Quote:
Originally posted by seretogis
[B]
I did for a year at 17 years old as an intern programmer at a local ISP. I started at minimum wage and after "proving myself" got a 200% raise, which was still a crap salary according to you. I had no college degree and no solid programming experience so I had to make sacrifices in order to get said experience. No car, no fancy new clothes, no dinner at restaurants every night, but I got a foot in the door and my next job was the most pleasurable work experience yet.
[b]
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Already you have diverged. You got yourself an internship programming because you had access to a computer, yes? Most likely in your home, perhaps even your very own. My hypothetical guy doesn't live in a home with a computer; they struggle to put food on the table. Now, are there local ISPs in the inner city, looking to hire high school dropouts? Oh, and a 200% raise would be 3 times minimum wage, a figure I did not address. But I figure you meant a
100% raise.
Quote:
Originally posted by seretogis
Now, if you want to discuss college expenses / scholarships on another thread, I'd be glad to, but it is a separate issue. Locally, at least, there is a community college that has night classes and classes on Saturday for those who work full-time during the week. It would take longer than going to school full-time of course, but it would be possible to get an education on Saturday while working two jobs.
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Agreed that this is a separate issue. According to my calculations, it's going to take this guy two and a half years working 16 hours a day and going to school for 8 hours on saturday, year round, to get an associate's degree. I agree it can be done, but most human beings don't have that kind of ænima. That's a hard load, friend. You try just working 18 hours a day, not counting commutes for two and half years, having weekends off. I guess our boy does all his homework on saturdays and sundays. That's no kind of life.
Quote:
Originally posted by seretogis
As for public assistance, I am not against it to some degree, on a locally (state)-sponsored level. The problem that I have is with welfare-families who have lived for generations off of the system, and have more and more children in order to increase their benefits. Abuse of the system needs to be dealt with, and it currently isn't (in Minnesota at least).
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Finally, something which we agree on. I am not trying to come out in support of people who sit on welfare. When I lost my job I refused unemployment because I didn't want to live on someone else's dollar. I'm able-bodied, and that money should go to someone who needs it more. So if we can just reform the welfare system, maybe it won't get such a bad rap.