But the sheer idiocy of the system which has rewarded and continues to reward neat-suit Realtors and loan officers and salesmen (those "educated" ones who tend to work the sedentary jobs) -- instead of the workers meant that he was left with no options for healthcare, retirement, or even being able to leave his children a dime.
I can understand the frustration you have and you make some thoughtful points, but I wonder how could you change "the system" to be any different? It's not as if these are government jobs. The prices are pretty much set by market forces so what can you do if the market doesn't deem the price high enough?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one example of how to do this. It effectively increases the earnings of low wage workers without distorting market prices.
The EITC does not _directly_ address the retirement/disability problem, though.
I can understand the frustration you have and you make some thoughtful points, but I wonder how could you change "the system" to be any different? It's not as if these are government jobs. The prices are pretty much set by market forces so what can you do if the market doesn't deem the price high enough?