Democrats to raise minimum wage vs. 1% Republican Housewifes of Orange County

Everone gets a min wage increase EXCEPT if you live in American Samoa - they were exempt from the legislation. Now why would that be - Oh, starkist has a large operation there, and they are headquartered in San Francisco. The leader of the dems is Nancy Pelosi - from San Francisco. do you think that Starkist Tuna is a big contributor to Pelosi???

 

I was in a store shopping the other day. I couldn't hardly get help. I finally asked someone and at the close of our conversation, I asked if he was on commission. (Having worked in retail sales for 4.5 years, I was on minimum wage or commission, whichever was higher). He said no. I said, When did that change?

He said, when the new minimum wage went into affect, we lost our commission.
Now, having worked in retail sales, I know I would have never traded my commission sales for minimum wage.

This is just one example of the negative affects of minimum wage.

Furthermore, think about who is making minimum wage. Most are single people, or second income people. In other words, they are not, by and large, supporting families.

In addition, those making minimum wage are typically new hires for entry level positions. When you work hard and keep your job, you usually get a raise above minimum wage.

So there are very few reasons to actually be working for minimum wage. I think the raise is going to have a detrimental affect. I think we should do away with the minimum wage and let the marketplace work.

 

Larry, I think you are statistically wrong, from a nationwide standpoint.

The minimum wage hasn't been raised in ten years.

It's well past time for it.

 

Labor is a commodity, and everyone should be against the government setting commodity prices.

 

I would be interested in your statistics. I am repeating what I have heard. I haven't looked it up.

Technically, this isn't true. The federal minimum wage hasn't been raised, but 17 states have raised it. I know you were talking about the federal wage, but I just wanted to clarify there.

I think the minimum wage should have never been instituted. Have you ever read Walter Williams on the minimum wage? He makes a lot of sense to me.

http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/williams080906.php3
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/2006/04/26/minimum_wage,_maximum_folly

Both of these are good articles. The last gives some statistics.

Here's another page of info: http://www.bls.gov/cps/minwage2004.htm#2

 

American Samoa has always been exempt. They are covered under other acts and have apparently had their rates changed withing the last 5 years (still not as good, though).

Samoan Wages (linkie) (thanks, Bro. Curtis for the link & info.

 

The fact that there are so few people earning minimum wage and that most of them are part timers or teenagers in entry level positions, tells us the market works just fine.

 

By this you're actually saying that people are a commody. Not a real Christian position.

 

Judging from the words he used, what he actually said was that labor is a commodity. So only by twisting his words could you claim that he actually said something else.

I am sure you must be aware that labor also takes the form of robotic devices, power tools, computer chips, etc.

Furthemore, in Christ's parable of the wage earners, he confirmed that labor is a commodity, and that what you agree to work for is what you get paid, regardless of what someone else gets paid. So it is a pretty Christian position, if by Christian you mean like Christ.

But the biggest thing here is to just let Curtis say what he said, rather than twisting it.

 

Nor is twisting words to raise a question about one's walk with Christ.

Welcome to my ignore list.

 

This is simply wrongheaded, as usual. Tax cuts are historically never detrimental to anyone. Conversely new tax schemes are always detrimental to someone, usually everyone.

 

Minimum wage jobs were never meant to be livable wages. They were designed by bureaucrats to provide cheap labor for entry level positions, requiring no skills. They were aimed at part time workers like high school juniors and seniors for job experience and pocket money. Those trying to make a carrier in a minimum wage job, need counciling. The way the Democrats have adopted it as a political weapon is scurrilous.

 

I'd like to see how often minimum wage workers get that kind of a raise.

One of my wife's best friends has worked in a grocery store for almost 3 years, and before our state's minimum wage went up, and after TWO promotions, including to management, she still only made about $6 an hour.

 

So why didn't she quit and find a better paying job?

That, to me, is part of the huge fallacy here. So long as the labor market as minimum wage workers, people will pay minimum wage. If a guy offering minimum wage can't get anyone to work, then he will be forced to pay more. But why are we letting the government do what the market should do?

Of course that guy will also be forced to charge more which means he may not get as much work to employ these people and ultimately not need to hire the workers.

So if you don't like making minimum wage, go find another job. I kow that's not always easy, nor is it the popular solution. I will likely get cyber abused for such a cold-hearted suggestion.

But think about it, Why is someone getting paid what they are getting paid? Because that is what their employer thinks they are worth. If he thought you were worth more, he (or she) would pay you more. The fact that he doesn't, is a pretty good indicator that he thinks he can get someone else to do that job for the same amount of money. Don't think so? Then quit and see what he does. He may offer to match your other offer; he may wish you well. But in either case, you will see what your value is.

 

She's working toward a college degree, and she lives in a rural area with few available jobs.

The fallacy going around is that there are magic, better paying jobs always available. In some markets, you just can't find much of anything. Even college degrees sometimes don't help unless they are in education or business.

Sure, you say, move! But...if you can't find anything but minimum wage jobs in your area, how in the world are you going to save enough money to move?

Some people, like my friend, are able to go to school with hopes that in the future they will be able to find a better job. Others don't have that luxury.

 

While I'm not opposed to a minimum wage hike due to the robust economic conditions rendering it moot, remember that less than 3% of the population earn the minimum wage. HS Kids make more than that around here.

And this bromide that the tax cuts were for the wealthy just wont die for the hacks, will it? The teachers making 25K a year who had their taxes cut are relieved to know they're the richest 1% :laugh: Hacks will always hack, regardless of the facts.

 

50 years ago the working class was smart enough to organize into unions. Now days only teachers and govt workers are smart enough to organize. The working class doesn't know they are in the working class. Why not? because they went college for 2 years to get a high school education. College grads (even 2 year grads - what a joke) are professionals, not working class. Another ten years garbage truck drivers will need two years of college.

 

This time I gotta agree with ya' kinda! I am not certain that it is or is not a Christian position . . . but it is a strange position.