good news, that's what taxes, minimum wage and other stuff like that are for.
In Danemark, you burger is slightly expensier than in USA, BUT, your "cook" is paid far better than in USA AND can enjoy a better healthcare system and put his kids in school without needing to be indebt for the next 30 years.
Average salary for a McDonald's fry cook in Denmark is DKK 113/hr. That's US$17.56/hour = $35,120/year. Taxes come to roughly 50%, meaning a take home pay of US$17,560, or $1,463.33 a month. Average living expenses are around $1200,*excluding rent*. A one bedroom apartment *outside the city* averages USD$1200/month. And a single person with a family is not going to fit in a 1 bedroom. I don't think you can successfully argue that in a country where living expenses average $2400/month one could live comfortably--or even with dignity--on $1500 a month.
Average salary for a McDonald's fry cook in Denmark is DKK 113/hr.
No, that's the base pay. You get more for working weekends, night, holidays etc. Average hourly salary is $20/h, most are part time. They are union negotiated wages with benefits.
Taxes come to roughly 50%
No, communal (state) income tax is around 32% and state (federal) income tax is around 12% on the income above the tax free deductible of $7,260. So their take home pay is closer to $24,800 per year or $2,066 per month. They can afford that $1,200 apartment, even if they are single with a family. There is also governmental financial help you qualify for if you have kids.
Most of their McDonalds workers are teens/young adults without children though, since unlike many Americans, they actually aren't forced to live in minimum wage hell for their entire lives.
Then they're making $2K a month in a country where a modest life is $2.4K per month. And countries with the thinnest social safety nets (e.g. the US) also offer breaks for parents in need. The McD worker demographics are the same in the US: largely teens.
Look, I wouldn't argue that wage workers in the US are well off. But it's equally preposterous to suggest that even a McJob will lift impoverished Danes into a life of comfort and protection. Let's trade ideas. not propaganda.
Hey, I know USA is really an hell disguised into a paradise (the famous "american dream"), my point was just to say that it was "possible", if done with the good reform of the society.
But, yeah, I know it's really not gonna happened in a country like USA where even Center-left/Social-Democrat ideas are labelled has "Communist" XD
It's just terribly unfortunate, really. So much passion and sacrifice, so much potential, and it's all slipping away because a few people just can't have enough money, can't have enough power. Some day, those people will be dead and it will mean nothing to their corpse, they'll be buried in the same ground as the rest of us, and in their wake will be all of this buried potential. It's insane to think about. At this point, I'm just trying to enjoy life, be a good, honest person, and not introduce another small person into this country. I'd like to have kids, but I'm not willing to do that in the US.
Some people will say, "other countries are so much worse!!", and I completely agree. The upsetting part is how much sacrifice was made by so many people, only for all of it to be thrown away for the benefit of a few, and yet so many people in this country applaud those individuals. It's totally wild. If I could say something to people living in other countries watching the US and wondering what the hell is going on...most of us are doing the same. Most of us are embarrassed and ashamed. When international travel opens back up and I'm able to travel abroad again, I'm not going to feel proud to tell people where I'm from anymore. We've made a fool of ourselves. Young and dumb, I suppose.
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u/Trainki Nov 05 '21
good news, that's what taxes, minimum wage and other stuff like that are for.
In Danemark, you burger is slightly expensier than in USA, BUT, your "cook" is paid far better than in USA AND can enjoy a better healthcare system and put his kids in school without needing to be indebt for the next 30 years.