I am appalled by Patrick Hahn's letter, "Those on minimum wage should not raise families" August 7. I guess that Patrick is self-sufficient and does not need the services of those who work the "underhanded welfare programs funded by consumers and shareholder" jobs. Without people to provide these services we would not have the luxuries that we as a society have in the U.S. So I applaud the people who work these jobs because I know what it's like to work the minimum wage job in which you have to put up with people who are self-righteous like Patrick. I know first-hand of families that survive with the income they have on two parents who started working minimum wage jobs and have moved up the corporate ladder without an education or government assistance. Those are the people who appreciate everything they have worked for and refuse to become another government beneficiary -- because they have too much self-respect.