Excellent Post. To answer a question by one of the commenters.

How to get health insurance on minimum wage ? Although I believe this is just a sarcastic post, I will give him a serious answer based on actual facts.

Get a job at walmart. Yes, the evil empire. First, they pay better than minimum wage. A friend has worked there for 4 years, and makes 13 per hour. This store is always short handed and looking for employees. If you can pass the drug screen you have a job. People work there that are in their 80s, others are disabled and some are mentally handicapped.

This year he signed up for the big deductible health insurance and the health saving account plan. His insurance premium for a single is 10 per paycheck, 20 a month. For a family is is about 30 per check. These premiums are the same for everyone regardless of age or preexisting conditions. The company at the first of the year contributes 600 to his health savings account, and then matches dollar for dollar for another 600 per year. If he does not spend those contributions for the first year, he ends up with 1800 dollars in an interest bearing account. The high deductible is 2000 per year.

he also receives company contributions to a 401k and profit sharing each year even if he does not contribute a penny of his own.

After taxes and voluntary 401k contributions and HSA contributions he clears about 1450 per month. Total housing, (shared rent) food, utilities, cable, phone, gas, etc. is about 750 per month. So he has about 700 dollars free cash flow per month to do has he wishes, spend or save. He has an older car paid for in excellent condition that will last for many more years. His commute to work is less than 4 miles round trip.

This is an actual example of how you can in fact get along and even prosper on a low paying job today in this country.