Response to John Oliver's minimum wage argument (John Stewart Show)

I find this segment ironic and yet, it doesn't shock me in the least. Although the liberals love the idea of raising minimum wage, what they aren't willing to discuss is that raising minimum wage WILL cut the workforce purely due to lack of funds and jobs in this economy. There is no way for small/large companies to hire large amounts of people when minimum wage is what we use to earn after 2-3 years in the industry.

It used to be that ten dollars an hour was a large amount of money and something that you earned after having hands on experience. Now, it's simply expected. No hard work required. No experience necessary. I see it everyday with students who are graduating with little to no experience in their field and then they expect to land that "perfect" job. Except that, oh wait, hundreds of others are vying for the same job, and half of those have work experience, and the other half - nothing. Who do you think is going to get the job?

It frustrates me like crazy that people think minimum wage jobs are bad or evil. Really? It is called a stepping stone. You get some experience under your belt, then you get an education, then you take another job with a higher wage, then you get more work experience, and then the process continues. The average college graduate salary is $46,000, the average college graduate with a  masters degree is $60,000. The average McDonalds salary is $34,000, ten thousand less than the average college graduate and almost 30,000 less then a graduate with a masters degree. So, if all those minimum wage workers would simply get a college education, they immediately take themselves out of poverty.

Side rant - I DISLIKE when people say they can't afford to go to college. REALLY! Guess what, the rest of us can't afford college either, it's called, work, side jobs, grants, and loans.  Stop making excuses for why you DON'T have an education, your situation is the same as mine. I am paying my way through school. I don't have a hand out, a magic money tree, I'm not a free-loader who's parents are paying my way. No - I am paying my way through school. So don't use that excuse here please, because I have no sympathy!

Back to the story...

Not everyone is Steve Jobs, actually he is a bad example, because he actually worked his way up. Or maybe Ashton Kutcher, no - he also had minimum wage jobs and worked his way up the ladder. One could argue that Mark Cuban just made it big, but that would be a lie as well. Did you know, "Mark Cuban sold garbage bags door to door at age 12". So although his business value is 2.5 Million, he worked his butt off and got an amazing education at Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

Arguably, there is no argument. Everyone has to start with an entry level job. The problem lies in individuals who never strive for greatness, or at least greater than their current situation. Rather, they expect others to pick up their slack and according to the "me, me, me" mentality, or "give me, give me, give me" attitude, they cry and we come running.

Going back to Ashton Kutcher's now famous quote from the teen choice awards, "I never had a job in my life that I was better than, I was just lucky to have a job, and every job I had was a stepping stone to the next job, and I never quite a job until I had my next job. And so opportunity looks a lot like hard work."

I'm not sure Mr. Kutcher knew how powerful and moving his words would prove to be, but anyone who thinks they deserve more money just because, should watch the youtube video and take stock of their life, and remember "Opportunity looks a lot like hard work!"