This machine allows anyone to work for minimum wage for as long as they like. Turning the crank on the side releases one penny every 4.97 seconds, for a total of $7.25 per hour. This corresponds to minimum wage for a person in New York. This piece is brilliant on multiple levels, particularly as social commentary. Without a doubt, most people who started operating the machine for fun would quickly grow disheartened and stop when realizing just how little they’re earning by turning this mindless crank. A person would then conceivably realize that this is what nearly two million people in the United States do every day…at much harder jobs than turning a crank. This turns the piece into a simple, yet effective argument for raising the minimum wage.
god damn
Ten years. Ten years I’ve been seeing this wonderful art piece, and STILL our minimum wage REMAINS at 7.25/hour.
Meanwhile, the cost of living has easily tripled.
And minimum wage wasn’t enough to cover it even before.
People will always be exploited in capitalism, its part of the system. Thats how it *works*. There is no way to achieve freedom of the working class without dismantling capitalism
