Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

$12 an hour is conservative rocket fuel, says Ron Unz
The Daily Caller ^ | January 10, 2014 | Neil Munro, White House correspondent

Posted on 01/11/2014 6:37:08 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-97 next last
To: VeniVidiVici

It’s all about Mr. Unz. To understand the theory of the minimum wage you only need a short attention span. Low wage workers are not interested in facts.


61 posted on 01/11/2014 8:51:01 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Knowing small business owners and their struggle to make payroll and pay themselves raising the minimum wage is just another tax increase.

I’m disappointed this Libertarian is adopting a Marxist position, .


62 posted on 01/11/2014 8:51:12 PM PST by RginTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cableguymn
slash the government hand outs and see what happens first. Then we can talk about adjusting the minimum wage..

Bingo. The government handouts pay better than working for minimum wage. There is no incentive to work when you can earn more sitting on your butt and collecting welfare or fake SSDI.

63 posted on 01/11/2014 8:53:12 PM PST by Myrddin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Companies can’t pay employees more than the value of their work so they have to raise prices to compensate for unearned wage increases.

Raising the minimum wage results in demands for wage increases by other employees right up the wage ladder.
A more skilled employee will not be content to have a minimum wage employee suddenly making as much, or more.

By the time the round of wage increases and price increases runs its course everyone will be back in their old position relative to others and to prices for products and commodities.

The only difference will be that everyone is just handling more money - their place on the economic ladder will be the same as it was at the start.

The only ones who can’t catch up are those on fixed incomes.


64 posted on 01/11/2014 8:53:55 PM PST by Iron Munro (Orwell: There are some ideas so absurd that only an intellectual could believe them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

This guy is no libertarian


65 posted on 01/11/2014 8:59:00 PM PST by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Discuss what?

The guy is an idiot.


66 posted on 01/11/2014 9:07:47 PM PST by Nik Naym (It's not my fault... I have compulsive smartass disorder.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: crusher2013
Was it really wise to open our markets to China and the rest.

Not the way that the free trade agreements were negotiated in the 1990s. But now that the free trade genie is out of the bottle, it isn't going back inside. There is "stuff" that we can do in the US that the Chinese can't do. But it's impossible to do those things if a worker can't communicate properly in English and can't understand math.

The skills bring people the jobs. There is no future in low skill minimum wage jobs either at $7.25 or $15. Raising it to $15 will just bring closer the moment that your smartphone will be asking you, "Would you like some fries with that", rather than a human being.

The shanty towns are already here, called "cities".

67 posted on 01/11/2014 9:11:11 PM PST by Sooth2222 ("Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself." M.Twain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Sooth2222

I’m not worried about my self or my family. We are high skilled, educated people who are going to make it.

What do you suggest we do with the bottom 50%. They can’t live on $1.65/hr.

We either find productive work for them or support them. I strongly prefer that we find productive work for them to do.


68 posted on 01/11/2014 9:18:38 PM PST by crusher2013
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Obama set Obamacare to qualify if you make 3 times the poverty level. If min. wage went up, you’d just have liberals moving the goalposts for “poverty” higher so they could still give handouts to more people than is possible (since even the current level is unaffordable, unsustainable and drives us further into debt every year).

Meanwhile, prices would go up for all of us, including the “poor” people who got the raise. So that inflation alone would help keep these people back under the poverty line.

Not to mention the people who would be fired or get their hours cut so businesses can keep their budget balanced. That throws more dependents into the welfare system.

There are so many other ways to reform and cut welfare that don’t have anything to do with the minimum wage.


69 posted on 01/11/2014 9:20:03 PM PST by JediJones (The #1 Must-see Filibuster of the Year: TEXAS TED AND THE CONSERVATIVE CRUZ-ADE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hugin
Employees are not paid what they are worth to a company.

Of course they are. The free market automatically determines that, with the exception of distorting government controls like the minimum wage. Price controls, caps and floors on goods, services, or labor simply distort the natural value the market determines.

In a free market system, everything including labor is bought and sold for what it's worth to the buyer and the seller by definition. Otherwise, the transaction wouldn't happen.

70 posted on 01/11/2014 9:23:51 PM PST by JediJones (The #1 Must-see Filibuster of the Year: TEXAS TED AND THE CONSERVATIVE CRUZ-ADE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Raising the minimum wage is rocket fuel for inflation, negating the effects of helping low income earners, and making things harder for everyone else.


71 posted on 01/11/2014 9:30:34 PM PST by Hazwaste (Democrats are like slinkies. Only good for pushing down stairs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet; KC_Lion; Bender2

“A nationwide minimum wage of $12 per hour would shrink government, aid families, curb illegal immigration, spur high-tech investment, and boost GOP support among working-class voters “

Point by point deconstruction of this blather in 3,2,1

1. Shrink Government: What in the hell does he think, that welfare would go away if everyone was making 12 bucks an hour? If anything the libs would say that now that everyone is making 12 bucks an hour there would be more “tax revenue” thus we can afford more “Social programs”....

2. Aid Families: What the hell do they think that now that because Joe McBurger flipper now makes 12 bucks and hour that the breadwinner of a family who was previously making 12 bucks an hour will get an automatic raise, get real... What will happen is the price of such staples as food will rise BEHIND the raise curve and those who were already making around 12 an hour would be the first to get royally screwed, most of them being the Patriarchs or Matriarchs of families...

3. Curb Illegal Immigration: Oh sure like all the illegals that have identity thieved their way to a “valid ID” would now go back to Mexico because they could make so much less. Identity Theft would skyrocket as the ones here that don;t have fake ID would be provided with even MORE reason to get a fake ID to get on the minimum raise bandwagon of 12 bucks an hour. Not to mention when word got back to relatives living in other countries, I am sure they would really want to stay in home country...I say that sarcastically.

4. Spur High tech investment: Why pay an several domestic workers in say a call center or help desk 12 an hour that you were previously paying only 9-10 dollars an hour, when you could pay some guy in india far less and not have to pay all the other taxes and medicare and SS tax crap that the employer has to pay.. This would really6 accelerate outsourcing to both India and China...

5. Spur GOP support: Fat freaking chance there, the GOPe party is the party of freaking stupid, they would totally screw this up even if “credit” for it was handed to them on a silver platter. Plus with the boost to a new wave of outsourcing and illegal immigration the only people taking the blame would be the GOP because this would cause such a large demographic shift in the voter base that it would literally spell the end of the GOP.


72 posted on 01/11/2014 9:34:50 PM PST by GraceG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ghost of SVR4

[ Here is the problem with $NN.00 minimum wage. It artificially inflates the value of a given or earned employment position. That in turn inflates the price of any given product or service that is being offered by said wage/position. That in turn robs me of my wealth if this happens across the spectrum and I have no choice left and the politicians damn well know this. ]

Combine this with the Fed’s inflation of the money and it would be a one two knockout punch to our already fragile non-growing economy....


73 posted on 01/11/2014 9:36:25 PM PST by GraceG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: Hazwaste

[ Raising the minimum wage is rocket fuel for inflation, negating the effects of helping low income earners, and making things harder for everyone else. ]

It would be especially hard on those in the middle and lower middle side of the economic spectrum...

Someone already making 12 an hour, do you think they would be getting a raise after this anytime soon?


74 posted on 01/11/2014 9:37:54 PM PST by GraceG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: PGR88

This guy is no libertarian

Probably just a “Sexual anything goes, legalize drugs, Open borders, Free trade amongst un-even economic powers type lib-tard-tarian”


75 posted on 01/11/2014 9:40:35 PM PST by GraceG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: JediJones

What the free market determines is the least amount the employer can pay to get the most productivity. The difference between that and the value of the work done is the profit or loss. Employers want to maximize profits, therefore want to minimize the amount they pay. How little they can pay is not determined by the value added, but by the balance between the supply of people capable and willing to do the job, and the demand for those people. Which is why the Chamber of Commerce and their cronies want to flood the country with cheap labor.


76 posted on 01/11/2014 10:12:40 PM PST by Hugin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

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..


77 posted on 01/11/2014 10:34:54 PM PST by mosesdapoet (Serious contribution pause.Please continue onto meaningless venting no one reads.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DirtyPigpen

He gets to keep his $12.05 an hour while all of his expenses increase. Been there...


78 posted on 01/11/2014 10:40:58 PM PST by Render
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Hugin

Illegal immigrants are no different than counterfeit money printed for the richest Americans.


79 posted on 01/11/2014 10:45:37 PM PST by enduserindy (A painted trash can is still a trash can.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: mosesdapoet

You make it sound like the GOP is a better choice for the working man. I’m not a liberal or Democrat but I’m sure not a Republican either. Amnesty will destroy the middle class and all the fed printing will take care of inflation. I guess my point is feel good socialism is a bipartisan thing these days.


80 posted on 01/11/2014 10:54:30 PM PST by enduserindy (A painted trash can is still a trash can.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-97 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson