Can America “Minimum Wage” Itself To Prosperity?

Townhall.com ^ | April 14, 2013 | Austin Hill

[Gen.Blather]

Minimum wage has nothing to do with helping anybody. Union contracts are figured in multiples of the minimum wage. Raise the minimum wage and it’s an instant raise to all union members.

[bert]

To really get started good, the inflation must have a strong wage and salary component.

Raising the minimum wage is the method chosen to jump start the general rise. Raising wages when there is 16% or better unemployment is difficult. If there is a national 30% jump, the general wage inflation will be off to a good start.

[RedHeeler]

A backhanded query, resolved by an elimination of opposites.

[albie]

Most businesses already pay $9+ per hour. The ninnies that listened to this buffoon don’t even try to understand econ 101. “Dat Big Mac you be lovin’” will go up $1.00. And I’m sure you’re eating more than 3500 per year so there goes the profit! Does that help clarify things a little?

[GenXteacher]

Minimum wage is a joke. The reality is that every increase in minimum wage creates inflation- the price of everything handled by minimum wage workers goes up to compensate for their wage increase. That rise in price devalues the income of everyone making more than minimum wage. If not outright abolished, then minimum wage should be lowered to some point well beneath the market value of labor.

[LMAO]

The raising of the minimum wage, along with gun control and anti poverty programs, underscores the big problem with liberals and what they believe. As conservatives and libertarians, we understand that even free markets and free people does not mean a Utopia on Earth. We know both aren't perfect but they are more likely to lift people out of poverty than any government program ever has or will. Liberals, with their lofty ideas, never consider human nature in their plans. They are so ingrained in their belief in government to solve all problems that even when their ideas fail, it is a guarantee that their solutions will be more government. That's why this Harris “rejects the notion that raising the minimum wage costs jobs.” And that's why liberals can't understand why stricter gun laws lead to more crime or anti poverty programs lead to more poverty. They are so immersed in theory that they cannot admit to the failures of their ideas

[Graybeard58]

Can (will) somebody tell me how old the minimum wage is? Is the military exempt? Military may not need to be exempted nowadays but when I enlisted, starting pay was $69 per month

[C. Edmund Wright]

Not only does it create inflationary pressures, but they are artificial pressures at that.

[Popman]

Minimum wage has nothing to do with helping anybody. Union contracts are figured in multiples of the minimum wage. Raise the minimum wage and it’s an instant raise to all union members.

Exactly...

First of all each state should be dictating their wage labor laws, not the federal government

Minimum wage for part-time under 18 workers should be eliminated...the market place will dictate the prevailing wage...

It might suck to work for $4.00 an hour for a few years until you actually learn some job skills, but it would be a nice incentive to learn good work ethics...and "earn" a raise..

It also will vastly improve the teenage unemployment numbers...

[stevem]

President Obama’s proposal of elevating the federal minimum wage requirement from the current $7.25 to $9.00 an hour.

If the Balloon Head in Chief really wants prosperity, why doesn't he push for $9,000.00 an hour?

Then regular workers could make $360,000.00 per week. That should help for a while.

[Travis McGee]

Not to prosperity, but to election win after election win.

We passed the tipping point long ago.

[lowbridge]

“Minimum wage has nothing to do with helping anybody. Union contracts are figured in multiples of the minimum wage. Raise the minimum wage and it’s an instant raise to all union members.”

Exactly. In New York they just passed a 9 dollars an hour minimum wage. BUT its raised incrementally three times before it reaches 9 dollars. As a result, the unions get raises three times in a row.

[central_va]

Since private sector union participation rate is at 6% of the workforce so raising the minimum wage tied to union labor rates will not have the same effect it had in the 70s, 80s.

The only way to make minimum wage work is to make it regional, the minimum wage in LA should be at least 30-40% higher than in Omaha NE.

Also the minimum wage should be tied to creating a CLOSED border.

[palmer]

And that's why liberals can't understand why stricter gun laws lead to more crime or anti poverty programs lead to more poverty. They are so immersed in theory that they cannot admit to the failures of their ideas

I once had a relative who was a liberal. Harvard educated (taught there too) and very theoretical. But I don't think those exist anymore. Now we have left wing statists (who want to ban guns and free enterprise) and stupid people who automatically buy into any emotional argument put forth by the leftists.

[ASA Vet]

When I enlisted in June 65 basic E-1 pay (under 4 months service) was $78.00/month. Subtracting the $2.83 FICA tax, and the $10.90 Federal income tax I netted a whopping $64.27.

I actually had more disposable income then, than I do now.

[M Kehoe]

Can America “Minimum Wage” Itself To Prosperity?

Sure, just like spending borrowed money to get out of debt.

We are doomed.

5.56mm

[Senator_Blutarski]

This is a great way to fuel inflation, so the Obama team is all for it. Never mind the fact inflation hits the poor and the elderly the hardest.

Prosperity is built on productivity and wealth creation, which are concepts foreign to the Democratic Socialists of America.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

America cannot “minimum wage” itself to prosperity, but it can export jobs and drive itself down to nothing.

Wake up people.

Bring back US jobs. Now.

That means you Republicans. Hire Americans.

[Mike Darancette]

Uneducated unskilled workers that do not speak English well are not worth $9/hr.