If you earn your living by working, you've probably discussed the rising cost of living lately. It's a widely debated topic on both social media and in news outlets.
Jesse Watters, a host on Fox News, recently sparked a lot of discussion on the internet with his comments about living costs. His remarks came during a PBD podcast where he was promoting his new book.
He focused on the earnings of fast food workers and brought up their wages during the conversation. It was at this point he questioned, "If you're making $20 an hour to work in a fast-food restaurant, is that six figures?" This led many people to question his understanding of basic math.
Thinking that $20 an hour equals a six-figure income shows a significant disconnect from reality. The interviewer, Patrick Betz-David, corrected him by stating, "No, no, $40,000 a year."
Watters then added, "So, if your husband or wife is also there, you're making $100,000 as a family. Both working at McDonald's."
Auto Draft"OK, that's crazy. That is crazy. Because that job really doesn't require much. So, it's inflating the entire, you know, labor sector and the Happy Meal."
The video quickly became a sensation after it was uploaded to Twitter.
It wasn't long before viewers started correcting the math for him. He suggested that $20 per hour is the typical wage for fast food workers, but the actual average is more like $12. This can vary based on the region and the worker's level of experience.
There's been ongoing debate about establishing a minimum wage of at least $15 per hour for fast food employees. While this has been adopted in some states and cities, it hasn't been applied nationwide.
Watters also made a controversial remark implying that fast food workers are overpaid. He commented, "That job really doesn't require much, that's crazy!" referring to fast food workers earning $40,000 a year.
Working in a fast food establishment is tough and stressful. With a constant flow of customers, the job is far from easy or deserving of disdain.
Not to mention the unpleasant interactions with rude customers that workers might face daily. A quick search for videos of rude customers on social media will yield many examples.
This debate is likely to go on without immediate resolution. In the meantime, it remains a captivating topic to follow.
