Economic Reality and the Minimum Wage

Townhall.com ^ | December 15, 2013 | Steve Chapman

[Alberta's Child]

Burger King, Wendy's, KFC and Arby's closed more restaurants than they opened last year.

If that's not a very big warning sign, then I don't know what it is.

[the koolaidman]

over ten dollars an hour to so nothing whatsoever. the liberal way.

[napscoordinator]

I don’t really care about this issue, but I do wonder what they are going to do with the schmuck who makes 11 dollars an hour. I make 50 dollars an hour, will I get 60 dollars an hour for no reason?

[dhs12345]

We can certainly do without fast food. Fast food and eating out is an optional expense that is already expensive for us as it is.

[dhs12345]

He’ll go on unemployment.

[central_va]

When adjusted for inflation minimum wage is 20% lower in 2013 than in the 60’s and 70’s.

[central_va]

You can go to a full service joint like chillis or tgif for almost the same price as fast food.

[nascarnation]

I think that’s because of international competition.
Back then America was the industrial powerhouse of the world.

When I was a kid, they built large buildings, filled them with machines, and called them factories.

When I was middle aged, they built large buildings, filled them with stuff from China, and called them warehouses.

Now that I’m an old man, they don’t build buildings anymore.

[dhs12345]

Yup. Although the dollar menu at McDonalds is hard to beat.

[SamAdams76]

Six Simple Steps for Escaping the Minimum Wage Trap

1. Obtain a minimum wage job. (Any minimum wage job will do.)

2. Tell your new boss that you would like to work as many hours as possible and to please call you first if he/she needs somebody to cover another shift on short notice.

3. Show up for work early and be ready to start your shift on time. Learn as much as you can about the other jobs and always volunteer to go above and beyond.

4. Display a positive "can-do" attitude and never complain publicly. If you have a legitimate complaint, schedule a one-on-one with your boss and offer a possible solution.

5. Once you have mastered your current job, let your boss know that you are ready to take on additional responsibilities and challenges. Offer to help train your replacement. (You are guaranteed a promotion with this approach.)

6. Repeat step #5 until you are running the operation.

Congratulations, you are a now a success story!

[17th Miss Regt]

Lower prices result in higher demand, and higher prices do the opposite.

A well documented fact and very clear to most clear thinkers.

But it is also a foul racially based attack on the Black Man in the White House and another egregious example of The Rising Tide of Racism in America (trademark).

(Time to up the credit limit on my race card...)

[central_va]

We went from the arsenal of democracy to the warehouse of socialism.

[nascarnation]

Well said.

The “great society” was a huge success for progressives and a huge fail for America.

[dhs12345]

Back in my day fast food restaurants were never intended to be a lifetime career path.

Certainly, you could become a manager and work your way up but that was for only a few people.

The vast majority of the employees were kids who needed a summer job or extra money or were in college and lived with their parents.

Apparently that has changed.

[BfloGuy]

When adjusted for inflation minimum wage is 20% lower in 2013 than in the 60’s and 70’s.

Bah. Inflation measurements are opinions. It can't be accurately measured. There should never have been a minimum wage to begin with and there shouldn't be one, now.

Of course, there shouldn't be any inflation, either. Yet another government monstrosity.

[tbw2]

And between rising female employment and illegal immigration, the minimum wage should be lower due to increased supply.

[17th Miss Regt]

The vast majority of the employees were kids who needed a summer job or extra money or were in college and lived with their parents.

Apparently that has changed.

Back then they were mostly legal and wanted to get ahead.

[Ouderkirk]

Indeed. If one cam forego alcohol in those places a better meal can be had at a similar price then fast food.

[Deagle]

I think that it is way past time for the Government to enact a $15 dollar an hour minimum wage and see just what the consequences are! Until these idiots see actual real world consequences, they will never learn! Just try it for a year or so and see what the outcome is. Maybe only then can we get over this stupid liberal nonsense! I say to them, go for it!