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> That's probably pretty close to what it was in 1996 also.

No, this is wrong. Minimum wage in 1996 was around 5$ Per hour and gas was below 1$ per gallon.

Gas was not below $1 a gallon in 1996. Especially not in California. Also, cars weren't getting the mpg they are now. Cost per mile relative to minimum wage probably isn't that far off.. which you can probably see from data that basically everyone is driving as much as ever.. because other than mental sticker shock, it's still fine.

Literally $1.10 (and often less) at the station down the street from my home in San Jose. My car had roughly the same mileage as my 2011 car that a drunk person recently destroyed.

Right now, even if min wage is what, $15, a gallon is $6, so I don't understand what you are saying.

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