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Topic: Minimum Wage
The Berserker
Pancake
posted 11-28-2006 04:28:29 PM
I am curious as to why everybody thinks raising the minimum wage would be a good idea.

EDUCATE ME PLEASE!

On the what any change in the minimum wage would do to the country's economy.

"Return of the Berserker"
Blindy.
Suicide (Also: Gay.)
posted 11-28-2006 04:37:11 PM
quote:
Did someone say The Berserker:
I am curious as to why everybody thinks raising the minimum wage would be a good idea.

EDUCATE ME PLEASE!

On the what any change in the minimum wage would do to the country's economy.


It would decrease the value of the dollar and make hiring illegals even more attractive.

So nothing good.

But at the same time, people who make minimum wage should be able to afford to, you know, eat, so maybe it's just something that needs to happen every now and then. It has been a long time.

What I am very fearful of is legislation that constantly adjusts the minimum wage for inflation. Considering that minimum wage causes inflation, that pretty much means you're saying we're going to have at least this much inflation from now on. Ohio just passed such a law. I wept.

Karnaj
Road Warrior Queef
posted 11-28-2006 04:37:36 PM
If we raise the minimum wage, the communists win.

Truth be told, there is a ton of data on the subject, and all of it conflicts. Generally speaking, the notion is that if you raise the minimum wage, employers turn around and raise prices, so nobody wins. There is a lot of data to support this notion. There is also a lot of data to refute this notion, or at least to show that such things aren't as clear-cut as that.

So just stick with my first statement: the communists win if you raise the minimum wage.

That's the American Dream: to make your life into something you can sell. - Chuck Palahniuk, Haunted

Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite. - John Kenneth Galbraith



Beer.

Bloodsage
Heart Attack
posted 11-28-2006 04:42:01 PM
Who is this "everybody" who thinks raising the minimum wage is a good idea?

The idea that there's some basic right that one person earning minimum wage should have enough to feed, clothe, and house a family of four. . .is stupid. Minimum wage is not, never has been, and shouldn't ever be targeted at being sufficient for a single breadwinner to raise a family.

"Onos! Minimum wage isn't a living wage!" is one of the biggest red herrings evar.

To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.

--Satan, quoted by John Milton

Arrenn Lightblade
Yes. Yes he is.
posted 11-28-2006 04:44:50 PM
Have you ever worked for minimum wage? At $5.15 I would hardly be able to pay my own bills (gas, insurance, cell phone) and I am living with my parents. I am all for keeping the dollar strong, but something really needed to be done.
Snoota
Now I am become Death, shatterer of worlds
posted 11-28-2006 04:47:37 PM
Minimum wage is just retarded anyway. There are some people who just aren't worth 5.15 an hour.
Snoota
Now I am become Death, shatterer of worlds
posted 11-28-2006 04:49:27 PM
quote:
Arrenn Lightblade's unholy Backstreet Boys obsession manifested in:
but something really needed to be done.

Like getting a better paying job? Not even most fast food places pay minimum wage anymore. If you're making minimum wage it's nobody's fault but your own.

`Doc
Cold in an Alley
posted 11-28-2006 04:51:40 PM
I see two problems with raising the minimum wage. First, and foremost in many people's minds, is that only the minimum wage goes up. It doesn't necessarily boost the wages & salaries of anyone who already earns above the minimum wage. Thus, when companies raise prices to compensate, anyone whose income is not directly increased by the change suddenly finds that they are earning less relative to the increased cost of living.

The second problem is that the cost of living is not the same everywhere, and does not increase at the same rate everywhere. Thus any blanket change in the minimum wage over a large area will overcompensate in some areas, while falling short of the mark in others. Where I live, the cost of living is high, so anyone trying to live on minimum wage is pretty much screwed. Further from the city, the cost of living is lower. Zooming out, the same house that would cost upwards of $500k here would only cost $60k-80k in some midwestern states.

Base eight is just like base ten, really... if you're missing two fingers. - Tom Lehrer
There are people in this world who do not love their fellow human beings, and I hate people like that! - Tom Lehrer
I want to be a race car passenger; just a guy who bugs the driver. "Say man, can I turn on the radio? You should slow down. Why do we gotta keep going in circles? Can I put my feet out the window? Man, you really like Tide..." - Mitch Hedberg
Please keep your arms, legs, heads, tails, tentacles, pseudopods, wings, and/or other limb-like structures inside the ride at all times.
Please submit all questions, inquests, and/or inquiries, in triplicate, to the Department of Redundancy Department, Division for the Management of Division Management Divisions.

Arrenn Lightblade
Yes. Yes he is.
posted 11-28-2006 04:51:48 PM
quote:
Snoota had this to say about Tron:
Like getting a better paying job? Not even most fast food places pay minimum wage anymore. If you're making minimum wage it's nobody's fault but your own.

Note the use "I would" rather than "I am."

Arrenn Lightblade fucked around with this message on 11-28-2006 at 04:53 PM.

Bloodsage
Heart Attack
posted 11-28-2006 04:52:28 PM
quote:
Channeling the spirit of Sherlock Holmes, Arrenn Lightblade absently fondled Watson and proclaimed:
Have you ever worked for minimum wage? At $5.15 I would hardly be able to pay my own bills (gas, insurance, cell phone) and I am living with my parents. I am all for keeping the dollar strong, but something really needed to be done.

Do you read?

Minimum wage wasn't ever, isn't now, and shouldn't be in the future sufficient to live on by itself. It's designed specifically for migrant workers (where multiple family members work) and for young and part-time workers. It's function is not to be a "living wage," as the socialists insist.

Government doesn't need to raise the minimum wage; you need to get qualified for a better job.

To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.

--Satan, quoted by John Milton

Reynar
Oldest Member
Best Lap
posted 11-28-2006 04:57:23 PM
I can't name a single job that pays minimum wage anymore.

This is especially true now because less kids are taking up part-time or entry level jobs that would pay low salaries out of highschool. Everyone is going to college, so those jobs have been forced to pay more to attract the workers.

Wendy's burger flippers start people at nearly $10/hr in my area, and I still see them with help wanted signs up.

At my company which staffs tens of thousands of people weekly, I've never seen a payrate under $8/hr for even the most simple of jobs.

I'm not sure why people think increasing such a wage is even important; it just doesn't seem to apply to anyone anymore.

Reynar fucked around with this message on 11-28-2006 at 04:59 PM.

"Give me control of a nation's money, and I care not who makes its laws."
-Mayer Rothschild
Arrenn Lightblade
Yes. Yes he is.
posted 11-28-2006 04:59:29 PM
quote:
Bloodsage got all f'ed up on Angel Dust and wrote:
Do you read?

Minimum wage wasn't ever, isn't now, and shouldn't be in the future sufficient to live on by itself. It's designed specifically for migrant workers (where multiple family members work) and for young and part-time workers. It's function is not to be a "living wage," as the socialists insist.

Government doesn't need to raise the minimum wage; you need to get qualified for a better job.


If you happened to read my post, I am living with my parents. Hardly using my cash as a "living wage." I am still in high school, and I am working part time. Even so, $5.15 would hardly be enough to cover the bills I have to pay, and I have things pretty good.

I don't think it should be enough to support a family, but $5.15 is a joke.

Reynar
Oldest Member
Best Lap
posted 11-28-2006 05:01:49 PM
quote:
The logic train ran off the tracks when Arrenn Lightblade said:
If you happened to read my post, I am living with my parents. Hardly using my cash as a "living wage." I am still in high school, and I am working part time. Even so, $5.15 would hardly be enough to cover the bills I have to pay, and I have things pretty good.

I don't think it should be enough to support a family, but $5.15 is a joke.


I'd be interested to know where you work that only pays you $5.15 an hour. They certainly need to get with the times...

"Give me control of a nation's money, and I care not who makes its laws."
-Mayer Rothschild
Arrenn Lightblade
Yes. Yes he is.
posted 11-28-2006 05:04:05 PM
Read the thread. I don't make $5.15. Actually, I am at $5.75 right now, which is about the standard starting wage for most part-time work in my area.
Reynar
Oldest Member
Best Lap
posted 11-28-2006 05:13:35 PM
quote:
So quoth Arrenn Lightblade:
Read the thread. I don't make $5.15. Actually, I am at $5.75 right now, which is about the standard starting wage for most part-time work in my area.

"Read the thread" hurrr. Do you even check your own posts? Nowhere did you mention until just now what you made, am I supposed to read your mind?

So, what your gripe boils down to is that you "could be" paid less (but aren't) and that is bad somehow?

As others have said here, you aren't supposed to make a living off of part-time work, that's why it is called 'part-time'. If you're trying to use it for anything else than supplemental income you're a fool.

"Give me control of a nation's money, and I care not who makes its laws."
-Mayer Rothschild
The Berserker
Pancake
posted 11-28-2006 05:33:29 PM
Well, i started in high school working as an Usher(Read daytime janitor) at 5.15 an hour, because i was working in the "entertainment" industry.

I hear the democrats around my area occasionally say that the country would be better off if we raised the minimum wage, ive heard the daily show complain that Congress shot down that idea, and i think it was on Kerry's platform in 2004. So when i say everybody, i mean everybody liberal.

"Return of the Berserker"
Noxhil2
Pancake
posted 11-28-2006 05:58:22 PM
Generally economists believe that raising the minimum wage will have little effect. A very very large majority of workers in the U.S. make more than what the new minimum wage would be. The result is going to be a slight increase in price inflation that is hardly going to be noticeable. It is a feel-good issue though, and I guess will help some people, although in industries where employees make money through tips, some concessions have to be made.

I've heard the "it will devalue the dollar" argument quite a few times and it is laughable. The dollar is still considerably overvalued and has no where to go but down. We need the dollar to depreciate anyway, to lessen the impact of our foreign debt and to help balance trade. If you want to look for issues that are raping the value of the dollar, look for our massive account and government finance deficits first.

Anyway, I think the debate is mostly over anyway. The new congress is surely going to raise minimum wage to around an inflation-adjusted $7.25 and Bush won't veto it, mindful of the fact that this is could be a big mobilization issue and the Republicans are going to have enough problems getting/staying in power in 2008.

Delphi Aegis
Delphi. That's right. The oracle. Ask me anything. Anything about your underwear.
posted 11-28-2006 06:03:19 PM
I get minimum wage at my part-time job at EB. PA's minimum wage is being raised to 7.15 come this january.

I dunno, I kinda like it.

Falaanla Marr
I AM HOT CHIX
posted 11-28-2006 07:01:38 PM
North Carolina minimum wage is still pretty low, and tons of job pay either minimum wage or right above it.

But I agree -- if you're trying to support a family on just minimum wage, you're crazy. College is incredibly easy to go to nowadays, with loan money, grants and all that shit out there.

Making only minimum wage sucks. I figured that out when I worked at Blockbuster for 8 months and was minimum wage. That's why I never plan to work minimum wage again. Ever ever ever.

Razor
posted 11-28-2006 07:38:39 PM
I've worked for minimum wage back in high school, and it well sucked, but for other reasons. since then I have worked for $7.00(daycare), $10.00(janitorial), $9.00(Vons Deli), and started at $8.00 but now making $10.00 for my current electronic tech/assembally job with another possible raise next May.

I am still barely scraping by and I don't want to see the minimum wage go highre, but it invaribally will this January.... I see an increase of minimum wage as a government mandated increase in prices for goods. the last minimum wage increase in california managed to have many profitable businesses either close of move to avoid the higher costs, and seeing as what our economy is at, the moving away thing seems to be the better of choices..... The past 2 years I've seen the Sony TV plant that was right accross the freeway get downsized, to 1/2 of what it was, tore down half of the overall facility and watch it all go south of the border.

I'm betting that there will be another jump in gas prices as well this comming January to compensate for the higher wages.

It's almost to expensive for me to even go to work because I'm somewhat forced to commute. (live at home and work/school is 24 miles away and I don't make enough(more than the one job I have now) to move away from home without putting my grades at risk).

Astronomy is a passion...
Engineering is a love...
My job isn't a job, it's my career, and I love every minute of it: Observatory Superintendent
Almond
Intellectual Socialist
posted 11-28-2006 07:39:12 PM
Attach the min wage to Congressional Pay raises, and the rest will take care of itself. Government employees/officals get over paid and have too many benefits as is, you want to talk about socialism in action look there.
Naimah
In a Fire
posted 11-28-2006 07:52:17 PM
quote:
Almond was naked while typing this:
Attach the min wage to Congressional Pay raises, and the rest will take care of itself. Government employees/officals get over paid and have too many benefits as is, you want to talk about socialism in action look there.

You're an idiot.

Greenlit
posted 11-28-2006 08:15:13 PM
quote:
And I was all like 'Oh yeah?' and Razor was all like:
I've worked for minimum wage back in high school, and it well sucked, but for other reasons. since then I have worked for $7.00(daycare), $10.00(janitorial), $9.00(Vons Deli), and started at $8.00 but now making $10.00 for my current electronic tech/assembally job with another possible raise next May.

I am still barely scraping by and I don't want to see the minimum wage go highre, but it invaribally will this January.... I see an increase of minimum wage as a government mandated increase in prices for goods. the last minimum wage increase in california managed to have many profitable businesses either close of move to avoid the higher costs, and seeing as what our economy is at, the moving away thing seems to be the better of choices..... The past 2 years I've seen the Sony TV plant that was right accross the freeway get downsized, to 1/2 of what it was, tore down half of the overall facility and watch it all go south of the border.

I'm betting that there will be another jump in gas prices as well this comming January to compensate for the higher wages.

It's almost to expensive for me to even go to work because I'm somewhat forced to commute. (live at home and work/school is 24 miles away and I don't make enough(more than the one job I have now) to move away from home without putting my grades at risk).


You're an idiot.


quote:
Almond's fortune cookie read:
Attach the min wage to Congressional Pay raises, and the rest will take care of itself. Government employees/officals get over paid and have too many benefits as is, you want to talk about socialism in action look there.

You're an idiot.

quote:
Delphi Aegis had this to say about dark elf butts:
I get minimum wage at my part-time job at EB. PA's minimum wage is being raised to 7.15 come this january.

I dunno, I kinda like it.


You're an idiot.

Almond
Intellectual Socialist
posted 11-28-2006 08:18:10 PM
quote:
Naimah wrote, obviously thinking too hard:
You're an idiot.

I am not aware of any private sector jobs where you can be vested with a pension in 6 years, get paid to learn the skills for your job and have at the same time free medical dental and even low cost life insurance. If you should happen to get disabled you get paid until you recover or you expire. These things not only for yourself but your spouse and dependants.

Congress keeps shooting down raising the min wage yet keeps voting its self pay raises. Now I won’t debate what a Min wage should be, but I do know if every time congress wanted a pay raise they had to raise the min wage this would be a non issue.

Blindy.
Suicide (Also: Gay.)
posted 11-28-2006 08:30:10 PM
Yeah dude, the entire salary of congress probably costs us the same amount of money as about 10 hours of the Iraq war.
Naimah
In a Fire
posted 11-28-2006 08:42:12 PM
You're right, there should be no incentive at all for extremely qualified people to give up lucrative professional careers in order to serve their country.
Almond
Intellectual Socialist
posted 11-28-2006 09:00:09 PM
quote:
Naimah had this to say about Reading Rainbow:
You're right, there should be no incentive at all for extremely qualified people to give up lucrative professional careers in order to serve their country.


I agree, there shouldn’t be, serving the greater good should be its own reward. You suggest that all of them are actually sacrificing something, I suggest the some of them are fuckups who couldn’t make it in a competitive work force, and the majority are drones who are soulless automatons who perform the most basic of tasks for years without any imagination or drive to improve. A Precious few May be as you suggest giving up something in the private sector but guess what when they take that early retirement they have open doors for those private sector positions waiting for those types (lets call them the Bloodsages) their time spent in the government is an calculated investment. For every handful of Bloodsages you have 10’s of thousands of leaches on the taxpayer wallet.

Mr. Gainsborough
posted 11-28-2006 09:14:01 PM
quote:
Almond impressed everyone with:
I agree, there shouldn’t be, serving the greater good should be its own reward. You suggest that all of them are actually sacrificing something, I suggest the some of them are fuckups who couldn’t make it in a competitive work force, and the majority are drones who are soulless automatons who perform the most basic of tasks for years without any imagination or drive to improve. A Precious few May be as you suggest giving up something in the private sector but guess what when they take that early retirement they have open doors for those private sector positions waiting for those types (lets call them the Bloodsages) their time spent in the government is an calculated investment. For every handful of Bloodsages you have 10’s of thousands of leaches on the taxpayer wallet.

just fucking wow

Delphi Aegis
Delphi. That's right. The oracle. Ask me anything. Anything about your underwear.
posted 11-28-2006 10:43:34 PM
quote:
Everyone wondered WTF when Greenlit wrote:
You're an idiot.

Mine is actually a part time job to pay some bills until I go back to school, actually. I don't know enough about the subject to have a true opinion on the matter.

Razor
posted 11-28-2006 10:43:35 PM
quote:
Nobody really understood why Greenlit wrote:
You're an idiot.

May I inquire why?

Astronomy is a passion...
Engineering is a love...
My job isn't a job, it's my career, and I love every minute of it: Observatory Superintendent
OrangeBrand
By a Truck
posted 11-28-2006 11:08:03 PM
I don't know why but I agree with Almond.

Here is San Antonio, Fast food places pay $8 dollars and hour. I don't know anyone that makes less then $6.

Hell even the illegals that I see working or want to work for me won't work for less then $7.

I do not try to pretend I know anything about politics, I think it all stinks and power corrupts...

But think of it this way, if everyone has high paying jobs and is educated, who will do the all manual labor and crap jobs?

SPELLCHECK is a four letter word.
Almond
Intellectual Socialist
posted 11-28-2006 11:15:21 PM
Cylons.
Snoota
Now I am become Death, shatterer of worlds
posted 11-29-2006 05:07:22 AM
quote:
Razor spewed forth this undeniable truth:
May I inquire why?

Haven't you figured it out by now?

Kinanik
Upset about being titless
posted 11-29-2006 05:12:01 AM
quote:
We were all impressed when OrangeBrand wrote:

But think of it this way, if everyone has high paying jobs and is educated, who will do the all manual labor and crap jobs?

English Majors.

Gully Foyle is my name
And Terra is my nation
Deep space is my dwelling place
The stars my destination
Monica
I've got an owie on my head :(
posted 11-29-2006 10:40:07 AM
Fuck raising minimum wage. If you want to get paid more, find a better paying job. The only job I've ever had that started me close to minimum wage (5.25) was in a video rental place, and I didn't do jack shit but re-shelve movies, stock stuff, and sit on the counters watching movies all day. And I was one of the -good- workers.

The only person I know that had their first job actually AT minimum wage was my brother, and all he was doing was bagging groceries. The less you are actually responsible for at your job, the less they're going to pay you. Dur.

Kermitov
Pancake
posted 11-29-2006 11:24:18 AM
Actually I think it's more like the less they can get away with the less they will pay you.


minimum wage in California is already much higher than in most places and not much has changed.

Bloodsage
Heart Attack
posted 11-29-2006 11:42:17 AM
quote:
Quoth Kinanik:
English Majors.

That's funny: I'm an English major and pull down well above the average. You'll also want to note that many CEOs are liberal arts majors.

So, neener.

To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.

--Satan, quoted by John Milton

Elvish Crack Piper
Murder is justified so long as people believe in something different than you do
posted 11-29-2006 01:21:33 PM
How much of your college degree actually makes a difference in your job though?
(Insert Funny Phrase Here)
Almond
Intellectual Socialist
posted 11-29-2006 01:29:42 PM
I’m sure it’s very helpful, being articulate and well spoken will get you far in life anywhere. His clear and concise manner when writing reports and other habits I'm sure have accelerated his career. (No sarcasm)
Azakias
Never wore the pants, thus still wields the power of unused (_|_)
posted 11-29-2006 11:18:54 PM
quote:
Almond was naked while typing this:
I am not aware of any private sector jobs where you can be vested with a pension in 6 years, get paid to learn the skills for your job and have at the same time free medical dental and even low cost life insurance. If you should happen to get disabled you get paid until you recover or you expire. These things not only for yourself but your spouse and dependants.

Congress keeps shooting down raising the min wage yet keeps voting its self pay raises. Now I won’t debate what a Min wage should be, but I do know if every time congress wanted a pay raise they had to raise the min wage this would be a non issue.


Wait, what?

For one thing,...

Never mind. You arent worth the effort.

"Age by age have men stood up and said to the world, 'From what has come before me, I was forged, but I am new and greater than my forebears.' And so each man walks the world in ruin, abandoned and untried. Less than the whole of his being"
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