Posted on 01/13/2014 6:34:03 AM PST by Kaslin
Son: Just when I start to think Republicans might be right about Obamacare, they show once again that the only citizens they care about are the rich! The gap between the rich and the poor in this country keeps growing, and they won't even support increasing the minimum wage.
Dad: Do you know why?
Son: Greed! They don't want to pay more. They're just looking out for themselves!
Dad: As economist Thomas Sowell observed, ”I have never understood why it is 'greed' to keep the money you have earned, but not 'greed' to try to take somebody else's money." Sure, most people want to keep more of what they've earned. After all, the top 10% of earners already pay over 70% of the income taxes.
Son: They can afford it.
Dad: Many high earners own small companies which are struggling in this economy. With higher healthcare costs, a higher minimum wage just adds costs and cuts profits.
Son: They're still wealthy.
Dad: Wealth can disappear as fast as it's celebrated. If business profits take a major drop, would you have that minimum wage rolled back?
Son: Of course not!
Dad: Now, you know one of the reasons the GOP doesn't support minimum wage increases or higher taxes. They rarely come down once raised. But it's more than just higher taxes. When small businesses have to pay more to entry workers, they hire fewer workers, use more automation, or even move operations elsewhere.
Son: That's happening anyway.
Dad: This just accelerates that at a time more and more people are having trouble finding jobs. Most economists agree; a minimum wage increase creates more unemployment.
Son: You can't live on a minimum wage job.
Dad: You're not supposed to. Many receiving minimum wage are young people who live with their parents. Most are part of multi-income households. Just over 10% of the people making minimum wage live in households below the poverty line. Such entry-level jobs serve as a proving ground for a worker's value. If you do a great job, serve the customer, apply yourself, and learn new skills, you're likely to be promoted or move to another better paying job.
Son: Not everyone gets a better job.
Dad: Good jobs are earned. Studies document that Americans still move between classes over time. Half of the world's population lives on less than $2.50 a day. Our poor live in comparative luxury. We're so fortunate to live in America. Immigrants from all over risk everything to get into this land of opportunity. Many come with minimal language competency and skills, but they come willing to take any job to prove themselves. When people are motivated and work hard, they can better their position. But when you keep raising their pay for doing a low-skill job, you're rewarding them to settle instead of aspiring to something better.
Son: I've heard your message before--you care enough to say NO!
Dad: I want more for you and for all Americans. President John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
Son: The poor need help, not just inspiring leaders.
Dad: Americans have always been willing to help within limits. But since Lyndon Johnson, we've fought a very expensive war on poverty by providing more services, starting more entitlements, and taxing the successful to pay for these programs. If it had worked and we had fewer in poverty, I might feel differently. But the poor remain, and we are left with a bloated government that can't control its spending and have citizens more dependent on big government. That spending is resulting in a debt YOUR generation is going to have to pay for, and they won't be able to do that by settling for a higher minimum wage. You've had many minimum wage jobs, but now you are home from college. Do you want to go from college to a minimum wage job?
Son: Of course not. I've worked hard to get a career that'll earn more. I have loans to pay off.
Dad: Then you better hope that government starts letting Americans keep more of their hard-earned money to invest in ways that create new companies, new innovations, new careers, and more wealth to keep the American Dream alive.
Son: Why would the rich invest their money to do that?
Dad: Because they always have when they can keep most of the rewards earned. The American Dream is built on self-interest, free enterprise, innovation, and superior products and service. Our Founding Fathers, by believing in the potential of free citizens, unleashed the greatest economic power in history. Giving anyone a raise they don't deserve isn't caring; it's demeaning. When we let any citizen minimize their own potential and settle for government support, we not only limit them; we limit this country. It's time to stop creating dependency and start celebrating achievement.
Son: Guess this isn't the time to ask you for more money.
Dad: You're getting smarter.
Everyone loves a raise.
Minimum Wage is the ultimate Feel Good legislation. It hurts a lot more people more than it helps.
During WW2, The Socialist FDR Administration instituted wage and price controls on American Companies.
Companies could not raise wages, but they could increase benefits to attract workers that they wanted.
Hence, Companies started offering Medical Insurance to keep present employees, and to attract new employees.
Now our Socialized Society considers it a “right” for an employee, and their dependents to have part or all of their medical insurance paid for by the company that they work for.
So much for the millstone burden of a bad WW2 edict from FDR.
One great thing that could come out of the total collapse of CommieObamaCare is that ONLY the citizen is responsible for any insurance product that they choose to buy.
Thus, allowing Companies to lower the price of their goods and services to the customers by the amount that they had been paying for insurance for their employees, and their dependents.
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In similar manner, the Socialist Labor Union Movement in the late 1800’s, and the Socialized FDR Wage Controls of WW2 have produced the relics of Minimum Wage Control and Governmental Labor rules that shackle the productivity of our Society.
Ronald Reagan was fond of saying “Businesses do not pay taxes, because consumers pay all the taxes.”
A business forced by an oppressive Government to pay a higher minimum wage to their workers will simply pass that additional expense on to the consumer in the form of higher prices.
_______________________
None of the above will make any sense to the true believers in the Obama Plantation, headquartered at 1600 Plantation Avenue, Washington, District of Corruption.
BTW, is there any truth to the rumor that the Potomac River will soon have its name changed to De Nile River?
Whenever you encounter a minimum wage proponent just tell him you think the minimum wage is wonderful and it should be raised to at least the current price of a new Mercedes per hour with automatic raises every time the price of the Mercedes increases. When he tells you you are nuts tell him no more than he is.
I never use that one, probably because the GOP always uses it.
I just point out that the states are free to raise it, and many do. Lets see how that works.
I Also ask : if these Federal employer mandates are so good then why did Obama delay the Obamacare employer mandate yet ANOTHER year.
Yet another way Obama is destroying America’s economy and jobs. Weaken USA and make as many Americans dependent on the politicians for our daily bread. The communist subversion - from on top- program is pushing full speed ahead.
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..
True level of Minimum Wage = $0.00 per hour
The concept of “unpaid internship”, i.e., period of learning the arts and craft of the job, is only slightly different and transferred from basic schooling. And is the student paid anything while attending school?
Technically, no, but there may be a stipend to provide for basic needs while the apprenticeship and/or training is being done, and it is expected that the trainee will live a Spartan and ascetic existence, devoted only to learning the trade or art. Upon reaching the desired level of training, the apprentice becomes a journeyman, a day-worker, who is expected to execute the assigned duties with a good deal of competence, and is rewarded accordingly, but still subject to the master for direction and review of the product or service performed.
The system has worked remarkably well since the days of early civilization, when tasks were assigned to individuals within the tribe, and that assigned person became the repository of accumulated knowledge in that craft or duty.
Minimum wage is an attempt to repeal this time-honored and tested means of transmitting technology and skills to the young.
And with its predictable result, the transmission of skills, arts, crafts and even high technology grinds to a halt while the process of decivilization goes on. It is the engine of the barbarian.
The break point on copper was about $1.20/#. Over that price, pennies were worth more as copper than currency. Copper is now at about $3.40.
Oh, they’re zinc, not copper; around $1.00/#.
All quite academic as it is coming and nothing on earth can stop it.
They’ll cram it onto ballots in every state, town and county where they can. It will pass overwhelmingly in all of them. Then the Pubbies will cave.
The unions know the results of minimum wage increases. They know it affects the low skilled sector of workers competing in the job market. Because of their low level of skills, they are under-productive workers. They need those entry level jobs to give them those skills that make them more valued as a worker. These are most likely your children who are living at home; trying to improve their marketability through job experience and raising money to get further education. The unions know this too and know that to make it harder for your child to increase their marketability, the better it is for the union.
The unions know that when minimum wages go up, businesses hire less entry level workers or, even worse, move elsewhere. These low skilled workers are instantly chopped out of the job market. That means your child will be living with you much longer as they seek work in non-existent jobs. It means that your child will not be able to afford further education; which puts that economic burden on you. The unions know this too. They know that the more they can keep the unskilled unemployed, the better it is for them.
Because the unions have virtually made the non-skilled worker uncompetitive, they now can demand higher pay and more jobs for skilled union workers. In fact, unions build into their contracts a corresponding across-the-board pay increase for the percent of increase of the minimum wage. This brings more money into the union hierarchy through the increase in dues. These dues can be used to buy the political process for Democrat politicians.
The minimum wage also drives up the cost of goods and services. Once economic equilibrium has been reached, the benefits of the minimum wage increase become offset by higher living costs. The only ones who benefit are the calculating union hierarchy who are lining their pockets and the pockets of their Democrat friends at the expense of the duped citizen.
but there may be a stipend to provide for basic needs while the apprenticeship and/or training is being done “””
The term Basic needs today means something entirely different to anyone UNDER the age of 35.
They NEED a new car. They NEED a cellphone & all the electronic gadgets. They NEED a 60” TV and $180 Air Jordans.
I won’t give them 1% of what they think are Basic Needs.
Seattle’s new socialist mayor is pushing hard for a $15/hr minimum wage.
I hope they pass it.
There’s nothing left but to let them provide a real world example. So get on with it.
Hardly anyone can say “No” to higher minimum wages, because the American people truly believe that higher such wages will benefit everyone.
What is the Chamber of Commerce’s take on this? Does the MW help or hurt the cause of illegal immigration?
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