Hey guys I'm a long time lurker on this sub and support the general idea that the majority of American workers get fucked over by their bosses paying low shit wages. Right now I'm living in a state (Utah) that has a minimum wage for waiters and waitresses at a whopping $2.36/ hour. What's worse is these workers are taxed around 40% of their income (talk about wage slavery!) How the fuck is this possible? How do these people pay rent, buy food, education, medical bills etc. I normally tip a generous amount because I can afford to and I feel bad for them, but I feel as though as a group we could all do more to help. Our tips should not be the sole income they receive. The idea of a tip is to reward satisfactory service as a token of appreciation. It's not meant to pay someone's entire bills because you feel sorry for them. But that's what it is in reality. We need to start naming and shaming these places but one problem is that it's so common it's almost easier to list only the good ones and say fuck everyone else.
Utah is very beautiful in the time I've lived here as far as nature goes, but the urban areas are filled with tent cities almost comparable to LA. Homeless shelters are few and far between and the only major help is the Mormon church as far as safety nets go, and they require that you entertain their religion, otherwise you go homeless and hungry. I literally found a woman covered in 7+ blankets laying on the sidewalk in below freezing weather. But I digress.
My point here is we can't expect things to get better without doing something. Hell I bet we can't even vote our way out because both parties are self serving and are too focused on their tribal instincts of proving how evil/stupid the other side is. Once they get elected they don't care. We need a group we need an organization. Dare I even say an interest group, who lobbies? Something!
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VISIBILITY We need to pass out fliers in restaurants. Make bumper stickers. Post an add in the paper, rent cheap billboards in the middle of nowhere. We need visibility.
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CONVINCE PEOPLE TO JOIN THE CAUSE
I know a lot of this sub is 25 and below but we need to get the older generations on board. A rising tide lifts all boats. I know a lot of you hate boomers for causing this but the reality is that they didn't cause it. The 1% of their time caused it and they went along for the ride because it didn't appear to effect them in the moment.
Don't argue to prove intellectual dominace, argue to convice them that your viewpoint is superior based on the facts.
Don't be afraid to yield when you're wrong. Personally I find it hard to justify all of the commonly held tenants of the antiwork movement (such as zero work) you don't have to convince everyone of all of these. In order to mobilize people you just need to get them to question their current life/ work scenario and provide hope that it could be better.
For example a lot of people think 15$/hour is too high in America, because they are used to 8 and 9$ an hour. You could respond in the following ways:
Argument A: (a rising tide lifts all boats)
raising the lowest wage earning workers will cause rises in wages for higher earning workers as well, because higher earning jobs are typically more skilled, and if wages didn't rise then the skilled workers could do less skilled work for the same amount of money, in order for employers to retain workers they'd be forced to raise wages thereby raising the wages of all workers.
Argument B: 15$/ hour is ~32,000 a year and impossible to live on.
40% of 32000 is 12,800. You are now left with 19,200 after taxes. Your 1 bedroom apartment (if you're lucky) costs 9,600 (800×12) you now have 9,600 remaining. You eat only Ramen noodles and cans of soup, never going out once. This costs you 2400 (200x12) 7,200 remaining. Your cell phone is 480$ a year (40×12) now you only have 6,720. Health insurance is 3600 (300x12) only 3,120. Utilities are about 200$ combined a month (200x12) now you are left with 720. You drive 400 miles a month and your car gets 36 miles/gallon. Gas is about 3.75/ a gallon. That's 4,800 miles/ year. 4800/36= 133.3 gallons× 3.75 = 499.99$ you now have 220 left. You're a good driver, but you're young so your car insurance is 125$/ month.
You now have -1280 dollars.
This list included: Rent, Utilities, Food, Gas, Taxes, A cellphone plan, Health insurance, Car insurance,
You go without: TV, Netflix, Amazon prime, Spotify premium, Internet, Car repairs, Christmas gifts, Going out to eat, Medical care, Prescription medications, Xbox, Furniture, Clothing, Spending money on your hobbies, Child supplies, A car payment, Student loan payment, Toiletries, Cleaning supplies, Paying personal property taxes for owning a car, Paying for license plates
THE LIST GOES ON!
- BANDING TOGETHER
we need to find a way to band together to see these things through. We need to have in person chapters. Protests, interest groups etc.
- BOYCOTT BOYCOTT BOYCOTT
we need to keep a running list of all the businesses to avoid and boycott. I personally boycott apple, Nike, McDonald's and many others but I'm super tired and can't name them all lol. Stop buying designer shit. Shop at Burlington's, thrift stores, savers, plato's closet. Garage sales, church sales etc. Buy things second hand. Don't buy a new car save up for an old one. Get a Costco card and buy in bulk. Don't eat out. Never eat at fast food restaurants. STOP BUYING INTO THE CONSUMERIST LIFE STYLE. Be a minimalist. let's face it who gives a fuck if you have air force one's or whatever they're too god damn expensive.
Good night guys just thought I'd share my ideas. Anyway fuck these greedy motherfuckers. Just stop going to their restaurant and if you want to spread the word, realistically just print a bunch of flyers and post them up everywhere you go. Over time the word will get out people will band together and the giants will fall one by one. Good luck!
