I can't even believe the minimum wage in the USA, it's half what it is in Australia. 40 hours at minimum wage there is the same as unemployment benefits in Australia, which you are entitled to indefinitely while unemployed. I think the generally high pay, which equals high tax, which equals good unemployment benefits (simply put) leads to a solid standard of living for all in Australia. Corporate profits really seem to rule supreme in the USA. Unbelievable that your government really supports the rich. Sad really.
IMO it comes down to lobbying. I would be shocked if Australia's lobbying laws are as relaxed as they are here in the US. Corporations can spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns whereas individuals are limited to a few thousand dollars. Our political leaders answer to their constituents, and some of their most important constituents are corporations.Corporate profits really seem to rule supreme in the USA. Unbelievable that your government really supports the rich. Sad really.
I understand how the lobbying works, it really is a sad state of affairs. Laws and policies are influenced by money. We have similar prob;ems here in Australia but nowhere near the extent as in America. Here politicians still try and hide who they're in bed with and we have limits to what your dollars can get you. Ultimately it all comes down to dollars, we have a two party system here where votes are passed onto the two parties as preferences and I'm cynical enough to have zero faith in my politicians promises and intentions. Sooooo, I've finally realised the way of the world and now donate money to a group calld GetUp on a weekly basis and additionally for other serious matters. They are having great success in Australia bringing issues to the public that people wouldn't otherwise know about. Then, more importantly, getting money and signed petitions out of people to combat the issue with campaigning, advertising and lobbying. That could be the future of positive change, money from the masses.
The minimum wage here is a joke, really. Unfortunately, the butt of the joke are the workers who have to work for those wages. Well, and the taxpayer, whom these companies steal from every time one of their workers has to apply for federal benefits, because their children would starve otherwise. Wal-Mart is the most highly subsidized company in the US, and so many of those subsidies end of lining the Waltons' pockets. It's sad, especially when economic studies show that higher wages make the whole economy stronger. I guess it's a vicious game of prisoners' dilemma that these companies are playing.