" If someone works only 10 hours a week they should be able to afford small luxuries."
How? At what price? 10 hours per week even at $10/hour is still $100/week, minus some taxes - you're at... say, $80/week = max $400/month. How on earth can someone earning $400/month afford 'small luxuries' like a $200 tv? And the 'big screen tv' that was mentioned - I've never seen any (new) under $450 (yet). Not sure where you're living, but for someone earning minimum wage working 10 hours per week these are simply unattainable. Or, let me rephrase that - should be unattainable, because there's nothing left for subsistence.
How? At what price? 10 hours per week even at $10/hour is still $100/week, minus some taxes - you're at... say, $80/week = max $400/month. How on earth can someone earning $400/month afford 'small luxuries' like a $200 tv? And the 'big screen tv' that was mentioned - I've never seen any (new) under $450 (yet). Not sure where you're living, but for someone earning minimum wage working 10 hours per week these are simply unattainable. Or, let me rephrase that - should be unattainable, because there's nothing left for subsistence.