Hi. The Morgan Spurlock series, 30 Days, starts Thursday 27 Oct, 9pm-10pm, and runs until Thursday 1 Dec.
The series explores what life-changing experiences are possible in 30 days.
In the first film, Spurlock himself attempts to survive on the minimum wage for a month. In the US, that means just $178.47 after tax.
The national minimum wage here is £5.05 an hour (raised from £4.85, October 2005), for people aged 22 and over. Eighteen to 21 year olds are paid £4.25 an hour.
If you have similar experiences of living on the minimum wage, or strong views about this issue and what it means to survive on the breadline, post your messages here.
Was actually one of the best 30 days episodes IMO. Very good, and as many know the US has even worse issues with poverty. Maybe it is because they have more market freedom. Well worth a watch, both his and his poor lady have to live the life for 30 days, and its bloody tough for sure. They goto one of the worst motels to live in, used by all the single mums, unemployed, sex workers and crack heds.
Far from pretty, and like most of this excellent series, its beutifally illustrated by Morgan, who is willing to put himself in the middle of such situations.
I would also say the Christian/Islam one was very good, and the Gay one had moments, but hey that was the person involved more, maybe just too many issues for that one to deal with.
Great bunch of shows, thx Morgan, and thx to 4 for showing them.
And Malkie, inflation might have a few things to do with it hey. I would suggest that makes you around 35 years old to have such a wage. People that are older than you will have even more exciting examples of how hard up they were. Some of them will be true. Most people earned the same when we started, doesnt make it any fairer now than it did then, even young people deserve a fair wage. Once upon a time we used to shove them into chimneys........ Damn kids.
Minimum wage is a great idea, and its not just the kids that need to be looked after, if only we could trust more employers to do the right thing. Some people are probably earning the same as you did on your first wage Malkie, but hey we cant all be pharmacologists that know everything right??
Nice to know where you stand though Malkie, although no suprise.
Did you watch this series or this program Malkie?? Do you live in the States, have you ever?? Do you agree with the minimum wage?
Do you understand that someone being born into money has a better chance of a better education throughout his life, increasing the chances of success within their lifes?/ or do you seriously suggest that people that goto Eton have no better chance of success than the rest of the population who schools at a comp. Hmmm OK.
I hear this self made crap so often, youd think it would lose its offence. You sound like a classic child of the Thatcher years. Id still prefer to be that socialist than what you are coming over as Malkie. You need a good healthy dose of compassion. Maybe more Malkie, take a double.
quote:
No one forces them to accept a poorly paid job.
LMAO, just displays your ignorance, have you ever been to a job centre??? No not as a manager Malkie. LOL
Did you watch this series or this program Malkie??
Nope. This sort of thing makes me want to throw things at the TV. It evokes similar reactions to "Watchdog" when people get caught by an obvious scam, or "Airline" when someone complains because they were late for check-in.
They have no-one to blame but themselves.
Do you live in the States, have you ever??
No, I live in the UK. However I did live and work in the USA for many years.
Do you agree with the minimum wage?
No. You can't generalise wages like that. £5 a hour can get you by in parts of the UK, where it won't in others.
People get paid what they are worth. If they feel they are worth more then they have the choice to change jobs, improve their abilities, or move to an area with better jobs.
Do you understand that someone being born into money has a better chance of a better education throughout his life, increasing the chances of success within their lifes?/
I understand the statistics, but I disagree with the conclusions.
In my opinion there's nothing stopping anyone doing great things with their life.
Anyone can get an education in this country, and providing you put the effort in, anyone can get a further education too. The Government are all too willing to allow you debt to do so.
do you seriously suggest that people that goto Eton have no better chance of success than the rest of the population who schools at a comp.
Absolutely. It's nonsense to think otherwise. I've employed fantastic people who went to polytechnics, and rejected idiots who went to Oxbridge. It's all about the person, and what they are willing to achieve.
Only they have the ability to change their lives.
LMAO, just displays your ignorance, have you ever been to a job centre??? No not as a manager Malkie. LOL
So, you don't have a counter to my point other than "LMAO"? I didn't think so.
Yes, I've been to the job centre, and it's full of dodgers who can't be arsed to put a decent day's work in.
When I returned from the USA (to be with my partner) I didn't have a job. I returned on a Wednesday and went to the job centre. By the Monday I was doing contract work in hospitality (something I did to pay myself through university).
I continued to contract there until I got a job better suited to my qualifications and experience, but it was enough money to make ends meet and still save.
Bottom line is that due to benefits people are more than happy to sit on their bottoms rather than improve their lives.
There's nothing stopping anyone getting out of poverty, and I challenge you to tell me what is standing in their way.
No-one elses experience is of any relavance to your life, and why should it be, youre doing OK.
As for generalising wages, why cant you?? Nationally of course, although if the world wasnt the capital driven screwup that it is, then yes even worldwide would be good. Until then we will just carry on exporting all the work to the third world to get the equivalent of slaves to do it. Yes everyone deserves a fair wage Malkie, not just the few (greedier, nastier, selfish, or just *******s ) that are willing to climb over the bodies of others. Most profit is made on the back of the workers, those workers who have done it to themselves and dont deserve any better. Yes for sure the money makers of this world deserve that wealth, I have no doubt they all earned it all in a very fair manner.
Again I remember the same captilists complaining about the minimum wage and the fact it would bankrupt this country. Its greed, it always was,, and I can udnerstand people thinking they have the right to keep it all, but to then attack the others that are as much part of a capitlist system for existing is verging on sick. If you didnt have those so called lazy people in the dole office, you wouldnt get away with half the employment wrongs that go on. Its that backup of the lessers that keeps the rest working nice and quietly.
quote:
LMAO, just displays your ignorance, have you ever been to a job centre??? No not as a manager Malkie. LOL
So, you don't have a counter to my point other than "LMAO"? I didn't think so.
Yes, I've been to the job centre, and it's full of dodgers who can't be arsed to put a decent day's work in.
What point, that no one forces you to take a job. Yes the job centre part was the point, the LMAO was just laughing at your ignorance. Again maybe your JSA life was much shorter, I can find endless examples of the job centre doing exactly that to the masses. But hey your educated and have no issues, so its fair you havent seen the reality many others face. Again this does not make it false. Maybe if you watched the programs rather than living in malkieland we would save many of these debates.
Wont even get into the many reasons why people do actually lose their jobs, or cant get work. Lets just hope nothing forces your hand hey Malkie, and your picture book lifestyle can continue. Well at least your a European white male, the odds are in your favour. :|
You wont be told, thats fine. I wont beat up on you for being a success, where ever you came from, but likewise Im not a nieve moron that thinks everyone has the same chances or the same lifes to allow such education or success. We have borders that proves this alone, the world is not a fair place, although there are always a few examples of people fighting their way out of it. Alas not all, or even most. Most people in this country work more hours than most of Europe and often earn less. More and more people are working all the hours they can just to cover their mortgage, and this is with both partners. So its far from easy if you wish to bring up a family. Again work has forced our hands, and you will generally get back to work regardless of your wishes, as money makes the world go round, and certainly pays for the exubberant nursery costs.
But we all have these costs, and the costs of insurance to cover our health, houses and car so we can continue to get to work. But do you understand most jobs dont come with a decent enough wage to cover these costs, many jobs dont have company cars, or health or even pension schemes to cover their workers. Many of them woudlnt have a right to them if they did. This even happens to some people in a company that is generally very good at employment rights. Take Microsoft for example and its temp worker contracts. Again the fact you think everything is rosey just signals that youre doing OK, not that everyone is.
I would also suggest that it is arrogrant thinking everyone wishes to go to university, have an academic type job generally, or that we can even afford to all goto university. The reason we have started to pay our own way in education was that we were spending more on University students per head than either primary or secondary. Again this is an issue when many of our lower schools are so poor and badly funded. And all for the benefit of the further educated, a group that is encouraged at all levels, and is now growing generally most years. I would question the need for most of the public to be educated to this level, I would also question if you deserve more money than all jobs without degrees. The miners also worked bloody hard, that card didnt wash so well with your great inspirational leader Malkie. The workers often do, but dont get any level of respect, even when it pretty much means destroying an industry that wasnt useless yet, but I appreciate the unions power was terrifying. Again the workers representatives.
So less of the capitilist crap, and a bit more compassion, empathy and even reality Malkie. And maybe not your own for a change.
It's not a case of "being told" - you are trying to assert something, but have no evidence. Without evidence, why should I just accept your opinion ?
Most people in this country work more hours than most of Europe and often earn less.
They accept less. Big difference.
its far from easy if you wish to bring up a family.
If you can't afford kids then don't have them. Simple as that. Children don't arrive by accident.
Sadly too many people in this country realise that having kids is a free meal ticket, a council house and loads of benefits.
But do you understand most jobs dont come with a decent enough wage to cover these costs
Reasonable insurance doesn't cost money. I'm completely covered for every single possible eventuality for £35 a month.
Perhaps if the benefit fraudsters didn't smoke drink and insist on having 40" plasma TVs they could afford to protect them and their family.
many jobs dont have company cars, or health or even pension schemes to cover their workers.
And? That's what private pension schemes are for.
I would also suggest that it is arrogrant thinking everyone wishes to go to university, have an academic type job generally, or that we can even afford to all goto university.
Yep, that's my opinion and you've done nothing to show me otherwise.
I paid my way through undergraduate and postgraduate education by working hard, and saving money in the summer months. Graduated debt free.
What's stopping anyone else ? Proof not opinion please.
So less of the capitilist crap, and a bit more compassion, empathy and even reality Malkie. And maybe not your own for a change.
I specifically asked you to drop the bleeding heart nonsense. It's this tolerant attitude that gives people excuses for living in poverty and relying on Government hand outs.
Empathy for what ? People who are too lazy to get off their ass and make something with their life ? People who continually blame everyone else for their short comings, rather than take responsibility for their own choices and actions.
I am not a "smart" person, but hard graft earned me two degrees. I don't come from a rich family, but yet today I'm doing just fine.
What's stopping anyone else achieving exactly the same? (proof, not opinion please)
Yes Pension schemes and Insurance cover never go wrong, and they always pay out. LMAO Please please Malkie, invite us all to live in the land you come from. My proof for this is the thousands of pensioners scammed out of their pension rights. There are no guaranteed pensions, private or public, although they may feel currently very safe. Same goes with Insurance, they often dont pay or wont pay, for even things that are clear cut. This is because they too are a business, and think much like you do Malkie, ie only about themselves and their situation, forgetting or not caring about anyone elses posistion.
quote:
Children don't arrive by accident.
LOL, really Malkie? I would like to see proof not opinion Malkie, i would say that is very much the tradition of how we have children, although with our market driven world, more and more people are thinking if they can sustain children with such lifes. This is part of the issue, and again even following your logic, is actually skewing child rearing figures. We are more likely to have professional couples having children in their 30s-40s. Ahhhh like we are now. Many are worrying at our lack of breeding in this country, what with our generally ageing population, which again comes back to those super reliable pensions schemes. They gonna be expensive for the next generation to keep up hey.
As for your other working class generalisations, I would like to see more evidence to show that they all spend their money in that way.
Again you ask for evidence Malkie on every single thing, for what?? To prove that you are not a success and you didnt get it through hard work. I cannot and dont need to, not until youve actually proven you are, and your roots didnt just naturally give you these luxuries. I dont believe what you say, you go out of your way for the argument, and you come back with some of the most conservitive trite Ive heard in some time, since Thacther spouted it in fact.
quote:
I would also suggest that it is arrogrant thinking everyone wishes to go to university, have an academic type job generally, or that we can even afford to all goto university.
Yep, that's my opinion and you've done nothing to show me otherwise.
I paid my way through undergraduate and postgraduate education by working hard, and saving money in the summer months. Graduated debt free.
What's stopping anyone else ? Proof not opinion please.
So your opinion is arrogant, at least you conceed that. Well its also wrong, re-read what has been said and stop being a titend Malkie. No all people do not wish to go to university, many will doubt they have the abilities to (right or wrong is regardless), or the money to every guarantee paying it back. Again with some degrees it is easier to guarantee a good income, with some academic qualifacations this is less clear cut. Again this skews what people should take at University, or wish/can risk taking. Again just because it happened otherwise is no better proof Malkie, you seem to be stuck with this issue. It happened for you, well done, bravo, no move on. It didnt happen for me so theres my proof, why do I think that wont be ample proof for you, is it cos your opinion isnt for me. Thats not evidence Malkie, you could say any old shite, I think you often do.
quote:
So less of the capitilist crap, and a bit more compassion, empathy and even reality Malkie. And maybe not your own for a change.
I specifically asked you to drop the bleeding heart nonsense. It's this tolerant attitude that gives people excuses for living in poverty and relying on Government hand outs.
Ooooooo you asked, best jump to it. Get a grip Malkie, you talk like youre opinion matters, get of your high horse. What youve quoted there was said because of your request.
Again its all very impressive Malkie, no really, Im blown away with how well you can keep an arguement going, play the innocent yet start everything that has happened. Yes it is fair to have these opinions, but by being the gobshite that you have on so many occasions is working against you. We all have opinions, the difference lies in how far you are willing to insert them down other peoples gullets. Youve proven how long your arm is, and how many fingers you are willing to risk to make points that seem far from your qualifactations. Arrogance alone is not enough of an arguement, and you trying to play the innocent card is lost. Stop being a troll.
. My proof for this is the thousands of pensioners scammed out of their pension rights.
Their fault for having a crap scheme in the first place (anyone with half a brain has to realise that final salary pensions were always doomed).
Furthermore, state pension won't exist when we retire - I promise you that.
However, it's a minor point as I've been asking whats stopping people getting out of poverty. A pensioner has left it a little late - no?
Same goes with Insurance, they often dont pay or wont pay, for even things that are clear cut.
Nonsense.
Most of these bleeding heart stories of companies not paying out are because people have broken terms, or not read the fine print.
I would like to see proof not opinion Malkie
With the exception of Mary, no-one in the history of mankind got pregnant without having sex. If you have sex you run the risk, and hence can't be considered an accident.
which again comes back to those super reliable pensions schemes. They gonna be expensive for the next generation to keep up hey.
No. Very very very few places offer final salary pension these days because of that reason. Hence everyone has money purchase pensions which are personal, and not dependent on tomorrow's children to pay for them.
if you have a final salary pension now I'd get it - it will be moth-balled before you retire and probably worthless.
The rest of your post is nothing but hot air. You've dodged my simple question yet again, just like you do in every other thread where I own your ass.
Race, religion, ethics, sex, colour, hair type, height, and every other prejudice Im sure at some time or other.
Why is it most of our House of Commons are educated in the same schools, and why is it we often rip the piss out of the others, who many class as common, illiterate and stupid. Coincidence??
Race, religion, ethics, sex, colour, hair type, height, and every other prejudice Im sure at some time or other.
That's pure nonsense. Race plays no part, neither do any other of those excuses.
However, they are commonly used as excuses - I can't get a job because I'm black! No, you can'tget a job because you've got zero enthusiasm and didn't bother to finish secondary school.
Why is it most of our House of Commons are educated in the same schools, and why is it we often rip the piss out of the others, who many class as common, illiterate and stupid. Coincidence??
Is being in the commons the only mark of success ? I think Alan Sugar would disagree.
The stats don't actually prove your point.
True, most CEOs etc are male, but that doesn't mean to say that a woman can't be one.
There's nothing standing in anyone's way - all you've done it post common excuses.
) that are willing to climb over the bodies of others. Most profit is made on the back of the workers, those workers who have done it to themselves and dont deserve any better. Yes for sure the money makers of this world deserve that wealth, I have no doubt they all earned it all in a very fair manner. 
