Absolutely not. I'm simply saying that these jobs used to be your springboard into a career position - be it something you gain by getting a degree, military experience, or going to work for one of the local or surrounding area employers that paid better and offered benefits. For example, my father had a couple years in the military and went to work for a local papermill making more (cost adjusted) than I make now. You worked a few years at McD and got job experience for your career. We no longer have those career positions to jump into, so people are stuck with fast food and retail, but those historically have not paid a living wage. Now that they're the only thing left, pressure is on for them to pay more - but margins may not allow it.