‘Real disconnect’ between cost of living and workers’ paychecks | Meet the Press Reports

Since 1980, most American workers have seen modest income growth, but income for the top 1% has grown much faster. Lindsey Reiser traveled to Ohio and Florida for Meet the Press Reports to hear from different families, sharing similar struggles, about what constitutes a living wage.

Connect with NBC News Online!

#Income #Economy #MTPR

[Chatterbox-]

This is why a lot of millennials and members of the new generation are choosing to no longer have kids. The cost of living is at a point where kids are far too unaffordable

[supadave]

Decades of companies not sharing the success of their growth with their employees is what got us here.

[Daleenaisfunny]

I love how the moral of the story is “find light at the end of the tunnel” instead of hold companies accountable 😡

[OneTakeTuber]

I grew up poor and made a decision not to have kids because I didn't want that struggle nor subject my kids to that struggle. Sad but true

[Aoirsae]

On a single income in the 1980s my parents could buy a house, raise kids, pay all their bills, and have money for vacation. It's just not possible anymore

[bryanasare]

There was a time you could comfortably support a family of three and be a homeowner with just a job at the USPS.

[tiegrsidesignsandstudio]

They've been fighting for $15/hr so long that $15/hr isn't even enough anymore. 😢

[raingoddess]

Everything going up but the pay and yet they sending money to other countries

[crystaldisbrow]

This legitimately made me cry. 35 years old and I have very little to show for it.

[MemoirsofaBasketcase]

Average American housing cost has Quadrupled, but salaries have not even doubled.

[WolfxxBite]

Literally 75% of my income goes to rent. And I have a degree. I was sold the lie that getting a degree would ensure a bright future. I was sold the lie that showing company loyalty would pay off. None of that was true. The working class is starting to see the lies we have been sold our whole life.

[soulsister]

I lost my job in 2009. It has taken 10 years too make back only 85% of the salary, I once made. Europeans work less than us, make more than us, have state insurance, and give their people vacations. We as Americans are not really enjoying life the way we should, because we are not being paid appropriately.

[Gracedxoxo]

What’s insane is that youre taught to go to college, make a good salary, get married and have a dual income and now that you have checked all those boxes, you’ve never struggled so much before it’s insane and it needs to be brought up more

[SorieI]

It's sick that people have to work so tirelessly for such a meager wage.

[savannah]

When my coworkers and friends ask me why I’m almost 30 with no kids. Most people are one car accident or medical emergency away from struggling and don’t even know it.

[SeyvenRoses]

Finding the light at the end of the tunnel when your basic needs are not being met will eventually cost you your health and life. It is a human right to be able to afford housing, food, health insurance, and a savings.

No more being strong when you are being mistreated by your government.

[ParmesanChase]

As a 32 year old male. I make $3500-$4000 a month and I’m single with no kids and I can barely make it. I don’t know how people with 3 kids alone are making it.

[tjr]

The problem is greed, everything in America is for profit. Healthcare, housing, education, transportation (even second hand cars are expensive). Its all geared towards making a profit and increasing the stock price. These profits aren’t trickling down to the workers. Yet the prices of stuff keeps rising. We’re increasingly becoming a dystopian society.

[YoutubeSupportOfficialUS]

My brothers roommate decided to commit suicide last night. Unchecked mental illness was a big factor, but inability to pay his rent and expenses escalated his crisis for the worse. I don’t know what the fix is and l’m concerned about millions like him in a similar situation.

[WoolandFlax]

Imagine making 45k a year, the government taking 7k at least of that, daycare costs at 12k a year, mortgage/rent 14k, groceries at 7k a year, health insurance 4k a year...not really much left after that. And those are all necessities.