No family gets rich from earning the minimum wage. In fact, the

Host: The early morning light filters softly through the windows, casting gentle shadows across the worn but sturdy kitchen table. The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, cutting through the quiet as Jack and Jeeny sit across from each other. The world outside seems still, the bustle of the city hours away from reaching them. Jack's eyes are tired, a little distant, while Jeeny’s expression is pensive, her hands wrapped around a warm mug, cradling it as if it’s the only thing keeping her grounded in the conversation.

Jeeny: "Jon Corzine said, 'No family gets rich from earning the minimum wage. In fact, the current minimum wage does not even lift a family out of poverty.' What do you think about that, Jack?"

Jack: He takes a slow sip from his own coffee, his brow furrowed as he considers the statement. "I don’t think he’s wrong. The minimum wage is barely enough to get by on. I mean, people working full-time at it still have to struggle to cover the basics—housing, food, healthcare. It’s a band-aid on a broken system, not a solution."

Jeeny: Her eyes flicker with frustration, a quiet fire burning within her as she leans forward, hands resting on the table. "But that’s the problem, isn’t it? The whole idea that working hard should still keep you in poverty. If you’re doing everything right, working the hours, showing up, giving your best, then why should you still be left with nothing? Why isn’t the system designed to lift people up, to at least offer a chance at something more?"

Jack: He shakes his head slowly, his gaze still distant. "Because it’s not designed that way. The system isn’t built to help people out of poverty, Jeeny. It’s built to keep people where they are, to keep the power and wealth in the hands of the few. As long as there’s a class of people struggling to make ends meet, the ones at the top don’t have to worry about losing their advantage."

Host: The stillness of the kitchen is punctuated only by the sound of their conversation. Outside, the world carries on, indifferent to the weight of the words being exchanged. Jack’s voice is heavy with reality, but Jeeny’s resolve remains unwavering, her hands clutching her mug tightly as if to anchor her in the truth of the matter.

Jeeny: "But how do we change that? How do we shift the system that was built to keep people stuck in a cycle of poverty? How do we fight against a system that treats human beings like commodities rather than people?"

Jack: He exhales deeply, his fingers tapping against the edge of his mug as he looks at her. "I wish I had an easy answer for that. The truth is, the people in power don’t care enough to change it. They’ll talk about raising wages, but in the end, it’s always more about politics than people. They’ll promise reforms but never follow through. And the ones who need it most are left with nothing but the hope that something might change."

Jeeny: Her eyes are steady, her voice quiet but forceful. "But just because they don’t care doesn’t mean we should stop caring. The people who work those jobs—those families—they’re living in a constant state of survival, never able to get ahead, no matter how hard they try. That’s the part that kills me. And if we just accept that, then we’re part of the problem too."

Host: There’s a moment of silence between them, thick with the weight of what’s been said. The kitchen feels warmer now, as if their words have brought a sort of uncomfortable truth into the room. Jack’s face softens slightly as Jeeny’s words begin to settle in, even if the answer is still unclear.

Jack: "So, what do we do? Do we just demand higher wages, protest the system, hope for some kind of miracle?"

Jeeny: "Yes. And no. It’s not just about one thing. It’s about the collective push to change a system that’s so deeply broken. It’s about demanding not just higher wages, but better working conditions, better support for the people who make up the backbone of this country." She pauses, her gaze unwavering as she adds, "It’s about making people see that human dignity is worth more than profits. That no family should have to choose between eating and paying rent. That’s the change we need."

Jack: He looks at her, the lines of doubt in his face softening just a little. "And you think people will listen? You think the system can be shifted that easily?"

Jeeny: "Not easily. But I do think it’s possible. If people keep pushing, keep making their voices heard. Systemic change takes time, but it starts with people like us, with those who are willing to stand up and say enough is enough." She smiles slightly, a flicker of hope shining through. "It starts with believing that change is possible, even when it feels impossible."

Host: The quiet between them lingers, filled now with the weight of their conversation. Outside, the world begins to shift, the bustle of the day creeping in, but inside the kitchen, a small but powerful moment of clarity hangs in the air. Jack’s fingers still rest on the edge of his mug, and Jeeny holds hers with a steady resolve. They both know the fight is bigger than them, but for now, they’ve found a shared understanding: that the fight for justice, for a system that doesn’t keep people in poverty, is one worth continuing.

The silence settles, but it’s not empty. It’s filled with possibility.