A Big Mac, and a Dollar.
I grew up believing an honest hour’s work should buy an honest meal. In the late 1980s, the federal minimum was $3.35 an hour. When the wage went up to $3.75 in 1990, a Big Mac meal back then—burger, medium fries, medium Coke—ran about $3.50 to $4.00 before tax. One hour of work, maybe 50 minutes, and those at that pay level walked out full with change in their pocket.Fast-forward to 2025. The federal minimum wage in many states is still $7.25. Yet today that same Big Mac combo costs $12 to $15. The kid making $7.25…