Days after minimum wage rises, Maine diner near nh cuts staff hours. (Bangor: layoffs, closing)

[50states]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

The fact that this law treats the economies of Portland and rural Maine in the exact same way is crazy.
Housing costs in the Portland area are twice what they are in rural Maine.
$10 is a low wage in Portland; it is a typical wage in rural Maine.
Businesses in Portland already start wages at $10 (often). Far fewer businesses in rural Maine do so.


Oh well.... another example of southern Maine telling the rest of Maine what to do.

More like people from away telling native born what to do.

[G1..]

Originally Posted by Zymer

And...what do you think I own?

You're talking out of your butt because you don't know.

I highlighted an issue, that being that no one has defined this magical 'living wage'.

I said "owners " like you,mean your train of thought.All so I said before that a MW should not be a "living wage " they are two different things.There aremany,many retired people in Maine working and supplementing there income with a min wage job n,so why do you not think they should be able to make a living?

[Maineac]

Originally Posted by Zymer

And...what do you think I own?

You're talking out of your butt because you don't know.

I highlighted an issue, that being that no one has defined this magical 'living wage'. Do you have a better definition? Do you think somebody *owes* you a better standard of living than what I defined?

Come on, don't just spout silly accusations, put some thought into a proposal that makes some sort of sense.

I know for a fact that I can live on less than $10 a week for food, because I had to do it when I first bought this house and moved in...and then couldn't find a job for nine months. I certainly didn't eat like the POTUS, but by making wise choices I had *enough* to eat. It was enough to buy eggs, frozen sausages, bread, frozen vegetables, hotdogs and Ramen noodles. Maybe not great, but enough...and if I knew then what I know know, I could have eaten even cheaper by making my own bread and buying rice instead of Ramen noodles.

There are places where you can rent super cheap rooms, I know because I know people that live in places like that. There have been times when *I* have lived in places like that. Sure, a flophouse isn't a great place to live, but it's a roof over your head and heat. Do you think you deserve more?

What more do you want?

What standard of living do you feel you should be entitled to for working 40 hours a week?

One of my points, is that many of the things involved in how one lives, are completely personal decisions as to *how* one chooses to spend his/her money. If you spend your money wisely, you can live reasonably well for not a lot. I hear people pizz & moan about how they don't have/make enough money...but they're wasting over $100/mo on premium cable, another $100 (or more) for the latest and greatest smart-phone and data plan, spending money eating and drinking in restaurants and bars...all personal decisions...and I could eat like a king on what they are wasting.

Come on, put yourself on record, what standard of living do you think you should be entitled to for a 40 hour workweek?

What do you think you 'deserve'?

Since the early 70's, when I was making $7.00/hr. as a laborer, the concept of "executive pay" and "profits" has become obscene. How do you justify that little tidbit. Corporations boiled the frog, kept minimum wages at rock bottom levels, and millionaires were made doing absolutely nothing. What do you think they "deserve?" Own a few McDonalds franchises? Pay squat, roll in dough. Even in the non-profit sector. Manage to claw your way to the top cutting patient services, nurses' pay, and enhancing administrative pay? EMMC will lay a package on you approaching $1MM a year as CEO. And stiff the nurses at every turn. Why? Because they can - no that they "deserve" it - just because they boiled you frogs.

[kevin5098]

Originally Posted by Maineac

Since the early 70's, when I was making $7.00/hr. as a laborer, the concept of "executive pay" and "profits" has become obscene. How do you justify that little tidbit. Corporations boiled the frog, kept minimum wages at rock bottom levels, and millionaires were made doing absolutely nothing. What do you think they "deserve?" Own a few McDonalds franchises? Pay squat, roll in dough. Even in the non-profit sector. Manage to claw your way to the top cutting patient services, nurses' pay, and enhancing administrative pay? EMMC will lay a package on you approaching $1MM a year as CEO. And stiff the nurses at every turn. Why? Because they can - no that they "deserve" it - just because they boiled you frogs.

What you describe is very unfair. Lots of things in life are unfair.

[StuartGotts]

RE: Mainiac's post.

I remember when My wife taught at a private special needs school. One complete half of the school was administration! All of the classrooms were on the other side. The teachers were paid about 2/3 what public school teachers were AND it was 12 months not 9. I've seen many other examples of excessive management compared to those that do the work. They also take excessive salaries. The worst part was it was a school dependent upon donations.
People are greedy and many are money 'collectors', they have no intention of sharing the wealth. Thats one of the reasons the minimum wage gets increased.

[TheKezarWoodsman]

You can not make lwss than Min wage (unless your in certain indistries such as farm/govt work under federal law). As well, higher wages will cut hours as already stated, and overall this can end up meaning less money.

As well for those like sub who are on set pensions/retirment plans, their pay does not increase regardless of the increase in COL.

As well, who runs heat in Maine 12 months a year. That is a rarity even in alaska unless your on the north slope. Even fort kent gets up to 70 degrees in the summer. Idk what the heating season is in northern maine but down here in Ma it is november to feburary, with occasional heating from october to march.

[Submariner]

I know many people who work p/t or who work seasonal jobs. Their year end annual income adds up to less than Minimum Wage. You can earn less than Minimum Wage.

I know many people who are currently on SSDI or SS, whose SS/SSDI income is less than Minimum Wage. You can earn less than Minimum Wage.

As of 1Jan17 the Minimum Wage in Maine is $9/hr. Which works out to $1,440/month. My military pension is really close to that. There are military retirees who earn less. You can earn less than Minimum Wage.

[G1..]

Originally Posted by Submariner

I know many people who work p/t or who work seasonal jobs. Their year end annual income adds up to less than Minimum Wage. You can earn less than Minimum Wage.

I know many people who are currently on SSDI or SS, whose SS/SSDI income is less than Minimum Wage. You can earn less than Minimum Wage.

As of 1Jan17 the Minimum Wage in Maine is $9/hr. Which works out to $1,440/month. My military pension is really close to that. There are military retirees who earn less. You can earn less than Minimum Wage.

NOT IF YOU HAVE A JOB THAT PAYS PER HOUR. SS is an entitlement ,it is not a paying job . As I said people do supplement there pension and SS with part time employment ,it is that employment that can not be below min wage.

[7th generation]

Originally Posted by G1..

The people who make MW for what ever reason will benefit from it, as will their communities.

Maybe the workers will, but the businesses that will close due to this unfair law, and many others will raise prices to absorb the costs. Who wins then? I am sure that most posting defending the minimum wage hike do not own a business and their concerted effort to persuade us otherwise is the reason they don't.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by G1..

SS is an entitlement,

An insurance policy that you may select to pay into, is not at all an entitlement.

Nobody said anything about paying jobs.

The fact remains that more people will be hurt by increasing Minimum-Wage than might be helped.