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In reply to the discussion: 'This is a disgrace': Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slams her future colleagues in Congress... [View all]EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)If internships paid a living wage, they wouldn't be internships - they'd be jobs. And there isn't enough money to pay for all of those jobs. And you can bet that if Congress tried to appropriate more money for them, people would object loudly and demand that those funds be used for something other than to pay Congressional staff.
Did you know a lot of people who work at the White House - from advance staff to letter writers - are volunteers? Many of the employee at our national museums and parks - guides, docents, etc. - are also volunteers. These and other government entities couldn't function without them. Should they all be paid? Maybe we could start charging or increase the cost of admission to pay for their salaries? I wonder how many y of the peopke demanding a living wage for interns doing entry-level work would be as insistent if they actually had to pay for it. I'm don't think it will go over well when the families get to Yosemite and have to cough up double or triple the fees.
Internships are a great way for young people to get experience. AOC greatly benefitted from her own internship with Ted Kennedy and she didn't come from privilege.
This is much ado about nothing.