(US) Do you support a $15 minimum wage?

[feek61]

There seems to be a lot of people here that don't really understand economics. It is impossible to raise minimum wage without it increasing prices across the board. Also, these CEO's that keep getting mentioned and are demonized here worked their asses off in both experience and education to get those positions; they were not given those jobs, they earned them through hard work. Nobody is owed anything! If you want to be successful and get ahead my advice is to work your ass off; it should be tried much more (than bitching about minimum wage)! If you want to bitch about minimum wage and how your burger king job should pay more; I suggest you try harder.

If all else fails and you can't make a living; how about starting your own business, quite bitching about how unfair everything is and make something of yourself. Losers bitch, winners make shit happen and make a difference.

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

It's just a vicious circle, this year I got a 2.8% pay raise and my cost of health insurance went up 3.5%. Since I entered the job market over 30 years ago the cost of living has gone up more every year than my pay increase. Give the burger flippers who aspire to do nothing more there $15 and they will still bitch and suck off of Uncle Sam's teet. If you want to make a good wage, get off your butt and get a worthy job that will pay a good wage. Life sucks, it sucks even more if you're lazy!

 

[feek61]

If you want to make a good wage, get off your butt and get a worthy job that will pay a good wage. Life sucks, it sucks even more if you're lazy!

This may be the best quote of the entire thread; thank you!

 

[Jayson1]

So the business covers the cost of the increase for minimum wage. Where does that extra money come from within the business? The business profits and or an increase in a product cost? The consumer potentially pays more for the product or service, yes? Or does the business hire less people to keep their bottom line. Would there be a temptation to hire cash in the hand labor?

If a business pays minimum wage can the consumer do away with paying tips and will the government give the business tax breaks so they can adjust to paying their employees more?

The idea is that any money you might loose from increasing the pay to workers will be replaced by a new influx of customers who now have money to spend they didn't have before. I also wouldn't be against the idea of the government paying subsides to small businesses in the beginning that helps cover any potential lost of profits that might happen at first.
Where the government gets that money would be from fewer people on welfare because they have a job which means you have more money,increase taxes on the 1% and big cuts to the military. We all know most of the waste in government spending goes towards military spending were millions of dollars it seems can just disapear with nobody knowing what happened to it. Plus I like the idea of breaking up the big banks and putting a end to all monopolies. Also invest on clean jobs instead of trying to hold onto outdated jobs like coal. Also more regulations and frankly some rich people need to start going to jail to send a message that you can't get away with all your crimes by simply paying a fine.

Jason

 

[Lakenheath 72]

I have no issue with CEOs getting more than the average worker. However, it should not be hundreds of percentage points more.

My mother works at a major bank. She gets a 2% pay increase every year. This amount does not stay ahead of inflation.

Not all workers who work in a minimum wage are lazy. There are many workers who find themselves in this situation because of life circumstances. Some of them are single mothers with children. They may be working multiple jobs to feed and house their families.

 

[feek61]

Not all workers who work in a minimum wage are lazy. T

Has anyone said minimum wage workers are lazy? A lot of people here keep saying making up shit that is not being said here

 

[Jayson1]

The idea is that any money you might loose from increasing the pay to workers will be replaced by a new influx of customers who now have money to spend they didn't have before. I also wouldn't be against the idea of the government paying subsides to small businesses in the beginning that helps cover any potential lost of profits that might happen at first.
Where the government gets that money would be from fewer people on welfare because they have a job which means you have more money,increase taxes on the 1% and big cuts to the military. We all know most of the waste in government spending goes towards military spending were millions of dollars it seems can just disapear with nobody knowing what happened to it. Plus I like the idea of breaking up the big banks and putting a end to all monopolies. Also invest on clean jobs instead of trying to hold onto outdated jobs like coal. Also more regulations and frankly some rich people need to start going to jail to send a message that you can't get away with all your crimes by simply paying a fine.

Jason

It's just a vicious circle, this year I got a 2.8% pay raise and my cost of health insurance went up 3.5%. Since I entered the job market over 30 years ago the cost of living has gone up more every year than my pay increase. Give the burger flippers who aspire to do nothing more there $15 and they will still bitch and suck off of Uncle Sam's teet. If you want to make a good wage, get off your butt and get a worthy job that will pay a good wage. Life sucks, it sucks even more if you're lazy!

Like famous hard workers such as Paris Hilton and Donald Trump who has gone bankrupt several times, lost money running a casino, yet somehow yet still finds success because he had the luck of being born to a rich family.

Jason

 

[Refuge]

Do you think turning one million into 3 billion is luck?

 

[Jayson1]

Has anyone said minimum wage workers are lazy? A lot of people here keep saying making up shit that is not being said here

Someone just above said it. All about those lazy burger flippers wanting to live on the government teet and stuff of that sort. Not to mention it's something that isn't always said but is almost always implied.

Jason

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

Like famous hard workers such as Paris Hilton and Donald Trump who has gone bankrupt several times, lost money running a casino, yet somehow yet still finds success because he had the luck of being born to a rich family.

Jason

You totally missed it!

What I'm saying is you'll get out of life what you put into it. If you want to flip burgers the rest of your life, suck it up for a crappy wage. I pushed myself and I make good money, I don't and never have collected handouts, and the last time I made minimum wage I was 16 years old. Man the F*#% up!

 

[Jayson1]

Do you think turning one million into 3 billion is luck?

Luck plays a a little bit in everything we do in life so yes luck does factor into it. I think hard work also plays into it as well but starting off with a million dollars is actually a advantage that most people don't have so yes his family being rich also played a big role in him being rich. Combine that with the lack of ethics that makes screwing over people not be a roadblock is also a factor. Some people don't want to do some of the dirty tricks it takes to get to the top.

Jason

 

[Jayson1]

You totally missed it!

What I'm saying is you'll get out of life what you put into it. If you want to flip burgers the rest of your life, suck it up for a crappy wage. I pushed myself and I make good money, I don't and never have collected handouts, and the last time I made minimum wage I was 16 years old. Man the F*#% up!

So what if you had been fired from one of those jobs or you got cancer in those years. Also what if the minimum wage had been lower back then but the cost of living had stayed the same. A crappy job today is not the same as one back in the past. The world has changed and things haven't stayed the same for the poor. It's gotten worse.
Chances are half of the jobs you got could have been shipped overseas or replaced by technology or simply eliminated because companies think they can hire 1 person to do the job of 2 people in the past. The you of today might have found it really easy to discard the you of the past if he found a even cheaper option to do your old jobs. Not to mention you would have older more experienced people going for those jobs as well since like mentioned before older people are starting to do jobs that people use to think were jobs just for teenagers. In fact I might even think they prefer that because if something bad happens to a teen at work then people are going to blame them, such as a workplace accident. If older person has something like that happen then many people just wouldn't care.

Jason

 

[scotthm]

You seem to have the impression that most of the money wealthy people have is just sitting around in a box somewhere collecting dust.

When it comes to the super rich I think we all know it is because one thing we know is it's not being invested in the economy.

Of course. The super rich get richer by not investing their money. They let it sit in a box and when they look in on it every once in a while it has magically grown in value.

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[Tenacity]

As a percentage of their total wealth, the rich likely have a low percentage sitting around as cash.

The actor George Clooney recently cashed out of a liquor business, over 300 million in his pocket, a smart businessman, he will likely have already re-invested the money.

 

[scotthm]

It seems to me that your making the argument that poor people are a burden on society because they take valuable resources away from the rich and should be content to be virtural slave labor if they aren't one of the lucky ones who are able to pull themselves out of the bad position they have started out in life.

Then you haven't been reading very carefully because I've said nothing of the kind.
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[Jayson1]

Of course. The super rich get richer by not investing their money. They let it sit in a box and when they look in on it every once in a while it has magically grown in value.

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Of course it's easy to gain value when you don't have to pay people a fair wage. Or they can send it to some dirty offshore account or any of the other tax dodges we know they do. I'm curious as to were you think all those billions of dollars they make is going to? Why do you think their is so much poverty and the income disparity is so huge if the current system is doing okay? Why are all the mom and pop stores closing with the malls to be the next thing to fall. What exactly do you want to happen to all the people who can't make it in this system?
No raises, no safety net and prices that always rise. If we are going to have that kind of world why even bother have laws at all if we going to accept a society that doesn't value over half of it's population. At some point you can only push down people so far before they realize that playing by the rules is pointless. Work hard and still can't make it. Support politicans only to find out they have all sold out. Get sick and only option is to die. I mean this kind of greed is one of the reasons why I think America isn't going to even be anything like it has been in 50 years and years from now when historians look back at this time they are going to look at this time period along with some of the darker stuff that has already happened in history like the Dark Ages, Slavery and Nazi Germany. Well they would have if climate change hadn't killed them all.

Jason

 

[scotthm]

Get sick and only option is to die.

Be born, and the only option is to die. Yes, it's a tough world.
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[Jayson1]

Be born, and the only option is to die. Yes, it's a tough world.
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Yes, but people shouldn't have to die because they don't have enough money.
I take it then that you don't have any problems then with criminals because they are basically taking the same path as some of the super rich. Exploit people for their own benefit. With hard work and skill they can even be successful at it. Sometimes people get hurt in the process but those are the brakes of living in a harsh world were everyone is just responsible for themselves. It was their own fault for not stopping the criminal or getting out of their way or not turning to crime themselves so they also can also get ahead in life. Anyone who doesn't pursue a life profit or crime are just saps to take advantage of until they find away to do it as well.

Jason

 

[Refuge]

Yes, but people shouldn't have to die because they don't have enough money.
I take it then that you don't have any problems then with criminals because they are basically taking the same path as some of the super rich. Exploit people for their own benefit. With hard work and skill they can even be successful at it. Sometimes people get hurt in the process but those are the brakes of living in a harsh world were everyone is just responsible for themselves. It was their own fault for not stopping the criminal or getting out of their way or not turning to crime themselves so they also can also get ahead in life. Anyone who doesn't pursue a life profit or crime are just saps to take advantage of until they find away to do it as well.

Jason

People shouldn't have to die because they don't have enough money, I agree because on the face of that it speaks to how money is the only 'currency' for life, and speaks of community values. However, it is empowering to have security in your life, you know what I mean? Some of us are luckier than others and some of us want for less, we just simply have less desire for luxuries. What we all are stuck with is that whether it is ourselves, a relative, a partner, a trust, a benefit, someone has had to graft to get it. If there are those who are criminals or illegally exploit the system be it on their heads. All you can do is work the system you have got. If you are unwell and cannot work, then when you are better aim for that way back in. If it so happens there is a minimum wage system then you will adjust to it. If there isn't get as many tips and hours as you can. You seem to have (and I apologize for a personal observation), an inquisitive mind which is a good thing. Some kind of advocacy or even volunteer work with flexible hours, even a blog might open doors. No doubt there are plenty of opportunities out there but I remember a few times doing fruit picking of all things. Pay was horrendous but it was still pay.

A minimum wage is just going to affect more than the structure of the economy than the initial increased packages. Those things can be addressed but there will be checks and balances. It's not a bad thing to ask what those are.

 

[Jayson1]

People shouldn't have to die because they don't have enough money, I agree because on the face of that it speaks to how money is the only 'currency' for life, and speaks of community values. However, it is empowering to have security in your life, you know what I mean? Some of us are luckier than others and some of us want for less, we just simply have less desire for luxuries. What we all are stuck with is that whether it is ourselves, a relative, a partner, a trust, a benefit, someone has had to graft to get it. If there are those who are criminals or illegally exploit the system be it on their heads. All you can do is work the system you have got. If you are unwell and cannot work, then when you are better aim for that way back in. If it so happens there is a minimum wage system then you will adjust to it. If there isn't get as many tips and hours as you can. You seem to have (and I apologize for a personal observation), an inquisitive mind which is a good thing. Some kind of advocacy or even volunteer work with flexible hours, even a blog might open doors. No doubt there are plenty of opportunities out there but I remember a few times doing fruit picking of all things. Pay was horrendous but it was still pay.

A minimum wage is just going to affect more than the structure of the economy than the initial increased packages. Those things can be addressed but there will be checks and balances. It's not a bad thing to ask what those are.

Well I agree that everyone has to find ways of adapting but to me the point of a government is to find ways to help people and fix flaws in the system. I wouldn't even be bothered so much I think if everyone was maybe against a raise in the mininum wage but still supported a social safety net or vice versa. It's the fact that some people seem to be against every single social change presented to help the poor.
It seems in the past republicans have always been for tax cuts and maybe even some changes to social security but this modern republican party seems to be against everything from unions to health care. It really does feel like they are trying to turn back the clock the 1800's.
Even Liberals why we support various social issues have never gotten behind the idea of communism or destroying capitalism. We have just been trying to figure out a better balance which is more important today then ever before because of how much inbalance their is.
It does sometimes feel like a one sided argument. We want to fix problems were guys like Trump have simply stopped caring about the people and they want to milk as much profit from America before it goes under.

Jason