A Question To Free Republic

[ElectionTracker]

Minimum wage increases won't make poor workers $7/hr. It would make them unemployed. The correlation between wages and productivity is 0.996 - about as close a correlation as you can get. If they can't produce $7/hr, they won't be paid $7/hr.

Notice that the main champions of minimum wage laws are unions, whose members already make well above minimum wage. But if wages for unskilled labor (aka. unions' competition) are forced up, the unions can charge higher wages.

Think of it as Outback Steakhouse and the like lobbying for the government to set a minimum price of $8 per pound of meat sold by a restaurant. In that case it would be clear that they were trying to force fast food restaurants to increase their prices to unreasonable levels, eliminating them as competition.

Minimum wages do the same thing to the labor market that this minimum food price would do to the restaurant market - overpricing the low-quality goods to reduce competition against the high-quality goods.

[Damifino]

"In addition, raising the minimum wage effectively creates a price floor for unskilled labor. This has the (almost) wholly undisputed effect of creating a surplus; where the quantity demanded is greater than the quantity supplied. For those of who have no problem imagining this in 'people' terms, this will price out of the market the very individuals whom it purports to help. The price goes up on something that almost everyone could 'get by' with on a reduced amount."

It's actually worse than that. Take waiters and waitresses for example. Their take (salary + tips) on an night at a friend of mine's restaurant is about 150.00. If you are forced to give them another 1.00 per hour it takes about 30,000 out of the till per year (seats about 90). That staff member will go from making 150.00 per night to 157.00 per night, big score! That 30,000 will have to be recovered by either less service, higher prices or poorer quality. In the restaurant business this is a loser!

[rwilson99]

My only guess is that if it is a public company with strict policies regarding using internet resources for personal (non-business) use you might have a complaint.

Other than that... First Amendment.

[mhking]

AFAIK, it's legal, but it is definitely tacky.

[WhiteGuy]

It's really no different than the "upper management" encouraging everyone to "voluntarily" donate to the UW or some other charitble organization.

Perhaps your wife should vote as she pleases and keep her choice confidential.

[SquirrelKing]

Nope. Still shakin' the tree.

[Piranha]

Why would this be against the law?

[spunkets]

"Finally I told him if your happy being lower middle class keep voting for democrats...otherwise, if you want to be rich...start voting for rich people..."

So the guy's headed out to vote for skerry now. I'd replace rich will honest and hard working, or something like that.

[hawkiye]

What kind of company is it? I find it hard to believe any company big whig would want A Kerry presidency unless they would have Kerry in their pocket or on the hook some how if he is elected.

[JedForbes]

Probably legal. Definitely tacky.

Definately legal. Incredibly tacky.

[Cold Heat]

Naw, it is tacky and is done all the time.

[hyperpoly8]

Sounds legal, but low class; someone should slip him a note anonymously and tell him so.

[goodnesswins]

Did he by any chance say....HOW sKerry "would help the company?" Or is that just his FEELINGS!?

[Quix]

Am not an atny, PTL.

My understanding is--the company is not a nonprofit.
The company is not the military.

Therefore, it's not against the law.

It is pretty tacky.

[Quix]

You put it best, I think.

[Raycpa]

Its okay, unless of course the boss was a minister.

[Damifino]

The conclusion was to delete the email and go back to work.. just a bit annoyed.

[sweetliberty]

I know we can't do that from the office. We can't send any political material on our office email. That is a state office, though. I don't know if there is a law that applies to private business.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Why would he think higher corporate taxes would be better?

[Textide]

Just click reply to all. Then paste a link to this thread... :)

Ha! I was going to suggest sending out a company email with her suggestion on who to vote for, but I like your idea better. :P