[nerdponx]

This is true for middle-class and upper-middle class workers. But there has always been an underclass of people who barely make enough to survive, lack the market power to negotiate for better wages, lack the ability to acquire new skills in order to get different jobs, and/or are stuck with their current employers for lack of other opportunities. This population is also susceptible to overtime abuse and wage theft.

As for the middle and upper middle class, taking home more of your income is only part of the story. I don't have statistics on this, but I am sure that much of that take-home pay is offset by higher medical costs and the need for more retirement savings. Not to mention the fact that the American work week is longer and vacation days are rarer.

[maratd]

> I am sure that much of that take-home pay is offset by higher medical costs and the need for more retirement savings

This is not true. Those same workers get most or all of their insurance costs covered by the company. Same goes for retirement with 401k plans, etc.

> Not to mention the fact that the American work week is longer and vacation days are rarer.

This is true.

[nerdponx]

Even after employer subsidies, group rates, and tax savings from income deduction, health insurance can cost a lot of money, and you will still have routine non-covered medical expenses, as well as quite a lot of downside risk depending on your plan.

Same with 401(k). Employer match is a nice bonus but it is not enough.

[maratd]

> but it is not enough.

Not enough for what? It's clearly enough for millions to live very comfortably.

[abritinthebay]

This comment betrays an incredible misunderstanding or naivety of how medical insurance works in the US, and what/how it covers people.

Also a completely bizarre use of 401(k)’s which are not available to most citizens and are highly volatile.

Compared to the rest of the world the US spends more individually on healthcare & gets less. It’s average retirement savings are amongst the lowest in the developed world!

Hand waving away like you’re doing is not supported by the facts.

[nerdponx]

Why are you being downvoted? Even after employer subsidies, group rates, and tax savings from income deduction, health insurance can cost a lot of money, and you will still have routine non-covered medical expenses, as well as quite a lot of downside risk depending on your plan.

[abritinthebay]

There are a lot of people kneejerk downvoting things that don’t support the idea of American exceptionalism.

It’s a shame because that attitude is what is keeping America from doing better.

[ergothus]

I'm reminded of this almost every time I read a novel set in a modern western European country. Protagonists can be poor and receive reliable legal and medical care that smashes my suspension of disbelief, yet the author (inevitably from said country) did not think twice about it, presumably because the idea isnt ridiculous on its face to them.

Anecdote, not data, but it has come up enough and this background detail isnt the author TRYING to persuade me, so it has been very effective at doing so nonetheless.

[bluecalm]

Additionally every time the underclass bargaining power is about to raise due to shortage of labor the ruling elite imports competition that has even less rights and has to work for less, in worse conditions and in constant fear of being deported.

The most important thing to change is stopping illegal immigration. Either allow more people in and give them equal standing in the job market to citizens or don't allow them in at all.

[maxerickson]

Simpler to just punish the people and companies that exploit illegal labor.

And of course doing that would reduce the incentive to come here and work illegally...