Posted on 09/07/2016 10:14:07 AM PDT by Kaslin
The minimum wage persists as a fixture in public policy discussions because the idea remains popular with the general public.
In a survey done by Pew Research in 2014, 73 percent favored increasing the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10.
Bernie Sanders became a surprisingly popular presidential candidate, promising a federal minimum wage of $15. And now several left-wing organizations are mobilizing to pressure candidates in Senate races to support a $15 national minimum wage.
Currently, two places now have enacted $15 minimum wage laws -- New York, California and Washington, D.C.
Reporting on the move in Washington, D.C., to a $15 minimum wage, The Washington Post explains that "Supporters, mostly Democrats, say a $15 floor is needed to help close the country's growing income gap, especially in big cities."
Really, it sounds so beautiful. Politicians wave their wand and dictate wages. But to ask the obvious question, why only $15? Why not make it $20? $30? $50?
Let's recognize that there is something to the social science we call economics. One rule of that science is that demand runs opposite to price. If the price of soap is raised from $2 to $5, consumers will buy less soap. And, if the price of soap is lowered from $5 to $1, consumers will buy more soap.
Wages are the price of labor. It stands to reason that this follows the same rules as any market. The higher the price for labor, the lower the demand and vice versa.
Again, it sounds so compassionate that a politician proposes to use the power of government to mandate what salary a business owner must pay. But what politician, even one who proudly calls himself a socialist like Bernie Sanders, would claim that government can mandate how many workers a business must hire at the wage government mandates?
Politicians mandate a minimum wage and then business owners simply comply because they have no choice, but then they hire fewer workers.
We can see the latest evidence in the nation's capital: Prior to the recent move to raise the minimum wage to $15, which is scheduled to go into effect fully in 2022, there have been two recent minimum wage increases. A minimum wage hike to $10.50 went into effect in July 2015 and then this was increased to $11.50 in July 2016.
What happened?
University of Michigan and American Enterprise Institute economist Mark Perry reports, using recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that "Since the DC minimum wage increased in July 2015 to $10.50 an hour, restaurant employment in the city has increased by less than 1 percent (and by 500 jobs), while restaurant employment in the surrounding suburbs (in Virginia and Maryland) increased 4.2 percent (and by 7,300 jobs). An even more dramatic effect has taken place since the start of this year -- DC restaurant jobs fell by 1,400 jobs (and by 2.7 percent) during the first six months of 2016 ... the largest loss of District food jobs during a 6-month period in 15 years."
Perversely, low-wage earners that the minimum wage is supposed to help are the ones hurt the most by shrinking the demand for their labor. In the first quarter of 2016, overall black unemployment in Washington, D.C., was 12.7 percent, compared to 8.5 percent and 7.0 percent in neighboring Maryland and Virginia. And the gap in unemployment between whites and blacks in Washington, D.C. -- 2.3 percent for whites compared to the 12.7 percent for blacks -- was the highest in the nation.
Earlier this year, Wal-Mart canceled plans to open in two new locations in the nation's capital, partially because of labor regulations.
If we really care about low-income workers, let markets be free, let businesses create jobs, and let's fix our schools so poor kids can get an education and move up the ladder.
The Minimum Wage will always be $0.
That’s what a reader said.
The Congress has no authority whatsoever to decree a minimum wage. Neither has the President.
Minimum wage laws are a blunt act of tyranny, a naked seizure of power in defiance of the Constitution.
We need a President, and a Congress, that will respect the Constitution, and live within the limits it imposes on them.
“The Congress has no authority whatsoever to decree a minimum wage. “
Since there is a national minimum wage, obviously they do have the authority.
The Congress has no authority to do half the stuff it does.
Roll back the power. Don’t accept it.
Just require democrats to tip more. Problem solved.
As I said, and as you failed to read and comprehend:
"Minimum wage laws are a blunt act of tyranny, a naked seizure of power in defiance of the Constitution. We need a President, and a Congress, that will respect the Constitution, and live within the limits it imposes on them.
You need to learn the difference between authority and power. It is the difference between a constitutional republic and the tyranny which presently rules over these United States.
Some people revel in it, and hope for great things when "their guy" wields unlimited power. The blood-soaked XX Century was replete with examples.
Part of the proof of the authority is being able to do it. If Congress passes it and the courts allow it, they have the authority.
You may not think they have the authority but our opinion doesn’t count....because we don’t have any authority.
The sheeple aren’t going to get off their duff and march on Washington for anything except more free government money.
I have worked for minimum wage, but every time the minimum wage was raised our hours were reduced, so that we really got a wage reduction instead a raise. At the best the wage stayed the same it was before.
This is true but in a larger sense, the Federal Government should have no authority in the area of contracts between individuals.
The first ideal of a free market is that individuals are free to contract between each other and any infringement by the government is an imposition of what we call socialism.
Nixon was wrong to impose fuel price controls, and the same thing happens when the government imposes wage controls. It is all part of a failed idea. The government has no authority to regulate except that they have taken the authority everyplace that they wish, they give themselves the authority.
A move back to a free market would be a good thing for America.
Yeah well, good luck with that. You need to learn the difference between your opinion and the law. You may think the speed limit should be 70 instead of 35 and that speed limits are a blunt act of tyrrany but you still have to pay the ticket.
The government has no authority to regulate except that they have taken the authority everyplace that they wish, they give themselves the authority.
What you describe is not a grant of authority, but a naked seizure of power in spite of lacking authority. It differs only in degree from the actions of Adolph Hitler in imposing the Third Reich, or from the actions of a military officer leading a coup d'état in some banana republic.
Currently, two places now have enacted $15 minimum wage laws -- New York, California and Washington, D.C.Townhall must be saving a fortune by not needing to employ editors. :=)
It is obvious that our government at all levels acts in defiance of its constitutional authority, seizing powers great and small which are forbidden to it. I have no idea why some folks try so very hard to ignore it ... but they do.
The true minimum wage is $0.00. Even slaves cost money for upkeep.
The chinese have come closest to a true minimum wage, through prison labor, currency manipulation, nonexistent labor and environmental laws, communist doctrine, full government control of all industry, and an endless supply of US dollars to finance their operations.
And of of course, plenty of democrats, republicans, and conservatives are all in for the new asian plantation. I lump them all together as “global progressives”.
I miss editors.
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