[tippyclubb]

Originally Posted by waynet

and the rich keep getting richer. And it's only the rich. the Mcdee worker is not alone. Even skilled workers are not benefitting froma better economy.

Not once has a poor man gave me or my husband a job. Come to think of it I don't know anyone who works for poor people. Rich people provide jobs and if it weren't for them we would not be retiring.

[eweissenbach]

I see a lot of "I've got mine - up yours" attitude on this issue. There are lazy, unmotivated people working at minimum wage jobs, just as there are in many higher paid occupations. There are also many well educated and well qualified people who have been forced to work minimum wage jobs because their formerly well paid jobs were eliminated and there is a glut of overqualified people looking for work. There are also many single mothers and fathers trying their best to provide for their family and that's the best job available to them. If the lower end of the income is raised it provides more money to purchase goods, generating a multiplier effect in the economy, and less welfare/food stamps, not to mention more tax revenue. A rising tide lifts all ships.

[Hancle704]

Originally Posted by Medtrans

Granted $8.30 an hour is too little but $15.00 is nearly double. I know people who are admins, nurses aides, data entry clerks, etc. that don't make $15.00 an hour.

And most of those jobs require some education and skills beyond what is required in fast foods. Just wondering, since it has not been mentioned, what is the hourly wage currently paid for the supervisor and manager of these fast food places? Certainly they have more experience, training and responsibilities than the worker who now wants $15/hour for doing less.

What portion of the $15 will go to the union?

[allus70]

It seems perhaps we are overlooking a fundamental law of capitalism... that of supply and demand. If a particular skill set is in demand, and there is a shortage of that particular skill set, wages will rise.
Conversely, if a skill set is not in demand, or there is an overabundance of people with that skill set seeking employment, wages will fall.
We are now at a point where most of the jobs in this country which require a modest skill set have been shipped overseas or have been automated, while at the same time the size of the pool of people with these minimal skills looking for work have dramatically increased. The law of supply and demand at this level is brutally valid because there will always be many more people looking for these jobs than there will be jobs available, meaning wages will not rise, or if they do, the rise will be minimal at best.
A burger joint typically does not offer any benefits or pay above the minimum rate. In many parts of this country, there are many people without any skills and are so desperate for a job that they will take any job at any pay rate just to survive.
We as a country have to decide, is it desirable to allow the law of supply and demand to play out and have a large portion of our citizens permanently tethered to very low wages without any benefits? Does it help or hurt our economy? Who will pay for their food and medical care when they can't?
Or does the government have a role in raising wages because the usual economic forces that do so are no longer at work.
What about the mom and pop stores, will they be hurt? Will teens looking for a summer job have a harder time doing so?
As for the political ramifications, Democrats are not alone calling for a raise, such well known Conservatives as Bill O'Reilly, Mitt Romney, and Phyllis Schlafly are in agreement with the Democrats on this issue.

[B767drvr]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

If the lower end of the income is raised it provides more money to purchase goods, generating a multiplier effect in the economy, and less welfare/food stamps, not to mention more tax revenue. A rising tide lifts all ships.

If a rising tide (higher minimum wage) lifts all boats, then why not send those boats to the moon and raise the minimum wage to $50 or even $100 per hour? This should really give the economy a boost and lift those making minimum wage well into the middle class, no?

[Nightengale212]

I am a 36 year R.N. living and working in R.I. which healthcare is the largest employer in my state. A significant number of the healthcare work force in my state are "certified" nursing assistants that make in the $15.00 or lower range which their duties are both physically and mentally demanding. If the minimum wage goes to $15.00/hr what happens to these "certified" extremely hard working individuals that are providing the bulk of hands on care in hospitals, nursing homes, and home care ? I'll tell you what will happen, these workers will all say adios to healthcare work because for the same pay it is far easier on the back to flip a burger than flip a patient.

[Challenger]

In economics as in Physics , all actions produce reactions. Laws setting prices or wages most often have adverse consequences when all things are considered.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

I see a lot of "I've got mine - up yours" attitude on this issue. There are lazy, unmotivated people working at minimum wage jobs, just as there are in many higher paid occupations. There are also many well educated and well qualified people who have been forced to work minimum wage jobs because their formerly well paid jobs were eliminated and there is a glut of overqualified people looking for work. There are also many single mothers and fathers trying their best to provide for their family and that's the best job available to them. If the lower end of the income is raised it provides more money to purchase goods, generating a multiplier effect in the economy, and less welfare/food stamps, not to mention more tax revenue. A rising tide lifts all ships.

The sad truth is, that people are not born equal. Not everyone has the same IQ and emotional control and personality characteristics and physical abilities needed to be a surgeon or an engineer or a high school coach NO MATTER HOW THEY TRY.

Lazy, unmotivated people in well paid jobs do not keep their jobs for long unless they work for the government or are in a tenured position that sadly doesn't weed all of them out quickly. There is more cause and effect, faster in free enterprise.

( EDITED) I just got a PM from a friend who worked in a government job who took umbrage. Naturally I don't mean ALL, but I mean TOO MANY)

And economics is not based on compassion, it is based on hard facts.

And there are many reading this that worked two jobs to get started way back when, because they didn't for many GOOD reasons (post depression era/ lack of money) go to college. There are many who are reading this who had salaried jobs that worked 12 hours a day or more...just because that job didn't require it, but the task did.

The response..."I've got mine-up yours" to me means misunderstanding the situation and dismissing the issue angrily. I don't expect anything from others that I would not expect from myself or from my children.

The economy is not based on empathy and kindness. Most of us have taught our children to work hard, save your money, do without, do it yourself, if you can't afford it today you can't pay for it next month, don't smoke, you can't afford it, stay off drugs etc. etc. etc. We are not entitled to anything that we cannot provide for ourselves unless we are sick or REALLY physically or mentally disabled.

Passing minimum wage job laws is not the answer. The people who choose not to work for eight bucks an hour are not going to work for sixteen either.

[coconutmama]

In my day these jobs were for people to supplement their income, or for teenagers to gain work experience. $15.00/hr is too high. As another poster stated, many admins, bookkeepers etc. with skills do not make that much. Yes, I'm glad the fast food workers are working & not on welfare, but in my view these jobs should be seen as temporary & not a "career" to raise a family on. Go to night school & move yourself up! Wait to have a family until you make something of yourself. What is the incentive to do so, if the government dictates your raises to obtain votes, at the expense of inflation for the rest of us who worked our way up in this world. Ok. I'm off my soapbox now. Have a great day everyone!

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by coconutmama

In my day these jobs were for people to supplement their income, or for teenagers to gain work experience. $15.00/hr is too high. As another poster stated, many admins, bookkeepers etc. with skills do not make that much. Yes, I'm glad the fast food workers are working & not on welfare, but in my view these jobs should be seen as temporary & not a "career" to raise a family on. Go to night school & move yourself up! Wait to have a family until you make something of yourself. What is the incentive to do so, if the government dictates your raises to obtain votes, at the expense of inflation for the rest of us who worked our way up in this world. Ok. I'm off my soapbox now. Have a great day everyone!

How do you explain that a well run company like Costco can pay its employees a starting salary of $15, while Sam's only pays $7.25? There goes the theory that higher wages means higher prices. Where do you think you will get better customer service?

With the economy improving, and the unemployment rate now at 6.1%, these companies like Sam's will go begging for help. Don't be surprised to see only retired people supplementing their incomes on your next visit to Sam's.

[dave harris]

"First, most of the people protesting do not work" I'm always amazed at people who make statements like this. Do you have documentation on this, know the people, have inside information? If you do please state them.

[JCMSr]

Having owned my own construction company for many, many years I can honestly say that I do not remember ever paying anyway minimum wage for more than the first week. Anyone who is willing to work, shows that they are dependable and willing to listen and learn always earned more than minimum wage. Those who thought they "deserved" more than minimum wage just by showing up whenever it fit their schedule did not continue to fill the slot better offered to someone who really wanted to work. Everyone deserves an opportunity to show what they are worth and get the experience needed to move up but it is a two way street. It was always amazing to me the number of employees that we had who were good workers but never had the desire to take on more responsibility to move up. Those same people were the first ones to complain when they did not get a raise down the line.

When did the minimum wage become the "living wage". I'm probably showing my age now but when I began my career minimum wage was the rate used for those with absolutely no work experience who wanted to work. Even those who decided to drop out of school and were too lazy to learn a trade never had the guts to "demand" that they deserved $30,000+ a year to start.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by janmcn

How do you explain that a well run company like Costco can pay its employees a starting salary of $15, while Sam's only pays $7.25? There goes the theory that higher wages means higher prices. Where do you think you will get better customer service?

With the economy improving, and the unemployment rate now at 6.1%, these companies like Sam's will go begging for help. Don't be surprised to see only retired people supplementing their incomes on your next visit to Sam's.

Read this. Costco Wholesale Hourly Pay | Glassdoor

And read this. http://www.glassdoor.com/Hourly-Pay/...-Pay-E7811.htm

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by janmcn

How do you explain that a well run company like Costco can pay its employees a starting salary of $15, while Sam's only pays $7.25? There goes the theory that higher wages means higher prices. Where do you think you will get better customer service?

With the economy improving, and the unemployment rate now at 6.1%, these companies like Sam's will go begging for help. Don't be surprised to see only retired people supplementing their incomes on your next visit to Sam's.

Grace shared good data. $7.25 has not been valid for Sam's for a long time. There is some wage difference, but there is also a difference on what the two companies return to their stockholders. I think WMT is running 6% and COST is about 3.5%. (I haven't looked lately)


6.1% "unemployment"..................the world has changed and the old unemployment rate is not valid any more. Need to look at other data points. So many more (at historical highs) not included in the old unemployment calculation are not employed or underemployed.

WalMart is returning a 6% EPS to their stock holders and Costco is at less than 4%. (Just quick numbers from 10,000 feet)

[graciegirl]

Only refrigerator magnet we have.

Youngest daughter in her first job. Proud of her then. Proud of her now. She was 49 yesterday.