Posted on 01/14/2014 2:08:24 PM PST by MichCapCon
Beginning last April, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and Michigan Capitol Confidential predicted that a minimum wage debate would likely take center stage in Michigan in 2014, and might even become a November ballot issue.
This appears to part of a nationwide political gambit that some speculate is intended to distract voters from Obamacare failures come November, among other issues.
Recently the New York Times' Web site carried an article titled, "Democrats turn to minimum wage as a 2014 strategy," that detailed plans to push "a campaign to place state-level minimum wage proposals on the ballot in states with hotly contested congressional races." These types of initiatives are known to turn out voters at higher levels sympathetic to particular candidates.
Here in Michigan, the likely Democratic candidate for governor, Mark Schauer, who voted for Obamacare while in Congress, has already come out in favor of a higher minimum wage of $9.25 an hour.
The Mackinac Center has written extensively about the minimum wage. On balance, making it unlawful to employ a worker for less than an amount determined by politicians hurts more people than it helps. It tears away opportunities to advance from those with the fewest skills, and in some cases drives potential employers out of the country.
For more on this topic, see my Jan. 6 Viewpoint on Public Issues titled, "Minimum Wage, Minimum Employment."
Might this backfire? I think enough people who are not working would actually work for less if they could. (Assuming they’re not on permanent unemployment, EBT, etc.)
The minimum hourly rate hurts everyone, but the public is too stupid to realize that, and thinks the politicians are doing them a favor by raising their salary.
Yep. It polls with like 70% approval everytime it is asked. Nobody thinks too hard about it. The Left knows what they are doing with this one.
Keep in mind that ALL Union contracts are hitched to the minimum wage.
Min wage goes up $2.00/hour for the burger flppers? So does the 45.00/hour wage for all of Union mechanics, and others in the current contract.
>> The minimum hourly rate hurts everyone
Won’t hurt me; I’ve got some ideas for robots... their stupidity will drive business into my waiting arms. :-)
>> Might this backfire?
Does a bear Obama in the woods?
That certainly wasn’t the case for the UAW contract with the auto companies.
They had COLA clauses tied to the BLS/CPI but not any connection to min wage laws.
Really? Never heard that before.
Go for it. Take it away from the dems, throw it onto the traitorous chamber of commerces, and do it quickly so we can see the results before the election.
“Does a bear Obama in the woods?”
I think there’s been a sea change in Democrats and the party hasn’t caught on yet. (Shhhh. Be vewwy vewwy quiet.)
“Here in Michigan, the likely Democratic candidate for governor, Mark Schauer, who voted for Obamacare while in Congress, has already come out in favor of a higher minimum wage of $9.25 an hour.”
And he is already considered a loser to his fellow Mich Dems.
>>>Won’t hurt me; I’ve got some ideas for robots... their stupidity will drive business into my waiting arms. :-)
Send you business to my shop. I’ll use my robots to make your robots.
I said it before and I’ll say it again: minimum wage is a major driver of illegal immigrants.
Republicans should be looking into this and hammering on this point. No MW, no desperate small businessmen looking for shortcuts, no illegals “taking jobs from real citizens”.
Since the inception of establishing a “minimum wage” the very basic coin of the realm,the cent, has become valueless. Todays penny costs more to make than its assigned value. Even Canada stopped making them.
Yet this is not an argument for abolishing the coin itself. But to point out when a minimum wage rate is raised it affixes a given rate of inflation to the period of time it’s emplaced. All raising the minimum wage does actually is devalue the dollar because costs (purchase prices) eventually get adjusted in time, which is never discussed by those advancing the argument, to compensate for the devalued increase..
When economists discuss monetary value, which is the purchasing power of that unit, they allways refer to the top value of the coin of the realm in our (US) case it’s the dollar which is composed of 100 cents not the most basic unit which is the penny. .
A case in point is in the 1940’s a candy bar cost 5 cents when the hourly minimum wage was $.50 per hour. What does it cost today ? Likewise what were the costs of basic goods and services during that period of time as compared with todays basic wage feel good tinkering ?
Who gets hurt the worst when these adjustments are decreed by government? It’s those living on fixed incomes who’s income value is based on previous minimum wage levels such as social security but not adjusted to the previous current rates of inflation. and that also includes living on government subsidies because those subsidies eventually get increased. .
When these feel good socialists frauds under the democrat party banner propose these increases. That is never considered as they pound their breasts claiming they’re for the little guy. All they’re doing is un-necessarily raising the price on goods and services broadening the demand that those affected seek help from them..
It goes hand in hand with the welfare mentality. Actually it led to that mentality. More money for less work.
No matter the economics, the American people fervently believe in higher and higher minimum wages even if it makes what little savings they have worthless.
If some states raise minimum wage and others don’t like now then it gives Republicans (of Democrats) actual examples to use in future arguments, assuming it results in visible negative results.
That’s the correct approach. The US House should pass a bill allowing (they really don’t have to, but just for political cover) any state to raise the minimum wage up to $15.00. Shout it from the hill tops and demand that Reid give it an up or down vote.
Let federalism prove the Left are loons and swipe the issue off the table.
Leave the minimum wage right where it is.
Bring back JOBS.
America doesn’t need to pay people more. America needs more people WORKING.
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