you don't think I was living on $12.50 an hour for 10 months? that's around $410 net per week - my rent was $230. Then utilities, food, weed, smokes, petrol and small amount into savings it was gone. I was living week to week - it sucks and that's why endeavoured to change it.
i'm not sure you're trying to make any point here.
you can live like a decent human being without government assistance in most places in the US on 10.10.*
some people are happy to live week to week, some want to earn more and do, some want to earn more and can't.
12.50 an hour would be a great wage for any person to live on very comfortably outside of the bay area, LA, NYC, or other very sought after pieces of real estate.
i told kynes the other day that he should take his low wage ass up to oregon and rent a damn farm. there are lots around here, some places will even pay you to look after acreage.