Wages in the US have become wildly, fantastically unshackled from the costs of doing business, and they’ve been that way for decades. We’ve been told our entire lives that the world is such a way, and that it’s the Natural Normal result of things working the way they Have to work.

It’s a lie. It’s been a lie the entire time. They just Started Lying one day and didn’t stop until everyone who knew better died, gave up, or got their voice drowned out in all the noise.

You can’t tell me a combo at any fast food restaurant hasn’t doubled in price since the 90’s. Guess how much minimum wage has increased....

The price of everything has been rising regardless of wages, you fucking rube. We haven't had a minimum wage increase in 11 years (a new record, btw) yet the cost of living has gone up every single year:

Inflation and wages have historically been totally uncorrelated, judging by the last 3 wage increases and inflation rate following it (encompassing the 90's until now, since you brought up the 90's)

• 1990: $3.35; 4.2% inflation rate, 0.8% lower than year before
• 1997: $5.15 (+$1.80); 1.6% inflation, 0.7% lower
• 2009: $7.25 (+$2.10); 1.6% inflation, 2.1% higher though we had deflation the previous year following the financial crisis

Also plenty of states and cities have raised their minimum wage to $15 and wouldn't you know it businesses haven't shuttered en masse, workers haven't been fired or replaced by machines (or at least not more than anywhere else), and the world is still turning while poor people can afford food and shelter.

I'm sorry you see workers as so far below and that your life is devoid of meaning that you have to keep people in abject poverty just to feel good about yourself.

If you accept that some jobs are necessary but they have to pay below a living wage, then you're accepting that it's okay for some people to starve.