Interesting (though longish) article convincingly argues that the poverty line for a family of 4 should

[tblue37]

be set at $140,000.

https://www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-life-is-a-lie?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1272022&post_id=179492574&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=5205r&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

[MichMan]

1. $35 per hour minimum wage for a working couple

[unblock]

2. Great article, lays out something we've all noticed but rarely gets talked about.

Great way to describe it -- the cost of participation.

So many people say poor people are to much better off because their car is safer, their phones are amazing, etc.

.. yeah, but now they *need* an expensive phone. My daughter went to s McDonald's to ask for a job, they said you have to apply online. And forget about a new car, even the cheapest is crazy compared to what basic transport once was.

The cost of participation has skyrocketed.

[Hugin]

3. It's become nearly impossible to do what I call a retail lifestyle...

Last edited Tue Nov 25, 2025, 11:14 AM - Edit history (1)

Where an income can be spread to cover all required expenditures. Food, shelter, health maintenance and so on. Even for an individual, without a boost in each category to get by.

A lifestyle that was the norm until maybe a decade ago.

I must be a member of at least fifteen rewards programs and I can’t use any one of them completely.