Study cool to 'living wage' (Sacramento,CA)

Sac Bee ^ | 12/26/02 | Andy Furillo

[NormsRevenge]

It says city taxpayers would foot half the $8.7 million tab to pay some workers $12.84 an hour.

A "living wage" ordinance proposed for the city of Sacramento would cost businesses up to $8.7 million, about half of which would ultimately be borne by municipal taxpayers, a private research firm has concluded.

[timm22]

A "living wage" ordinance proposed for the city of Sacramento would cost businesses up to $8.7 million, about half of which would ultimately be borne by municipal taxpayers, a private research firm has concluded.

Not a problem. As long as the city is changing the laws of economics through legislation, they can just pass a "every business makes decent profits" law to correct any problems with a living wage.

[Pining_4_TX]

Not a problem. As long as the city is changing the laws of economics through legislation, they can just pass a "every business makes decent profits" law to correct any problems with a living wage.

Great comment! People still believe government can wave a magic wand and make prices and wages whatever they want them to be. As a great economist said, "If the minimum wage is such a great idea, why not make it $50 an hour?"

[lelio]

The $11 figure, the study states, would lift a family of three above the federal poverty level, adjusted for the Sacramento area's cost of living.
And amazingly the cost of living in Sacramento will go up by that same percentage as now people have more "money" to spend. Money's in quotes as its not created wealth, it is just another form of tax.
What do these politicians think will happen when someone goes from making $8/hr to $11/hr? Landlords will just start charging more for their apartments.
So next up: rent control.

[Chuckster]

You forgot to point out that the companies they work for will also raise the prices of their products and services resulting in inflation, thus wiping out any benefit of the wage increase.

[rudypoot]

This is quite funny. A "living wage" of 11 bucks an hour. Just what a government budget needs right now- a spending increase.

[Media Insurgent]

"As a great economist said, 'If the minimum wage is such a great idea, why not make it $50 an hour?'"

Exactly. The flip side question is why doesn't everyone make the minimum wage, and not a penny more? What the "living wage" advocates don't understand is that if you start paying a low skilled worker $12.84 an hour, then the skilled worker who is already making that will suddenly be able to command a higher wage. When everything shakes out, the people with the fewest marketable skills will always be on the bottom rung of the wage ladder. The dollar amounts might change, but their relative purchasing power, once inflation catches up with the wage hike, will remain low.

[Sally II]

I once dated a guy who works for ACORN in Sacramento. I was under the impression that ACORN, which is purely socialist through and through, is trying to lead the fight for livable wage in the area. They're also all over the "preditory lending" issue. Both issues sound nice, but I think they will ultimately be a shot in the foot of the people they are trying to help. If Sacramento forces businesses to raise their wages, then the businesses will either be forced to cut their workforce or they'll take their business to another city. Same with the preditory lending issue: if banks can't charge a high interest rate for high risk borrowers then what incentive do they have to even give out a loan? The poor old guy down the street who can't manage his money will be out of luck when he desperately needs a loan.

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

I am the copy editor for Bucknell University's conservative publication, "The Counterweight." Last year, we wrote an article on this subject. I'm not familiar with html, so you'll have to cut and paste the link, but it's worth your time. http://www.bucknellconservatives.org/counterweights/CW05-01-2002.pdf

Be sure to check out all of our issues at www.bucknellconservatives.org. Click on "Current CW" or "Archives," and check out our publication. Subscribe if the spirit moves you!

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

Ok I guess one link worked and the other didn't ... enjoy the articles!

[NormsRevenge]

Thank you kindly and Good Luck in your efforts... Keep up the good work of informing the people that can read and count.

The main link is www.bucknellconservatives.org .

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

Thank you for your encouragement, and for posting a working link. I hope you'll all check it out!
TBG

[razorback-bert]

Pikers, raise it to $25/hr.