06-30-2008, 04:03 AM
Here's a very sensible place to start putting some "aloha" back in community.
Let me point out that a good portion of the reason many of you(us, myself included) have moved to Hawaii was the cost of property here, on the Big Island in particular. The simple transparent reason property on the Big Island is disproportionately inexpensive is that there is a great deal of poverty here. Certainly, there's a certain culture here that has a certain allergy to work, but as well there are a large number of truly disadvantaged people here who may have never had the opportunity or stability in life to educate themselves out of their position.
If we're serious about restoring community spirit, let's pay living wages? Especially for those of us who have had the opportunities in life or made our money elsewhere where it was easier to do so--we must realize that offering starvation wages is simply an affront. People may take them, but capitalizing on desperation is hardly friendly, it certainly doesn't smack of Aloha, and certainly doesn't bring a community together, as everybody is full aware of what's going on: exploitation.
James, I hope you don't take this as a personal attack, because it is not, but let me suggest that if you're serious about rebuilding community, 12 dollars an hour is a starvation wage.
12 bucks, you take home 8. Self employed right?
64 bucks a day.
10 bucks in fuel just to get you there.
If you actually worked hard, you'll eat 10 bucks.
You might like to take a shower. That will cost 1 dollar.
You'll do laundry once a week. At that wage you're living someplace that doesn't have washer and dryer, so that will cost you 12 bucks a week, so 2 dollars a day.
By the way, where are you living? If you're not living in a tent in the brush you'll be paying 500 dollars a month, or 15 dollars a day.
40 dollars a day is pretty sensible to be fed, and not live in the dirt.
Could any of the rest of you live on 800 dollars a month?
That of course assumes you're working full time, which you won't because you're committed to working part time labor, and if it rains and you miss a day, well, that day you're out of luck.
Now, of the remaining 400 or so dollars:
You'll pay your car insurance to get there. Unless you're too desperate to cheat on that.
Health insurance? You must be kidding.
Dental care? Not unless you're dying.
A telephone? Luxury expense.
You'll dress in rags, because if you're working hard you'll destroy your wardrobe once a month.
Woe to you if you get hurt. Woe to your kid, if you've got one.
Personally, I wouldn't or couldn't in good conscious hire anyone to dig a hole for less than 20. When I was in high school, you'd get near 10 for farm work, that's in '85. As for skill levels, let me point out that the primary skill required in all tasks is the skill to actually get a job done, and anybody with that skill, as far as I'm concerned, is worth their money, and anybody without that skill, is worth nothing. Generally speaking, people with the skill to work have a lot of other skills too, but that's not so bad all things being considered.
Of course you have a right to hire whoever you want. But, please, if you hire someone, treat them like a human being.
I would enjoy hearing other opinions on this score. I would suggest that the issue is pertinent and important.
Let me point out that a good portion of the reason many of you(us, myself included) have moved to Hawaii was the cost of property here, on the Big Island in particular. The simple transparent reason property on the Big Island is disproportionately inexpensive is that there is a great deal of poverty here. Certainly, there's a certain culture here that has a certain allergy to work, but as well there are a large number of truly disadvantaged people here who may have never had the opportunity or stability in life to educate themselves out of their position.
If we're serious about restoring community spirit, let's pay living wages? Especially for those of us who have had the opportunities in life or made our money elsewhere where it was easier to do so--we must realize that offering starvation wages is simply an affront. People may take them, but capitalizing on desperation is hardly friendly, it certainly doesn't smack of Aloha, and certainly doesn't bring a community together, as everybody is full aware of what's going on: exploitation.
James, I hope you don't take this as a personal attack, because it is not, but let me suggest that if you're serious about rebuilding community, 12 dollars an hour is a starvation wage.
12 bucks, you take home 8. Self employed right?
64 bucks a day.
10 bucks in fuel just to get you there.
If you actually worked hard, you'll eat 10 bucks.
You might like to take a shower. That will cost 1 dollar.
You'll do laundry once a week. At that wage you're living someplace that doesn't have washer and dryer, so that will cost you 12 bucks a week, so 2 dollars a day.
By the way, where are you living? If you're not living in a tent in the brush you'll be paying 500 dollars a month, or 15 dollars a day.
40 dollars a day is pretty sensible to be fed, and not live in the dirt.
Could any of the rest of you live on 800 dollars a month?
That of course assumes you're working full time, which you won't because you're committed to working part time labor, and if it rains and you miss a day, well, that day you're out of luck.
Now, of the remaining 400 or so dollars:
You'll pay your car insurance to get there. Unless you're too desperate to cheat on that.
Health insurance? You must be kidding.
Dental care? Not unless you're dying.
A telephone? Luxury expense.
You'll dress in rags, because if you're working hard you'll destroy your wardrobe once a month.
Woe to you if you get hurt. Woe to your kid, if you've got one.
Personally, I wouldn't or couldn't in good conscious hire anyone to dig a hole for less than 20. When I was in high school, you'd get near 10 for farm work, that's in '85. As for skill levels, let me point out that the primary skill required in all tasks is the skill to actually get a job done, and anybody with that skill, as far as I'm concerned, is worth their money, and anybody without that skill, is worth nothing. Generally speaking, people with the skill to work have a lot of other skills too, but that's not so bad all things being considered.
Of course you have a right to hire whoever you want. But, please, if you hire someone, treat them like a human being.
I would enjoy hearing other opinions on this score. I would suggest that the issue is pertinent and important.