The discussion needs to move from what is paid either through wages or unemployment to what is needed in one's particular community. What is rent, utilities, transportation, food, etc.

One thing which I believe many of us more chronologically gifted folks think of is "connection" costs. When I was a kid, or even when I started working, television was free once the set was purchased, a phone was about $5-10 a month plus long distance, and there was inter-damn-net. That now adds up to, what, $150 a month? It is almost required just to be in contact with folks for even applying for jobs. The upshot is that we could live cheaper a few decades ago.

Rather than complain about minimum wage or unemployment benefits just what does it cost to live in a location?

I fully realize that there are, or were, "part-time" jobs intended for life-at-home students, a spouse picking up some "extra" money, and so on. But I think we need to seriously look at what should be paid to full time employees so that they can live in the community and work one job.