A few things...

First, minimum wage laws were designed to keep low skilled workers out of the workforce. Raising them just outlaws disadvantaged people from working. Outlaw low skilled jobs, and you outlaw low skilled workers. This is why the Democratic party keeps pushing for higher wages. Keep low skilled and disadvantaged workers out of the work force so that they don't compete with the largely white unions who support the Democratic party.

Second, minimum wage jobs are entry level jobs. In order to not be stuck working for minimum wage, there are many opportunities available in the West to learn new skills and make yourself more marketable. In fact, even during the downturn in oil and gas in - I had a hard time hiring people. We regularly hire people straight out of high school - and these young people can earn upwards of $80,000 in their first year. But guess what? Nobody wants to actually WORK. I can't give these jobs away... SO guess what? Supply and demand comrades, I have to keep raising wages. That job down at the Circle K? Ya, well they get all kinds of applicants, the job does not create much wealth, the supply of potential employees is high, and the demand low... I appreciate that the people in these jobs may be working HARD, but why work hard at something that is only creating a little wealth? Look around, where is the money? Go there..

If you don't want to work for minimum wage, you must choose a career path that creates more wealth!! Flipping a burger patty results in a product that can have a $1 mark-up. You are right that McDonalds makes billions - but they make very little PER WORKER. We can have $20/hr burger flippers sure, but we will also have $30 Big Macs. Pay each of your millions of workers even a small amount more results in zero profit. So the choice becomes either more expensive Big Macs, automation, or no more McDonalds. Working on an oil well results in a product that can profit millions of dollars continuously for years! You get paid according to the wealth you create. This stuff used to be middle school economics.

And, finally - YES!! Just like entry level jobs in the oilpatch compete with minimum wage jobs, so does STEEMIT! What a great opportunity!!

Of course, even here in STEEMLAND, there will be people who are naturally skilled, others who are personable, and others who are great writers, photographers, and artists. Others will create apps, bots, websites, and groups. Some will invest large amounts of their already earned wealth into steem power, some will buy advertising to draw in users, some will hustle to get votes so they can be a witness. Others will help minnows turn into dolphins and dolphins into whales... They will make a good living here ( if they combine these efforts, they will make a great living).

BUT, if people come here and complain that they aren't getting rewarded, they aren't very friendly, they don't put time into learning to write, or present an idea/argument, don't learn to create art, or take great pictures, or don't try to engage and improve the community, they won't make much. Just like the store clerk, they can work HARD, but if they work hard at something that doesn't create wealth, being here is no different than being anywhere else...