Posted on 10/20/2005 8:14:03 PM PDT by NapkinUser
WASHINGTON -- Senate proposals to raise the minimum wage were rejected Wednesday, making it unlikely that the lowest allowable wage, $5.15 an hour since 1997, will rise in the foreseeable future.
A labor-backed measure by Sen. Edward Kennedy would have raised the minimum to $6.25 over an 18-month period.
(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...
Less that admirable to whom? I admire people with a work ethic. Why are you so opposed to people taking personal responsibility for their lives? You are advocating wage control, forgetting that free enterprize and capitalism make this country great.
Moron....
L
There shouldn't be a minimum wage. The Federal Reserve shouldn't hurt wage earners either by creating a recession every few years when the market favors wage earners. Less taxes, fewer regulations, more investment, and less government growth would be good, too.
Makes sense to me. It would make room for jobs, more "take home" pay and less gov't interference.
Now that's a idea!
I Love Ths Place
Excuse me for saying so, but economic illiteracy is hardly admirable...JFK
That who pays for? Seems like you've got some learning to do.
And you need to learn to stop making jerky statements like that.
I know full well who pays. My point was that a large majority of the public want higher wages for unskilled/no skilled workers yet force a small minority to foot the bill and that's not fair.
A "more fair" arrangement would at least have the public that desires this pay for it.
Sure, in the ideal, there would be no minimum wage wage or taxes or the devil. But we don't live in the ideal world and sometimes good compromises have to be offered. I think I've offered a good compromise.
I think you've thrown open the door not only to massive inflation but truly stupid ideas like "comparable worth" with your ridiculous, statist, Big Stupid Government proposal.
On the other hand, idiocies like yours would help to further stimulate the underground economy and barter, which is a good thing.
Tough call, I suppose.
What about those people who aren't worth $10/hour, but willing to work for less? Would you force them into a situation where their only option was full welfare?
Perhaps, but increasing the minimum wage will result in job losses. Those whose labor is worth less than the minimum wage will be unable to get any job at all, meaning they will go from food stamps and (un)Earned Income Tax Credit to being fully supported by welfare. If the government is going to "help" poor people, it's far better they do it through something like a reverse income tax than a minimum wage, which distorts the market in one of the worst possible ways.
"Why are you so opposed to people taking personal responsibility for their lives? "
Why are you tying this to the welfare mentality some people have? Did it occur to you that there are people who through no fault of their own have been thrown out of good paying jobs back into the minimum wage arena? Did it occur to you that highschool and college kids all over America are working minimum wage jobs sometimes two and three at a time to keep themselves in school? These are kind of people I have in mind, that's why your opinion is less than charitable.
Free enterprise and capitalism is all well and good when you're on the high end of it as you seem to be. I'd rather a decent minimum wage than living on welfare any day. Why are you opposed to giving those less fortunate who have a work ethic a hand back up?
"Disregard swmobuffalochips, he is mad because the gobermint won't give him a Cadillac."
Don't like Cadillacs and I'm not looking for government handouts. I'm earning my own way just like most decent people.
" Moron...."
So does this mean I can call you what I'm thinking at the moment? Interesting you don't have anything constructive to say, guess that makes you no better than your name calling.
Don't sweat it. I was once making just above minimum wage, IN NEW YORK CITY no less, but was able to survive. I also have experienced job losses TWICE when I was a "youth" after the minimum wage was raised.
One of Maggie Thatcher's great achievements was ABOLISHING the minimum wage in the UK. Youth unemployment in the UK went down considerably as a result.
What did my time as a minimum wage slave teach me? The importance of working hard, being responsible, negotiating a raise and for swearing to continue my studies. Shaped the values that have allowed me to become successful since then.
If an employer is willing to pay someone $5/hour and that person is willing to accept $5/hour, why are you opposed to allowing this?
Say, if labor costs go above $5/hour, it would be cheaper for the employer to buy a machine to replace the worker. Would you prefer that alternative to someone earning $5/hour?
Anybody who wants to earn a decent wage can do it. The problem is these people do not want to earn a living, they want it given to them. No one works at minimum wage for any length of time if they are worth anything at all. I may have hired people at minimum wage, but if they were worth anything at all they were quickly given raises. There is too much of a demand for GOOD workers.
Have you ever tried to make ends meet on $5 an hour? You sound like a former governor of my state. If the surrounding economy was geared to the lower wages it would be one thing but you and I both know it isn't. The economy is geared for profit, as much as possible, as quickly as possible. That's one of the reasons illegal aliens are so popular as workers. No benefits, less than prevailing wage and if one drops out there's always another to take his or her place and the bottom line is secure.
" The problem is these people do not want to earn a living, they want it given to them."
Who are "these" people you're referring to? Are you tying this to the welfare mentality group as well?
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