As you state, those "menial" jobs definitely pay less, but so is the skill level. So, we should pay them just because they don't make as much as a neurologist (who invested hundreds of thousands of dollars, time and resources to gain the skills) and if we don't, it makes it wrong? Never in history have less skilled workers made the same amount as higher skilled workers (except in failed Communist regimes where they still didn't make as much and the ruling class made a bundle!) So, would you have a "fruit picker" (which I did in my youth) be paid as much as the neurologist? The facts quoted by the lead document and the SSA are "red herrings" and avoid the larger question about labor force supply, personal motive, drive, and the like. Dr. Benjamin Carson came from extreme poverty as did Dolly Parton, and they are quite successful. So we should "punish" them by taking what they have earned and just give it people. Why don't they follow these two people's example and start learning new skills - and they CAN do it in this society (there are thousands and thousands of examples). How about the Vietnamese Boat people from the 70's? They came here not speaking English, with little money (if any), and made something of their lives (and there are thousands of examples like this). It is the "opportunity to succeed" that government should protect, not the equality of outcomes (which it will NEVER successfully do). Even Jesus (like I have heard many give ascent to) who encouraged sharing your goods with the poor, NEVER supported or encouraged that "sharing" to be done at the "tip of the Roman spear" so to speak. He NEVER advocated "government" forcing the people with means to share with those who have less means! If we have too many "selfish or self-centered" people in this land, that topic is a moral/ethical/religious issue not a public policy issue. Maybe we SHOULD go back towards the early days of our Nation when Alexis de Tocqueville made the observation: “America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” (Maybe we should go back to having students read that one in Civics class instead of some of the crap they are forced to read in schools now). Here are just a couple more quotes from Alexis:

"The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money" (like a lot of what is happening in today's USA)

"Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude."

"Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith."