Raising The Minimum Wage In Seattle Had Utterly Predictable Results–But Liberals Probably Don't Care

townhall.com ^ | Matt Vespa

[RoosterRedux]

Raise the minimum wage in Seattle they said. It will help workers they said. Well, the city did increase the minimum wage from the previous rate of $9.47 to $15, which is to be phased in by 2018. It’s now at $11, and lo and behold it has hurt workers. A study found that workers would’ve already seen an increase in wages without the hike because of the increased economic activity and more would’ve been employed. Instead, hours were cut, fewer people worked, and all of this was [predictable]:

The average hourly wage for workers affected by the increase jumped from $9.96 to $11.14, but wages likely would have increased some anyway due to Seattle's overall economy. Meanwhile, although workers were earning more, fewer of them had a job than would have without an increase. Those who did work had fewer hours than they would have without the wage hike.

*skip*

So, if this is the impact at just $11, I guess we can say that an economic iceberg is about to hit California and New York, as both states raised their minimum wage rates to $15. In 2013, over 700,000 jobs were lost due to minimum wage hikes. The American Action Forum found that every $1 increase accounted for a 1.48 percent spike in the unemployment rate. That’s quite a steep butcher’s bill. Moreover, some establishments are simply transitioning to electronic kiosks for orders to help blunt the inevitable rise in overhead costs due to these increases. Still, Democrats will push for these economically deficient policy proposals because they sound good, it looks good, and people buy into it hook, line, and sinker. If you’re against it, prepare to be painted as anti-poor and heartless—which is exactly how Democrats want to portray Republicans...

[volunbeer]

It’s changing and the trend for Spokane is certainly towards the left. Even Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint have changed in the last ten years (lots of transplants). It is always ironic to me that the people who leave California or Seattle for a “nicer place” vote for the same crap that made them move in the first place.

[MarkL]

The one thing in common with the demands of the people who want a higher minimum wage and pretty much everyone else who are suffering in the "Obama Recovery," is the fact that the value of money has dropped dramatically.

It's somewhat hidden by the fact that while prices have gone up, the amount sold in the package has dropped, compounding the pain of buying things you need every day.

Of course, the Government loves it, as they get to pay off debt with "cheaper" dollars.

Mark

[Gideon300]

“How was the burger? Probably as good as ever.”

You’re probably right, but in my experience McDonald’s has never made a decent burger. Fish sandwich maybe, but not a burger. Last one I got was a pre-molded patty of some kind of meat about 1/4 inch thick, looking like a coaster. One side completely bare, the other topped with a dab of some kind of sauce and a spot of ketchup about the size of a pea, and a flaccid slice of pickle. The whole think squashed to a tiny bit over an inch thick. THAT WAS IT!

I gave up on McDonald’s when I found out about their “365Black” website. I found it very racist and offensive, and just a means of more liberal pandering to the black community. I haven’t spent a dime in McDonald’s since.