Either you trolling, or I don't understand your context!
How is a minimum wage job better than welfare? Let me count the ways . . .
For one thing, there is the issue of self respect.
For another, a minimum wage job is contributing to society. Welfare is a drag on it.
Work experience is invaluable.
Learning a work ethic, like getting up in the morning and wearing clean clothes is important.
It is easier to get a better job if you have a low paying one than it is to get a job if you are on welfare (especially for an extended time period).
Now, were you joking with your question?
My point was that if you have the option of being on welfare and not working, or working a minimum wage job for 40+ hours a week to be in the same (or worse) position financially when you add it all up, then why would anyone choose the latter?
1)Not really going to be able to play the self-respect card with people who have little concept of it in regards to working a minimum-wage job. I know that feeling of respect, but I don't think it's something you can "sell" to those on welfare.
2)Those on welfare don't care if it's a drag on society, nor do they likely have any concept of it's impact on the government. Most of them don't even make the link between working people's taxes paying for them to live for free.
3) I don't disagree on the concept, but convincing a welfare recipient to live on minimum wage without welfare assistance for the "work experience" is similar to convincing a lawyer to do pro bono work.
4) See answer #3 above.
5) Absolutely, that goes with any job. It's almost always easier to find a good job if you have one.
To summarize: you have to remember that, by telling welfare recipients that a minimum wage job is better than welfare, you are going to have to convince them it's better. I already know the benefits and satisfaction of doing honest labor and being self-sufficient/productive as I was raised to be so. Those who have spent a lifetime in poverty, aren't likely to agree with you that it's better to work a minimum wage job so that they can earn the intangible benefits of self respect, valuable job experience, learning work ethic, or ease of finding a better job later on, when they'd still be in the same spot they're currently in while having to work much harder for it.