Minimum Wage and Work at McDonald's

.
I recently spoke to a Libertarian friend of mine who has a college degree and is working at McDonald's. He recently had a bit of an accident and had hospital bills and he has a big student loan debt. I asked him how much he made and what it would take for him to be able to begin paying off his bills. He hadn't calculated that, but estimated it was about $ 0.50- 0.75 / hour more than he currently makes.

http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-much-the-minimum-wage-would-be-today-if-the-original-marchers-on-washington-got-their-demands-2013-8

http://www.businessinsider.com/workers-of-america-are-getting-screwed-2013-8

http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/08/29/american-fast-food-workers-organize-nationwide-strikes-over-wages/

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/18521-finishing-the-march-for-livable-wages

I remember having a college degree and asking for $20 / hour (less than my union plumber brother makes) and getting laughed at. How much should a college grad make these days? How much does it take to live?

At the gym some people were discussing unemployment and gov't welfare and they seemed to think people should work for peanuts instead of getting more from welfare. I asked, why shouldn't someone do what gets them the most? Why should someone spend their time working for so little? If welfare pays so little then why are any employers paying even less?

People need to be paid enough to live and pay off bills.