And have the standards for government assistance changed? No? So, all that money is useless. Go from making $8/hour to $15 and notice how insignificant the difference in living standards is. How do I know? Because I've been caught in this shit storm of a country for decades.

I made $15/hour 16 years ago. 5 years ago, I cycled through 3 jobs that paid the same. In the last 18 months, I have applied to hundreds of jobs because that income level is a trap and is still prevalent. I've been on SNAP the entire time.

Do you know what happens when you get a slight pay increase at poverty wages? You lose your poverty benefits. In my case, that's going to amount to $500/month for food for 2 people and dental coverage for my daughter. So, instead of the government paying me to eat, I'll have to make enough to not only cover that loss, but hope to make WAY more in order to, I don't know, not have to cancel my credit cards, not be living paycheck to paycheck, maybe travel sometime in my life or even go out for pleasure? Or, here is a crazy, crazy thought: maybe I'll be able to pay a single cent to my student loans, get health insurance (lol, right) , or maybe I'll be able to SAVE FUCKING MONEY FOR MY FUTURE.

This study proves one thing: American workers can influence the market if we make demands. otherwise, who cares? It's not enough. It's nowhere near enough.