[Jima64]

I guess business owners will have to pay the increase but they can eliminate the workers that don't deserve it. I don't buy fast food hb's or pizza so I am not familiar with the cost but the last time I saw pricing it was way too high.

[rlcooper70]

Do you believe that people in Seattle pay double what you pay for coffee and donuts? Come on. You know they have mandatory minimum wage of $15 ... and their economy is going along very nicely. You are being manipulated by fear. Give up the fear and move on.

[johnnascar]

$15 seems reasonable considering the whole Senate voted for an extra $6oo aweek unemployment at the start of the shutdown.15 times 40 equals 600.The $600 was for 0 hours.

[Stu from NYC]

Some jobs are worth $ 15 are not.

More and more unskilled jobs are being eliminated and people replaced by computers terminals.

Raising the minimum wages speeds up the process.

Less and less cashiers at grocery stores and fast food restaurants.

[Wing-nut2]

When I retired from the Air Force in 1990, I went to work for The Home Depot. I started out at $10.00 an hour. Here it is 30 years later and most people are still making $10.00 per hour. How much of what we buy is at the same price it was 30 years ago? NOTHING! I have no problem with the $15.00 per hour wage

[mtlee024]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

They already overcharge you for a donut here at Dunkin Donuts anyway. It's cheaper up north, where minimum wage is higher. Don't blame costs on minimum wage. Blame it on greedy companies that know they can get whatever they charge you, because you're willing to pay it.

You just described capitalism, Economics 101, as long as you will buy the sellers will increase the price, until you don't buy. Actually there is a formula for this. If you don't like the price of something don't buy it, but don't complain about it. At least in a capitalism country you have the opportunity to buy. Whereas, in socialist country you wait in line for the possibility of buying one roll of TP. I did not vote for the FL $15 min wage as I think it will increase prices while increasing unemployment. I am willing to bet anyone I am right. All you people who don't like self check-out get ready, because a lot more is coming.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by village dreamer

yes it would be nice if everyone could make $15 per hour , but. will you pay $3 for a donut,$20 for pizza. i dont know where this is going to go. can a small shop pay $15?? you all know who pays the $15.... we will. how about all the grass cutters , gate keepers,all the golf course people. all our fees will go up.

$15 an hour X 40 hours a week X 50 weeks a year (allowing a two week vacation) = 2000 hours of work per year for $30,000.

$30,000 a year is approximately what I get from Social Security without working. I also have retirement savings. A lot of people in The Villages live on that, or less, but if they do, there’s a good chance they have no mortgage or a small one, and they have Medicare, which is a huge help.

Workers making $30,000 a year pay little to no Federal Income Tax but do pay the Social Security Tax. Workers making $30,000 a year don’t qualify for Medicaid but may qualify for assistance for buying health insurance. They probably no longer qualify for food stamps, or whatever it is called these days. They may no longer qualify for some other government aid that offsets every penny they pay in taxes. They are probably paying a third of their salary in rent. Most of what they don’t spend on rent and utilities goes to buying things. Their buying things keeps the rest of the country producing things to buy. If they make half as much, they buy a lot less.

A family with two workers making $30,000 a year each can afford to buy a house, maybe a small car, be more comfortable. Maybe they get health insurance. They can pay their bills. They pay income tax. They are no longer taking from the government without giving, but are productive, proud, and have a level of freedom from want they don’t have on $30,000 a year, much less less than that. They can do that with high school diplomas, or even without them if they are each earning $15 an hour. Instead of all of us paying, by way of the government, to keep them alive, they too become taxpayers.

I think that is fantastic! What happens sometimes now is that businesses hire people for a wage so low that we the government have to make up the difference. Why should employers get a free ride that way? Wouldn’t you much rather pay for those employees by paying slightly more for products and services than by paying more tax so they can receive more government handouts? A good living wage encourages people to work and lets more people enjoy the fruits of the American Dream we like to talk about. It’s part of making America great for ALL people.

[wsachs]

Last statistics I read said eight people have same wealth as 50% of the world's population. Seems fair to me.

[EdFNJ]

Every worker deserves at least a $15 min wage ... however it will absolutely destroy the small mom & pop stores unless there is some sort of exemption for stores who do under $???????? gross per year.

[Villages Kahuna]

Those prices would be awful. But where did you get those numbers?

[Dana1963]

Originally Posted by mtlee024

You just described capitalism, Economics 101, as long as you will buy the sellers will increase the price, until you don't buy. Actually there is a formula for this. If you don't like the price of something don't buy it, but don't complain about it. At least in a capitalism country you have the opportunity to buy. Whereas, in socialist country you wait in line for the possibility of buying one roll of TP. I did not vote for the FL $15 min wage as I think it will increase prices while increasing unemployment. I am willing to bet anyone I am right. All you people who don't like self check-out get ready, because a lot more is coming.

It's strange 6 months ago we went through the same scenario, limits on toilet paper, paper towels, sanitation supplies even now Clorox wipes are limited by supply along with limits on alcohol and hydrogen peroxide purchases

[DecaturFargo]

Actually, yes. Unlike my counterparts here in the Villages, I care about a decent livelihood for workers. Life is not all about me! My Christians Villagers better look within and assess their true sense of community.

[SWesterlund]

Originally Posted by village dreamer

yes it would be nice if everyone could make $15 per hour , but. will you pay $3 for a donut,$20 for pizza. i dont know where this is going to go. can a small shop pay $15?? you all know who pays the $15.... we will. how about all the grass cutters , gate keepers,all the golf course people. all our fees will go up.

The fact that Morgan and Morgan is behind the push for this, is enough for me to be against it. And, I agree with your analysis on the repercussions of raising the minimum wage.

[jbrown132]

Originally Posted by village dreamer

yes it would be nice if everyone could make $15 per hour , but. will you pay $3 for a donut,$20 for pizza. i dont know where this is going to go. can a small shop pay $15?? you all know who pays the $15.... we will. how about all the grass cutters , gate keepers,all the golf course people. all our fees will go up.

Here is my question. It is clear that the cost of food in restaurants will go up. If a waiter is now making $15.00 an hour do I still tip 20%. Say you and your wife go to dinner an the tab is $50.00. At 20% the tip would be $7.50 making their wage $22.50 and that assumes you are there for the entire hour. This intuitively seems highly to me an I believe will hurt these establishments. Maybe I’m wrong.

[Nucky]

We would be honored to pay more for whatever is necessary to raise the minimum pay to $15. Florida should be commended.

That being said I owed a small Copy Machine & Fax Machine Sales & Service company about 30ish years ago and as an owner, if I was required to raise someone's pay then they would have to step up their game and earn it. No more day off for a day at the beach and leaving me holding the bag. I wouldn't mind paying them even more if they were worth it. Changing the Minimum Wage during a Pandemic may not be the best timing. When would be the best timing? Progress is never easy.