Should California's expensive regions consider increasing the minimum wage to $15.00/hour? (Los Angeles: unemployed, purchasing)

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Krispytopher

There really are no "solutions" at least not simple ones to be found on a message board, what there is however, is history. The has been a change in people and the working demographics. It use to be (back in the day) that kids worked these cheap jobs, such as McDonalds, and then would either promote, or more likely having gotten some experience went out to a "real job". My first job was at McDonalds, I worked with many of my high school peers, we had an adult manager and I only ever saw two other adults that worked there, but both of them had other jobs to subsidize because they knew working such a job was not enough to support a home.

Over time many adults began to drop out of school or have other issues that prevented them from getting past their first or second jobs, and they began to want a job whose intent was to give some money while you lived at home, to become a source of wealth to support a whole family. This is the problem, I am 30 years old and have worked at Mcdonalds, KFC, A&W, and a variety of other jobs, all of which I knew, or expected, going into that they may buy groceries, not pay the bills. People today feel that flipping burgers is worth $15 when my wife is a sheriff dispatcher for six years only makes $17 an hour?!

The topic is in regards to "expensive areas" and cost of living. I know several people that work in San Fran. But live outside the city and commute. You can't raise a wage for an area and not expect it to really change the surrounding area or the whole state's economy. Minimum wage can go up a buck or two, but not double. Plus people are lacking their critical thinking skills if they don't think that a cost of bread will quickly become $6 a loaf when wages increase, because then it can be afforded.

So basically you're saying, there's nothing we can do, just leave everything as it is and continue with the status quo? Well, at least you took the time to respond intelligently even if I may not agree.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by slo1318

Its not just those jobs though, it would have an effect on all middle income service jobs. Like I was saying, your middle wage skilled guys will want more because their wages would be to close to unskilled help. Escalating costs of goods/food/rents would just inch upward. Its a tough call, but unskilled people have vehicles to become skilled people its a matter of having a plan to move forward.

This doesn't answer my question, in fact it just reiterates it. If those people were to forward themselves like you say, what then? Who would do the jobs they left?

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

You are welcome. I enjoy your posts as well

I'm not familiar with krispy's posts but there seems to be smarts going on there.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

No. What expensive cities need to do is supply more housing so that people aren't priced out of local housing markets (whether renting or owning).

This makes a hell of a lot of sense too

[Moriarti]

Originally Posted by mbell75

Nope, its simple. If you can't afford an area, move to a cheaper area. Thats how we did it back in the day. I really didn't want to move from 4 blocks from the beach in Huntington Beach to a 40 foot mobile home in disgusting Desert Hot Springs back in 1994, but thats what happens if you don't make enough money. There are plenty of cities right here in CA where current minimum wage is enough to get by. People feel so entitled now, its pretty pathetic.

where would that be?

The California minimum wage is $8. For a full time worker that is $1280 a month. Can't get a roof over your head anywhere in California with those wages.

[slo1318]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

This doesn't answer my question, in fact it just reiterates it. If those people were to forward themselves like you say, what then? Who would do the jobs they left?

The people that would do those jobs are people just starting out, teens, or re-entering the work force or even second income earners. There is always a cycle, those people moving forward would expand the economy and make room for more. Nobody should be content with working minimum wage forever.

[Wilson502]

Originally Posted by Moriarti

where would that be?

The California minimum wage is $8. For a full time worker that is $1280 a month. Can't get a roof over your head anywhere in California with those wages.

You can rent a crummy apartment in the armpit aka CV of CA on a min wage job if ur full time.

[Moriarti]

Originally Posted by Wilson502

You can rent a crummy apartment in the armpit aka CV of CA on a min wage job if ur full time.

um...you do realize that there are lots of low wage/min wage jobs within LA county right? Where should these people live?

[Wilson502]

Originally Posted by Moriarti

um...you do realize that there are lots of low wage/min wage jobs within LA county right? Where should these people live?

Either not there or roommates. No different in the bay area or anywhere else that has a high COL.

[RaymondChandlerLives]

Somewhere tonight, the CEOs at McDonald's/Walmart/etc. are laughing their a**es off, counting their record-busting bonuses. We subsidize them, after all.