Doubtful. I used to work in downtown SLC and would get hit up for cash 5 or 6 times per day. Far more than when I've visited other cities like San Francisco or New York. Even in the suburbs, you've got people sitting at the Target parking lot exit begging for money.

I don't think anyone pays attention to the signs.

I was very disappointed that ordinances to restrict panhandling in medians were overturned in Portland, ME in recent years. There's no need of that. If you are willing to work, there is always work to be done for a decent wage, (although possibly less than the absurd level minimum wage has climbed to).

The minimum wage nowadays is just outrageous.

http://money.cnn.com/interactive/economy/minimum-wage-since-...

Anyone who claims the minimum wage level is absurd has clearly never tried to live on it.

I have in the past lived for years off of far less than the Federal minimum wage. It helped that I was healthy and didn't have any medical expenses- but the ridiculous cost of health care is a different debate...

Are any of housing, hygeine products, food, clothing , transportation or internet expensive, or is it just healthcare costs that are out of control?

Food in the US is incredibly cheap. Not high quality at the cheap end, but incredibly cheap. Same with clothing.

Last i checked they had increased the minimum wage beyond what trained heavy equipment operators were making. That is absurd, no matter how you slice it.

No, it's not. For one, other people having things worse off does not mean that certain people should not be trying to better themselves. For two, if that were true, then the heavy equipment operators should be asking for raises, as they now have the leverage to go to a less demanding job for more pay.

How can someone earn less than the minimum while in work? Is the minimum not required to be paid? If that is the case, what is the minimum for?

Do you mean absurd that trained heavy equipment operators are making so little?