Let the good times roll! Senate votes down Federal Minimum Wage hike (again)

[GePap]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Conversely, if most jobs already pay more than the new one anyway, why is it needed? And wouldn't those jobs that do pay less than it be the ones affected by increased unemployment? The damage done by a minimum wage increase would be proportional to how much good it is supposed to do.

Because certain industries would prefer to pay thier workers as little as possible, and thus stick to the minimum wage, and people in those industries have not seen their wages keep up with inflation. That is why it is needed.

As to "damage" caused by it, I can't say the US has actually ever been hurt by an increase. Even IF unemployment increases in the short term as a result, the long term (as of 5 years) consequences are probably nill (like the 1997 raise crippled the economy..RIGHT), and if inflation is kept low enough, then overall, its a good thing for workers at the bottom.

[Kuciwalker]

Because certain industries would prefer to pay thier workers as little as possible, and thus stick to the minimum wage, and people in those industries have not seen their wages keep up with inflation. That is why it is needed.

Therefore people's wages WILL be raised by this, therefore it will have an effect, therefore it will cause damage.

[GePap]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

Therefore people's wages WILL be raised by this, therefore it will have an effect, therefore it will cause damage.

Short term, perhaps. Long term, probably not. After all, the minimum wage today is higher than even, yet the unemployment rate is, historically speaking, relatively low. So perhaps, due to increase consumption by workers now earning more, some people who might lose minimum wage jobs might then get jobs that pay higher than the minimum wage, meaning everyone wins in the end.

So, where is the downside? Making sure low wage American workers can continue to see their standard of living vanish isn't going to do **** to save any US industry that can't compete globally anyways.

[Jon Miller]

do those of you who are againast the minimum wage know history at all?

about what things were like before it was introduced?

it is a good thing, and it should be higher

although if it was removed.. we would probably be a socialist country in ~10ish years

JM

[Thue]

Bah - socialist USians. Real capitalists like us in Denmark have NO minimum vage, and we are doing just fine .

[GePap]

Originally posted by Thue
Bah - socialist USians. Real capitalists like us in Denmark have NO minimum vage, and we are doing just fine .

You also have a social safety net. And universal health care.

[DRoseDARs]

But no empire. We have an empire.

[Admiral]

I really don't understand why the minimum wage isn't tied to the purchasing power of the dollar. If there is, say, 4% inflation over the course of a year, there should be no reason why the minimum wage shouldn't increase by 4% as well.

[GePap]

Originally posted by Admiral
I really don't understand why the minimum wage isn't tied to the purchasing power of the dollar. If there is, say, 4% inflation over the course of a year, there should be no reason why the minimum wage shouldn't increase by 4% as well.

Did't you hear? Workers earning more is BAD. Its bad enough they need to get paid for working Stupid 13th Amendment.

[DRoseDARs]

Originally posted by Admiral
I really don't understand why the minimum wage isn't tied to the purchasing power of the dollar. If there is, say, 4% inflation over the course of a year, there should be no reason why the minimum wage shouldn't increase by 4% as well.

That sounds sensible to me. As low as some people are paid, ANY increase in the minimum wage would be helpful. But you'd think we'd been sacrificing newborn babies on the altar of the economy just for having suggested such a thing.

[Arrian]

It seems to me that if you're going to have a minimum wage, it ought to be tied to the rate of inflation and be adjusted every year. Also, it seems to me that the MW would be more effective if it was also adjusted more locally to variances in cost-of-living...

edit: that's what I get for only skimming the thread... beaten to this idea handily.

-Arrian

[Velociryx]

Agreed....and I'd contend that it is a VITAL component to the healthy, long term functioning of our economy, and in fact, the very sub-structure of our society (people who are starving and ill-used have a tendency to rebel and revolt (can you blame them?) to get what they need....far, FAR better to use some portion of our vast wealth, even if it blunts growth now and again, to improve the lot of EVERYONE, so that the good times, can indeed, continue to roll.)

$0.02

-=Vel=-

[DRoseDARs]

Bunch of anti-capitalists, why don't you move to Cuba?

USA! USA! USA!

[Arrian]

Nah, too many hurricanes.

-Arrian

[DRoseDARs]

Does North Korea suit you better, commie?