Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2180506)

Well, the illegals should not be here.....at least we agree on one (uno) thing. Not likely to agree on WHY US workers are and were so underpaid. One theory is that way back like 1940 or 1950 the rich 1% (that wanted to stifle UNIONS and therefore keep worker pay low -- decided to stop white workers and black workers from liking each other and aligning their mutual needs through mutual union representation -- the 1% adopted a divide and conquer strategy. They encouraged blacks and whites to have some animosity between themselves. This allowed the 1% to resist UNIONS and therefore keep wages low.
.........Apparently today this strategy has worked and still works. Black and white workers should be united and true brothers, but that is NOT the way it is. Black and white workers have been twisted apart and the institution of the Police has been used to keep up the division. Today Florida is out to ruin the teachers' unions.
........In Germany workers and management tend to COOPERATE with each other more than in the US. If this were done more (cooperating) we would NOT BE trying to worry about if US workers are paid too much . Or what is the cause of high prices? And is Walmart eggs cheaper than BJs or visa-versa? That would be "small potatoes" compared to the "Big Picture" US economic problems.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2180502)

Other 1st would countries manage to pay their workers proportionally more than the US does. Maybe compare CEO salaries from those countries to US CEOs to see the REAL PROBLEM.

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 2180725)

Obviously, "some" have not lived in other countries or "they" would know that educated professionals in many countries do not make anywhere near what they would make in this country. Lawyers working as security guards at American installations overseas. Doctors working as receptionists, teachers working as maids, etc. Of course, when someone suggests that "1st world" countries pay more "proportionally" then that is also debatable. I've seen how middle class earners live in other countries, including those that I suppose are considered 1st World countries in Europe. It seems that SOME folks are always looking at the grass on the other side of the fence and attempting to make comparisons with what we have here. Out of all the countries I have lived in or visited in my lifetime, I did not see one that I would consider living in permanently. I did see one that might have been decent, had it not had a corrupt and dangerous government, and the criminal element was not so prominent. Just remember that if other countries subsidize transportation, health care, etc. the money has to come from somewhere. Most any country that "GIVES" the most freebies, have the highest tax rates. Our low income and even poverty level folks live a lifestyle equal to many other country middle class earners.

Originally Posted by Garywt (Post 2180110)

Eggs are increasing all over so you can’t count those. Never knew they tried to match Aldi. Does Aldi even sell those products?

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2180500)

Oil prices went up due to Russia attacking the Ukraine. So shipping costs went up and the fed had to raise interest rates to prevent runaway inflation. Also, the Chinese mishandling of their Covid vaccine led to China producing less and shipping less important products like for the US automobile industry.

Originally Posted by airstreamingypsy (Post 2180300)

"Bleeding hearts" You mean people who think others should be paid a living wage? If we are bleeding hearts, what do you call people who think it's okay that people need two or three jobs to stay afloat?

Originally Posted by RiderOnTheStorm (Post 2180407)

Ever notice how prices go up instantly but take months, if ever, to drop? Merchants are clearly incentivized to take advantage of the higher margins caused by dropping costs (i.e. lower inflation). Classic example; gas prices. Something happens in the Middle East and pump prices go up over night, even though the new oil takes 3 months to be shipped, refined and delivered to market.

Originally Posted by New Englander (Post 2180783)

Did raising the interest rates control runaway inflation.?

Originally Posted by New Englander (Post 2180783)

Did raising the interest rates control runaway inflation.?

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 2180725)

Obviously, "some" have not lived in other countries or "they" would know that educated professionals in many countries do not make anywhere near what they would make in this country. Lawyers working as security guards at American installations overseas. Doctors working as receptionists, teachers working as maids, etc. Of course, when someone suggests that "1st world" countries pay more "proportionally" then that is also debatable. I've seen how middle class earners live in other countries, including those that I suppose are considered 1st World countries in Europe. It seems that SOME folks are always looking at the grass on the other side of the fence and attempting to make comparisons with what we have here. Out of all the countries I have lived in or visited in my lifetime, I did not see one that I would consider living in permanently. I did see one that might have been decent, had it not had a corrupt and dangerous government, and the criminal element was not so prominent. Just remember that if other countries subsidize transportation, health care, etc. the money has to come from somewhere. Most any country that "GIVES" the most freebies, have the highest tax rates. Our low income and even poverty level folks live a lifestyle equal to many other country middle class earners.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2180826)

The US was the ONLY main country that exited WW2 without having its industry decimated - look at Europe and Japan then. Both Japan and Europe have done a remarkable job of getting back on par with the US. I was NOT comparing countries today and I certainly think that the US has a world lead in Silicon Valley software production.
.....What I was talking about is INCOME disparity in the US, which has more of that than Finland, Sweden,
Germany, New Zealand, Japan, and etc, etc. It is a KNOWN FACT that the discrepancy (wages difference) between the US is like 100 to 150 times greater for US CEOs than the average line workers. In JAPAN the discrepancy is about 10 times. And it is similar in Europe and other far east countries. The US has the most dicrepency. it was NOT that way in 1950 or 1960. The US rich have gotten richer and greedier than in other counties. That is part of the reason why costs are rising so much in the US. And the OIL and GAS industry and others are partly responsible because of US pay discrepancies. Tax % and brackets are BIG factor. All these factors are playing into current US Inflation, potential recession, and potential problems for Seniors on fixed incomes.

Originally Posted by Janie123 (Post 2180627)

Whatever the market bears… so $7.50 or so today at a food stand, learn something about the business and get a raise as you prove yourself of change jobs in 6 months with new skill set and make $15+ at overpriced coffee shop, learn more about business and economics, maybe in a year, move to Publix and make $50k or more as asst manager, learn some more, get a 2 year degree in finance or business and get a manager position at say Bucce’s making $100k a year, etc…

Originally Posted by TrapX (Post 2180640)

Oil prices went up when Biden took office. Well before Russia. Biden terminated land leases used for oil and natural gas wells. That reduced the supply. Caused the supply/demand to shift the US into a net oil importer. Now other countries can dictate the price, and it went way up.
Then getting land leases were restricted. So as old wells dry up, no new ones are happening. Lowering supply more. Leases were partially allowed to happen, but on the worst land possible, and no guarantees they won't be revoked again. What CEO would risk trillions of dollars constructing new wells?
Reducing natural gas supply, which powers electricity generation, forces generators to shut off. Oil powered generation is forced online to make up for that. And to generate power to charge all these green electric cars.
Increased oil demand caused gasoline prices to go way up. That raises the cost to transport everything. Manufacturers and farmers pay more to get raw materials. There is a higher cost to get those goods to stores. Costs for equipment needed to manufacture, store, transport, warehouse, display, and sell all go up.
Biden's "green" actions caused a huge portion of this inflation.
And you pay for all of it,

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 2180304)

So, in your opinion, how much should an unskilled high school dropout, an ILLEGAL alien, or a 17 year old kid looking for his first job be paid?????

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2180842)

Which unskilled high school dropouts, illegal aliens, and 17-year-old kids looking for their first job, are working at Walmart? I haven't checked credentials but all the employees I see there appear to be well over 18. No idea what their education is, because it's none of my business. As long as they know how to do their jobs, I frankly don't give a flying fart where they're from or how many jobs they've had or what their education is.

If they do their job, they should be paid a living wage. If they don't do their job they should be fired.