I think this is the only issue that I depart from the views of my conservative bretheren. I think the Min wage should be raised. No one can live alone and provide any semblence of a "life" on minimum wage. I do agree that with a thimble full of initiative one should make more than minimum, but if we want our 16 - 18 year old's to truely learn life skills, we need to give them an honest chance. Our economy would survive just fine with an increase.
And so you don't want people to have to exert a "thimble full" of initiative. Just make the GUBMINT force employers to pay LAZY workers.
P.S. Mom... one of the most important 'life skills' that our youngsters can learn is that there is no free lunch, and that you must work hard and apply yourself, and not be a leach or parasite eating the fruits of others hard work.
You aren't supposed to live off minimum wage.
Minimum wage is intended for new hires, temp workers, unskilled laborers that are usually teenagers.
As you earn your keep, work hard, learn skills your wages increase. This usually happens as you pass your teenage years and move up the ladder. That is how it is supposed to work.
And if you don't want to spend your life doing this type of work, gain an education and you will start at a higher fixed rate for your entrance wage.
The market rewards skill, reliability, need, competence and education.
Besides, nothing prevents states from raising the minimum wage. I guarentee here in WA minimum wage is far higher then the set government standard. Why do we need the Feds to interfere with what constituents in their own states can pass if they desire it?
I support this move by the Senate.
How can you raise a family or even yourself on $7.25 an hour? Considering 2080 hours/year of work at $7.25 an hour comes to $15080.00 per year. How can you possibly get by on that salary? Minimum wage is NOT designed to support families, mortgages, vehicles, insurance, food, etc. Anyone making minimum wage after...lets say...about age 21 is an absolute loser and must be living at home with Mom and Dad.
Go to college, trade school, military, etc. - apply yourself - continue to learn - and then get a real job.
Am I way off base here?
Real conservatives oppose government control over prices. Such government control is antithetical to freedom. Communists like it however.
Minimum wage is not meant to be lived on. It's entry level. You know, for high school students living with parents.
OK, how would you like it if the government set minimum prices for bread, milk, gas, etc? Since it is unlikely you have ever run a successful business, it might help to understand that businesses exits to make a profit. Not to provide jobs. And to show the folly of your position, allow me to rework your last statement for you: Your household would survive just fine with a decrease.
Hardly anyone is living on that range. 90% of minimum wage earners earn more than minimum wage after 6 months on the job...
One thing is an economic fact: raise minimum wage, raise unemployment.
My two unskilled (legal) immigrant daughters, age 17, are working at a fast food restaurant here. They make $7.25. Why? The restaurant can't find anybody, hence wages are higher. Very FEW places actually pay minimum wage. The market already demands more.
16 - 18 year olds still live at home, they don't need a "living wage."
Your post makes no sense. The best you could give them is (a) a job and (b) an incentive to not stay at minimum wage. Rasing the min wage reduces jobs available for unskilled labor. No one is supposed to remaining working at minimum wage which is why it is called "minimum" wage. They should be incented to increase their skills and make more money. There is no rational reason in the world why we should make McDonald's pay 16 year olds more money. Most min wage jobs go to teenagers.
Our economy would survive just fine with an increase.
Sure will. I employ 10 people at $5.15 p/hour.
Gov raises that to $7.15 p/hour, costing me $20 more p/hour.
When I factor in the added higher costs involved I figure I need to lay off about 4 people and demand a productivity increase from the remaining 6 or hire illegals or under the table staff who will be paid cash. Government is then out of the picture as is social security, unemployment insurance, payroll taxes, worker's comp. etc.
Taxpayers lose, workers lose. Nothing gained and those working for $7.15 p/hour are working harder in a more competitive workforce
Bottom line: I'll survive just fine but 4 people are now jobless and taxpayers pay through the nose for those 4 people dependent on social welfare and related costs.
But I guess the left could boast how they raised minimum wage for poor workers. Sounds great but seldom works out the way they boast.