldn't be paid a living wage for a full-time job, which is what happens all over the place these days. It is a sign that they don't get the respect that they have already earned by working full-time in an area that is necessary. They have earned enough respect already to make a living wage on a full-time job.

People like you who don't give them the respect they have already earned are the ones being selfish, even short-sighted. If you are so dense that you don't see the value of maintaining minimal living standards and even medical care for essential workers, you are only hurting yourself in the long run. Might not ever even realize it and blame someone else, like Obama, for your own shortcomings.

Life is pretty fair, which is why I'm going out to as many places as I can and mingling with as many people as I can. Nothing's changed here. Stores are open and ready for me to grab a couple of screws, maybe some jerky...you know, essential things baby. Heck, I forgot to grab a 2 liter earlier I think I'll head back on out for that. BBIB

originally posted by: Puppylove
Constantly we are berated with people telling others that they deserve to be paid little, and if they don't like it to get a different job. We are constantly berated with the idea that it's reasonable or plausible for everyone to stop doing jobs like HHA, Fast Food Worker, Grocery Store Employee, etc.

Yet, here we are, and who's working along side doctors while many other higher paid professions are deemed non essential? All these unimportant jobs that deserve no compensation, many of whom are working through this pandemic receiving less pay while working than many will while sitting on their asses.

We need to do better and recognize the faults of our system, a job cannot both be essential and worthless, it a contradiction. We need to reassess how we do things, because right now, many are sacrificing (while many sit and do nothing) apparently worthless jobs that you all somehow cannot do without.

Ideas besides the usual bull#, because clearly you're wrong, if you weren't these jobs wouldn't be essential. If this has shown anything, these jobs you all consider worthless and not deserving of a living wage MUST BE FILLED!!!!

This Corona virus has done one thing, demonstrated how much bull# is clearly bull#.

Quotes because it made me think of it from a different perspective. Well done and well said!

a reply to: Puppylove

I work in “mission essential” position as a government civilian. Really, without me my particular mission would fall apart without me. I have a letter I carry with me at all times that states just how important I am and I am authorized free travel right up through nuclear armageddon. Yep...you would never be able to tell how important I am just by talking to me because despite my significant importance I appear just nice humble guy.

originally posted by: Assessor
a reply to: Puppylove

I work in “mission essential” position as a government civilian. Really, without me my particular mission would fall apart without me. I have a letter I carry with me at all times that states just how important I am and I am authorized free travel right up through nuclear armageddon. Yep...you would never be able to tell how important I am just by talking to me because despite my significant importance I appear just nice humble guy.

Lot's of people have those letters, everyone on my team has one.

Fun fact: your employer has to pay the federal government for your "critical infrastructure worker" papers.

a reply to: Puppylove

I would have to say I rarely agree with you...
But what you said here is absolutely true...
Every spoke on a wheel is essential...
Anyone who works any job anywhere in the world should have every need met from their pay plus be able to have enough left over to get those things they want within reason but also still have some to save...
Of course everyone wouldn’t have to make the same amount of money but things could be structured a lot better for a fair distribution of wealth...
The rich just wouldn’t be able to be as rich that does not mean they couldn’t make the same amount of money they already do either though... All that would have to be done differently would be to force them to create more business and jobs for others and not be allowed to simply hoard wealth to be used solely to generate profit from loans...