Democrats Prepare to Raise Minimum Wage

AP via Newsday ^ | November 16, 2006 | Dennis Freking

[AmishDude]

Oh, yeah, remember Charlie Rangel and Mississippi? Put simply, wages and standard of living is higher in blue states. In MA and NY, it's not easy to find a job for less than $7.25. But it makes the wages (even union wages) at the auto plants in Alabama shoot up.

[albie]

Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers: 2005

...you forgot one major characteristic...THEY ARE LOSERS!

[Sybeck1]

There goes the .99 menu at Wendy's!!

[CharacterCounts]

Free money!

No its not!

It's the illusion of free money.

If everyone makes the minimum wage then the cost of goods and services rise proportionately and the minimum wage worker can't afford anything he couldn't afford before.

The minimum wage only makes politicians (Democrats)look good.

1. It starts teenagers out as Democrats because they are naive enough to think the politician got them something.

2. It makes unions happy because it gives them an excuse to demand more money.

[AmishDude]

$7.25/hr would kill most state governments because it would price union road construction costs through the stratosphere.

[albie]

Good point. Lots of avenues to consider with this issue.

[b4its2late]

Democrats Prepare to Raise Minimum Wage Destroy Economy

Yep, and that's just the beginning.

[AmishDude]

But maybe now I can order at McDonalds without talking to people. I can work that stupid cash register myself.

And that means more self-checkout lines at Walmart, and maybe a few at my Target, too.

Of course, unemployed teenagers means lots of crime, but what do I care, I don't live in a dysfunctional city.

[albie]

Try to remember...dems do not have a MANDATE! Bush has a veto stamp!

[Beagle8U]

Who would want to work for minimum wage? Just end it and people would work for what they feel their worth is.

Everyone that thinks they are worth $7.25 now are free to work for that, or more, or less.

Since there is no slavery now, nobody is forced to work for any amount.

For "minimum wage" to have any justification people would have to be forced to accept that or nothing. Most people make far and away more so that argument holds no water.

[brothers4thID]

Bush better have a veto pen ready

[Sir Gawain]

It was sarcasm dude.

[jackv]

Sounds good til the dopes realize some of those workers will have to lose their jobs to pay for those raises.
Nice work dims.
Unemployment already on the rise and they've barely gotten started.

[Quilla]

Twelve of my 15 employees have been with me since the day I opened in 1988. Many of the gents make well over $20/hour and have health insurance, dental, and retirement provided entirely by company monies. It's all a matter of what they are worth, if they producing. I offer advancement. If one chooses not to accept additional responsibilities, how does that fit your "what goes around, comes around" theory?

[WVNan]

Oh, I think the dims know full well that it will cause inflation and unemployment. It will give them something to use against the GOP in 08. "It's the economy stupid" attack.
We'll see how long after this is implimented it takes for the unemployment numbers to go up.

[SoldierDad]

No, but I once had a 29.17% increase in my salary. But, I had to leave one employer for another in order to obtain that increase.

[andy58-in-nh]

...you forgot one major characteristic...THEY ARE LOSERS!

Well, don't forget that most minimum wage earners are young unmarried kids or young adults with minimal education and job skills - NOT breadwinners.

But, if you are over 25, have a high-school diploma or less, are not married, have no marketable skills, still live at home, and earn minimum wage... that would in fact tend to indicate the Big "L"

[SoldierDad]

Minumum wage is a government construct created way back when workers first started organizing unions, and the Govmnt figured this was a way to keep employers from taking advantage of the labor force. Now it is primarily for entry level jobs for those with out any real work experience or skills. It was never intended to be a "living wage" and the Dems need to stop seeing this as the issue. People working for minimum wage need to be encouraged to move up the employment ladder, not just accept another government handout. They will never be able to get ahead by waiting for the Dems to give them more.

[SirLinksalot]

The city of Los Angeles just voted last night to force all companies in the city to pay $10.64/hour living wage. All companies, not just those doing business with the city like they did before.

This will be an interesting real life experiment to see if actual implementation of this policy affects the employment of unskilled people ( mostly young kids just entering the job market ).

The counter argument in resistance to raising the minimum wage by law is that doing so will cause employers on the aggregate to employ LESS entry level people ( mostly youths ) in favor of more experienced workers, thus increasing unemployment for entry levels.

We shall see if this happens in LA, and by extension, the whole country.

Wouldn't this policy cause an UPTICK in the unemployment rate ?

[b4its2late]

Hopefully he'll use it often.