Tiered minimum wage?

[dmek25]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

I've had a lot of 2 cents lately, why not another?



Having a minimum wage hurts the economy, by increasing the amount of unemployment. Bottomline: people will not take a job that's not worth the work.

this statement drives me up a wall. let me see, i can take a job, and try to bust my tail. make my life better. or i can live off the system, and be one of the millions that live off the fat of the U.S. government, and complain about the crappy hand that i have been dealt. i worked 2 jobs for over 2 years. doesnt anyone have pride in their work habits anymore?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

I've had a lot of 2 cents lately, why not another?

The reason for minimum wage is not to prevent people from being exploited by thier employers. The real reason is to get votes.

Having a minimum wage hurts the economy, by increasing the amount of unemployment. Bottomline: people will not take a job that's not worth the work. If there's a low paying job and there are people who are willing to work it -- why prevent that, even if the wage is lower than what some people think is acceptable? Minimum wage is a product of the employment market (much like all other markets). Setting it artificially high just means that companies cannot/will not employ as many people as they would like to.

Jacking up minimum wage does hurt the economy, but if people are working in jobs that can't even put a roof over their head or food on the table, they will begin to resort to crime.

It doesn't take a genius to realize why crime is so bad in our inner cities. The people there are poor and will resort to drugs, prostitution, theft, etcetera to make a decent living. The more people living below the poverty line, the more people will commit crimes.

You have a few ways of dealing with this: beef up the police force to try to deter crime, jack up the minimum wage so more people don't need to resort to crime, or offer welfare benefits to keep people from resorting to crime. No matter which method you employ, they all cost money. And really, you need a balance of all three.

It costs the economy, but that's the price of doing business, unless you want to have crime in our inner cities like in Mexico City. You think it's bad in NY or Philly, try heading down there.

[Schneed10]

To add, there should be no excuse to commit crimes if you have a minimum wage job right now. The minimum wage is currently set at a level that makes life livable (though not comfortably). But it won't be that way for long, unless they do something to keep minimum wage on pace with inflation growth.

I take issue with those who say it should be jacked up to a more comfortable level. NO. Minimum wage is not supposed to be comfortable. It should provide the BARE essentials to help you get by: shelter, food, water, heat.

But if you want it to provide even the bare minimum, it needs to keep pace with inflation.

[BDBohnzie]

DOL WHD: Minimum Wage Laws in the States

Over half of the states (and the District) in the Union have their state minimum wage set higher than the Federal law. And this is the level it should be at. The state should be able to take into consideration what bare minimum is for their area, and set it appropriately.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

DOL WHD: Minimum Wage Laws in the States

Over half of the states (and the District) in the Union have their state minimum wage set higher than the Federal law. And this is the level it should be at. The state should be able to take into consideration what bare minimum is for their area, and set it appropriately.

Yes. But taking that even further, many states have not increased their own minimum wages over the last seven years. So even though they have a geographical adjustment for cost of living built into their minimum wage, they don't increase it for inflation every year.

[EEich]

Devil's Advocate time:
Why would I as an employer care if my batallion of burger flippers has high school diplomas? I mean... they're flipping burgers. I just want them smart enough not to bob for french fries. Sure, I'll have one or two grads around in case the others have trouble making change, but I want to hire the cheapest labor I can get, leaving most of those pesky, expensive high school grads without jobs in a tiered system.

[BDBohnzie]

But if you'll notice, there are several states looking to correct that trend over the next 6-12 months.

I just think it should be up to the individual state to make such a correction, rather than the Federal Government.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

But if you'll notice, there are several states looking to correct that trend over the next 6-12 months.

I just think it should be up to the individual state to make such a correction, rather than the Federal Government.

Yeah either way is fine with me, Federal or State level. I just think it should keep pace with inflation.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Jacking up minimum wage does hurt the economy, but if people are working in jobs that can't even put a roof over their head or food on the table, they will begin to resort to crime.

It doesn't take a genius to realize why crime is so bad in our inner cities. The people there are poor and will resort to drugs, prostitution, theft, etcetera to make a decent living. The more people living below the poverty line, the more people will commit crimes.

You have a few ways of dealing with this: beef up the police force to try to deter crime, jack up the minimum wage so more people don't need to resort to crime, or offer welfare benefits to keep people from resorting to crime. No matter which method you employ, they all cost money. And really, you need a balance of all three.

It costs the economy, but that's the price of doing business, unless you want to have crime in our inner cities like in Mexico City. You think it's bad in NY or Philly, try heading down there.

True. If people aren't satisfied with their lives and there is no visible hope, then they resort to whatever means are available. It's the foundation of communism -- people get so fed up with their employers eventually that they revolt against the people/system which holds them down. It's the minimum wage which makes them more complacent, and less willing to revolt. So, I guess maybe it's not just about votes?

[firstdown]

If you are over age 18 or 19 and making min wage its not an education issue but an issue of one lazy person.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by firstdown

If you are over age 18 or 19 and making min wage its not an education issue but an issue of one lazy person.

True that.

[724Skinsfan]

Originally Posted by firstdown

If you are over age 18 or 19 and making min wage its not an education issue but an issue of one lazy person.

Tell that to the single mom of 3 kids whose trash truck driving husband was killed in a random accident. Homemaker all her life with no education/skills. She's supposed to get a job earning higher than minimum wage because an employer believes she's not lazy? There are plenty of similiar situations in a recessed economic environment throughout the country.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I agree with all of this... except the bolded part. Salary inflation in the country has been about 2-3% per year over the last 7 years. Over that time, the minimum wage has not been raised, not even to adjust for inflation. So speaking in relative terms, the working poor have lost value to the higher paid employees. To be truly fair, we should give minimum wage a boost to make up for 7 years of inflation. I don't think minimum wage should be raised in that min wage employees should have more money in their pockets, but they certainly shouldn't have less than they did 7 years ago, which is exactly what happens when the wage doesn't keep pace with inflation. A 14.8% boost in the min wage would put employees on the same footing as they were 7 years ago, assuming inflation was 2% per year.

But you are right, minimum wage is not intended to support a family, and it should not be expected by anyone to do so.

If a person has worked for 7 years and are making min wage then it is something they are doing wrong. Like not keeping a job, calls in sick all the time, does not even try at all, etc. Did you know that only 17% of people in poverty have a full time jobs so that means that 83% don't even work over 40 hours a week. I bet you cannot find me one person that has worked hard at a job for over a year and is making min wage that is just not the problem.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by dmek25

this statement drives me up a wall. let me see, i can take a job, and try to bust my tail. make my life better. or i can live off the system, and be one of the millions that live off the fat of the U.S. government, and complain about the crappy hand that i have been dealt. i worked 2 jobs for over 2 years. doesnt anyone have pride in their work habits anymore?

I'm not sure what you mean ... can you elaborate?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

Tell that to the single mom of 3 kids whose trash truck driving husband was killed in a random accident. Homemaker all her life with no education/skills. She's supposed to get a job earning higher than minimum wage because an employer believes she's not lazy? There are plenty of similiar situations in a recessed economic environment throughout the country.

What you said may be true but I say its more of people not showing up or trying to advance themself in the job market.MY daughter with no job experience found her first job making $6.00 plus tips which made her hour wage around $9.00 and that was a Sonic's. The next summer she made $9.00 hour filing paper work and doing odd jobs for a Co. They asked her to work the next summer at $10.00 an hour. I'm not saying that a person might not start off at Min. wage but if they show up on time do their job they will not be making Min. wage very long. I have several friends who own fast food franchises and all start above min. wage and tell me its hard to find someone who will show up every day and do the job. The ones that do get a fast pay hike so they will stay around because they know that businesses are looking for dependable workers. One other example is a friend who has a framing (construction co) which he will play anyone who wants to work without job skills at $10.00. After two months if they work hard and will just learn some basic skills he will increase their pay to $13.00 and offer some health cov. He is willing to pick them up but he has a full time job finding people willing to give him a full days work and they soon are gone. I just don't see this as an issue of businesses not willing to pay but with them finding people worth paying a decent wage.