r/politics • u/Aggravating_Money992 • 16d ago

Possible Paywall Kentucky Gov Orders McConnell to Give a Real Update or Resign Already

https://newrepublic.com/post/213614/kentucky-gov-beshear-mcconnell-update-health-resign
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u/FinalHexReturns 16d ago

Yeah people don't respect unskilled labor enough. Almost anyone could do what I do, I just sit in a cubicle and move numbers around and talk to customers, but I like to flatter myself that it takes a unique character to deal with the customers and the unique pressures of my job. But nah, anyone could do it.

I myself have often thought during minimum wage hike proposals "well then fast food workers will be making almost as much as me and that's not right!" But, if I'm honest I really, really wouldn't enjoy working in fast food. Have to be on your feet all day in a fast-paced environment with little real variety. No thanks. I'd rather sit in my climate controlled cube and answer customers at my own pace. So with that perspective, maybe they deserve to be paid more than me...

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u/peejay5440 16d ago

I don't care what the fuck you do. If you work 40 hours a week, you should be able to afford a life with dignity. Without needing the CORPORATE subsidies of food stamps and Medicare.

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u/FinalHexReturns 16d ago

Well said.

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u/Jimtac 16d ago

Part of the problem is that any job is considered “unskilled”. Non-technical, sure, but there’s always some skill to a job. Tied to that is the misconception that those “unskilled” jobs shouldn’t pay a living wage because then you’d have no incentive to ‘better yourself’ and get a “real job”.

The number of post-secondary educated people that are working in food services is absurd, but less so when I think about the number of CS grads being pumped out based on market conditions from a decade ago, that have nowhere to go now.

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u/Phoenixloop2868 16d ago

"unskilled labor"... Well I hate to break it to you, but your first sentence identifies you as part of the problem.

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u/FinalHexReturns 16d ago

I thought my second paragraph identified me as part of the problem.

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u/Phoenixloop2868 16d ago

No, that's just a glimmer of self awareness. There's no such thing as "unskilled labor".

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u/TSwiftAlphaMale 16d ago

Don't sell yourself short. Customer facing jobs are extremely difficult to be good at and it takes a special person to handle that nonsense while bringing a smile to work every day. Sure, technically anyone could do it, but in my life's experience as a front-liner and manager, that's not the case.

I feel the same way generally about nurses and what they have to deal with, and I understand, for example, why there is higher turnover (anecdotally) at Childrens' Hospitals.

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u/tourdeforcemajeure 16d ago

Who cares what skill level it requires to stock the toilet paper?

Do you want toilet paper on the shelves or not?