G.O.P. Nears Vote to Increase U.S. Wage (1 Viewer)

[jfuh]

Perhaps one of the only things that the far right was doing was this, not raising the minimum wage. What happened to thier contract with America? Just bullshit. Do something else if you fear not getting re-elected, perhaps you shouldn't get re-elected.
Look, ppl, you need to get it through your heads, minimum wage is not meant for ppl to make a living off of, this is the introductory salery to ppl with absolutely no expereince and no back ground within the profession. Mostly retail, services and so on.
If you're in your late 20's or older and still relying on minimum wage jobs, look dude, get a freaking life.
All minimum wage increases do is increase inflation because businesses have to get that kind of money from some where, do you actually think any reasonable business is ever going to dig into it's profit margins to cover the overages from more "expensive" employees?

Minimum wage increases are only going to hike up the prices for the end consumer, drive further into the low income class, and increase motive for employers to hire illegal immigrants to do the job.

Source

 

[Rightwing86]

I couldn't agree with you more. I got in a argument with this old lady at work she was like IM SICK and i need more money from minimum wage reaah. i was like... dude not my fault u messed up some point in your life.

 

[jfuh]

I couldn't agree with you more. I got in a argument with this old lady at work she was like IM SICK and i need more money from minimum wage reaah. i was like... dude not my fault u messed up some point in your life.

I have lots of compassion for those who are less fortunate. But look, frankly, that's not what the minimum wage is for. If minimum wage was so that each person was able to make a living off of it, why don't we raise it to $20/hr? Wouldn't that make more sense? Raising the minimum wage only causes inflation, the poor get poorer because of inflation. Net effect of thier "raise" zero, if not a negative value.
IMO, the whole wage issue is just the same as the tax cuts that Bush was giving out in 2000. The average american only cares about the face value of the money they are getting and not the net effects of where that money is coming from. You got a $300 check in the mail from the government that bought your vote - net effect on my life, absolutely nothing.
Raising the minum wage is now buying the vote of the poor with $2. That's quite the insult.

 

[Little-Acorn]

jfuh is correct in his points made in the first post. Never thought I'd say that here, but it's true.

Brings to mind a cartoon in a magazine I saw a while back. A fast-food manager is talking to his crew. He says, "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, the new Minimum Wage law says I have to pay you more. The bad news is, I can't afford that, so two of you are fired."

 

[aps]

Yikes! I support an increase in the minimum wage. It has not been increased since 1997--almost 10 years. I have more than doubled my income during that time period. I'm sorry, but these people earning minimum wage deserve a raise. The president's salary went from $200,000 to $400,000 when Bush took office. Congressmen/women make over $160,000 and recently voted to give themselves an increase. I think this is only fair.

 

[jfuh]

Yikes! I support an increase in the minimum wage. It has not been increased since 1997--almost 10 years. I have more than doubled my income during that time period. I'm sorry, but these people earning minimum wage deserve a raise. The president's salary went from $200,000 to $400,000 when Bush took office. Congressmen/women make over $160,000 and recently voted to give themselves an increase. I think this is only fair.

I can not agree that you can make a comparison between congressmen/women getting rasies and minimum wage hikes.
I do not even think that the congressmen should even get raises. Why should they? They've done nothing that merits a raise, that brings to issue though, I'd love to be able to make a vote and give myself a raise too. Something about them giving themselves a raise just doesn't quite make sense to me.

That some congressional leaders are saying, well hey, "You got a raise, thus we should raise the minimum wage".
Translation: I voted for myself to get a huge raise, I'm going to pay the poor $2/hr more so they'd vote for me so that I can keept his huge raise. Screw the fact that it will cause inflation.

 

[Goobieman]

jfuh is correct in his points made in the first post. Never thought I'd say that here, but it's true.

Yeah. No kidding.

 

[aps]

I can not agree that you can make a comparison between congressmen/women getting rasies and minimum wage hikes.
I do not even think that the congressmen should even get raises. Why should they? They've done nothing that merits a raise, that brings to issue though, I'd love to be able to make a vote and give myself a raise too. Something about them giving themselves a raise just doesn't quite make sense to me.

That some congressional leaders are saying, well hey, "You got a raise, thus we should raise the minimum wage".
Translation: I voted for myself to get a huge raise, I'm going to pay the poor $2/hr more so they'd vote for me so that I can keept his huge raise. Screw the fact that it will cause inflation.

It has not been raised since 1997. You don't have a problem with that? Heck, I earned more than $5/hour when I worked at Filene's when I was in high school (more than 20 years ago).

I agree with you about Congress giving itself its own raise. It makes it even worse that some of them are millionaires.

 

[jfuh]

It has not been raised since 1997. You don't have a problem with that? Heck, I earned more than $5/hour when I worked at Filene's when I was in high school (more than 20 years ago).

I agree with you about Congress giving itself its own raise. It makes it even worse that some of them are millionaires.

No, I don't have a problem with that because the costs far out weigh any benefits.
Let's look at this one by one.

1. Why is congress suddenly looking at something they have not done anything about since '97? And a GOP controlled congress at that. Simple, they're loosing, they're unpopular and they want to buy our votes.
2. Who is it that takes up minimum wage jobs? College graduates? Mostly and predominently highschool grads and college kids looking to make some extra cash
3. was the intent of minimum wage ever so that one can make a living off of it? No, it was to establish a minimum standard for work done
4. will the employer cut into thier profit margins so as to pay more for employees? Absolutely not, the costs will be dumped to the end consumer, us; creating inflation which turns around and ultimately hurts those that were making minimum wage to begin with, net effect? the poor get poorer.
5. The fact that it hasn't been raised since 97 is really not grounds for any rationalization of raising it now especially given the instance that inflation has been kept at a very very low percentile (thank you Greenspan).

The list goes on, but I think you get what I'm driving at.

Congress is pathetic, they spend all our money, set us into debt, then congratulate themselves by voting to increase thier own wages. When they are thrown in jail, thier buddies will bail them out. What the *****?
I should run for Congress too.

 

[Iriemon]

The GOP is supporting an increase in the minimum wage? LOL! Must be an election year.

 

[aps]

No, I don't have a problem with that because the costs far out weigh any benefits.
Let's look at this one by one.

1. Why is congress suddenly looking at something they have not done anything about since '97? And a GOP controlled congress at that. Simple, they're loosing, they're unpopular and they want to buy our votes.
2. Who is it that takes up minimum wage jobs? College graduates? Mostly and predominently highschool grads and college kids looking to make some extra cash
3. was the intent of minimum wage ever so that one can make a living off of it? No, it was to establish a minimum standard for work done
4. will the employer cut into thier profit margins so as to pay more for employees? Absolutely not, the costs will be dumped to the end consumer, us; creating inflation which turns around and ultimately hurts those that were making minimum wage to begin with, net effect? the poor get poorer.
5. The fact that it hasn't been raised since 97 is really not grounds for any rationalization of raising it now especially given the instance that inflation has been kept at a very very low percentile (thank you Greenspan).

The list goes on, but I think you get what I'm driving at.

Congress is pathetic, they spend all our money, set us into debt, then congratulate themselves by voting to increase thier own wages. When they are thrown in jail, thier buddies will bail them out. What the *****?
I should run for Congress too.

I see your points. My gut still supports it.

Do you want to run for prez/vice prez with me? I'd even let you be the prez candidate.

 

[Doremus Jessup]

The GOP is supporting an increase in the minimum wage? LOL! Must be an election year.

:lol: That's what I was thinkin'.

 

[Iriemon]

If you're in your late 20's or older and still relying on minimum wage jobs, look dude, get a freaking life.

I agree with the sentiment, but it seems to me to m it is hollow comfort for people in their late 20s or older that don't have a freaking life and work for minimum wage or near it.

 

[jfuh]

I see your points. My gut still supports it.

Do you want to run for prez/vice prez with me? I'd even let you be the prez candidate.

Lol, a minority and a female as heads of state; that'll be the day.

 

[jfuh]

I agree with the sentiment, but it seems to me to m it is hollow comfort for people in their late 20s or older that don't have a freaking life and work for minimum wage or near it.

Dude, I must be lost in translation, say that again?

 

[aps]

Lol, a minority and a female as heads of state; that'll be the day.

You underestimate the aps charm factor. *bats eyelashes*

 

[wonder cow]

The GOP is supporting an increase in the minimum wage? LOL! Must be an election year.

QFT.

If paying employees $7 an hour will put you out of business, you need to shut down your miserable failure of a business anyway and make room for entrepreneurs who can do better.

That is all.

 

[jfuh]

You underestimate the aps charm factor. *bats eyelashes*

Resistance is futile lol. :aliens2:

 

[Iriemon]

Dude, I must be lost in translation, say that again?

My point was that there is a certain (albeit perhaps small) percentage of the population that for whatever reason don't or won't or can't develop the capacity to develop more marketable skills and working habits. On the other hand, if these folks who won't "get a life" are willing to work, I am thrilled, and I agree they should make a livable wage.

 

[Ivan The Terrible]

The GOP is supporting an increase in the minimum wage?

Just to buy more votes. This is a bipartisan indever.

Why is congress suddenly looking at something they have not done anything about since '97? And a GOP controlled congress at that. Simple, they're loosing, they're unpopular and they want to buy our votes.

It doesn't mean that they are loseing per say. I mean who would turn down a chance to buy a vote with some else's money?

will the employer cut into thier profit margins so as to pay more for employees? Absolutely not, the costs will be dumped to the end consumer, us; creating inflation which turns around and ultimately hurts those that were making minimum wage to begin with, net effect? the poor get poorer.

So true! I don't understand why people ignore this.

 

[jfuh]

My point was that there is a certain (albeit perhaps small) percentage of the population that for whatever reason don't or won't or can't develop the capacity to develop more marketable skills and working habits. On the other hand, if these folks who won't "get a life" are willing to work, I am thrilled, and I agree they should make a livable wage.

Ennn, yeah I can slightly see your point here.
However, the inflation from the increase would then wash out any wage increase that "everyone" would get.
IF they won't develop, too bad.
I really don't buy the "can't" capacity because simply, if you stay within say the resteraunt business long enough and have the motive to go some where, you essentially progress through the ranks, Waiter to head chef to maybe even owner.
Now if they are physically limited and incapacitated in some way, sure, but then such ppls couldn't do the jobs that are minimum wage to begin with - thus still little reason to raise the minimum wage.
Finally, if we're going to raise the minimum wage so that ppl could "make a living" $7 is not exactly a wage that affords a living, so why not raise the wage to $20/hr?
All I see it as is a slap on the face for those making minimum wage into thinking of buying the votes of these ppl by a measily $2/hr. Sure that's around 5840 per year without any taxes, but then tax that and it's hardly any difference. Then add into effect the inflation costs of such and boom, 0 impact on improving the standard of living.
This is nothing but an attempt at bribery by congress. If Bush really is the down to Earth care about the little guy president, he will veto this bill - at least do something right for once in his presidency.

 

[Ivan The Terrible]

jfuh,

If Bush really is the down to Earth care about the little guy president, he will veto this bill - at least do something right for once in his presidency.

Agreed! Man I'm glad I didn't put you on ignore!

 

[StrawHat]

I withhold my vote, simply because I am no economist. I think that the dynamics of minimum wage are more complicated than some have made it out to be. I agree, if you're 30-seomthing and have a minimum wage job, its time for a thorough self-examination. People need to stay in school and get educated. However, this does not change the fact that there are, and likely always will be 30-somethings working for minimum wage, and people in such a situaiton should be helped (I only advocate welfare for people who are trying, but still need some extra help). As the richest nation in the world, I think that we have a social responsibility to help our poor and less fortunate elements. I am not sure that raising minimum wage is the best way to do this though. Prices will increase as a result and hurt everybody, not only the poor, but especially the poor. This is because corporatinos refuse to take a hit in the profit margins (I take issue with that, but I suppose that's how things are run). That's just how the ball bounces I suppose. We need to take some measures that genuinely help the poor, and not just win the votes of the desperate.

As for Congressmen(and women) raising their salaries, that's A total load. We as a country have more important things to do with our money. We already have a substantial deficit, and we don't need to line the pockets of a few people in government who alreayd make a more than decent wage. People in public office are supposed to serve the people, not the other way around.

 

[Ivan The Terrible]

StrawHat,

Like your name by the way.

As the richest nation in the world, I think that we have a social responsibility to help our poor and less fortunate elements.

This is good. Just don't forget how we became so rich.

 

[StrawHat]

Just don't forget how we became so rich.

A good point Ivan. We did become a rich nation through sheer capitalism, however, we also prospered through our natural resources, ingenuity, and the rule of law (intellectual property theft discourages innovation. Just ask China)
Also, unrestriced capitalism has it's problems, for instance, the growth of Social Darwinism, a philosophy used (and really, invented solely) to justify sheer capitalism. We have laws to protect capitalism from itself in many cases, otherwise, we hae things like monopolies and trusts that only benefit a few, very wealthy individuals. I'm no socialist, but I don't to leave people in the dust either.

Point taken though.