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My first jobs back in the 60's-70's paid maybe $1.65 an hour. That was no where near a living wage.
I worked all summer just to pay my car insurance.
$1.65/hr in 1965, adjusted for inflation is $12.76 today- which, it could be argued is a living wage for a single person in many areas of the country (exceptions being the coasts, Chicago, etc).
Minimum wage in 1965 was $1.25/hr ($9.67 today). Still a couple of dollars better an hour than it is in most areas.
Union-busting is one of the biggest culprits. If you look at jobs in Germany or Finland, nearly everything is subject to collective bargaining including even the McDick's cashier. The McDick's cashier earns a living wage, has health care, and gets 6 weeks of holiday. In the US you're completely at the mercy of your boss and it don't matter how skilled you are. Heck, even if you are highly skilled the company is looking to eliminate you in favor of an H1b who will work for a fraction of what you will work for and put up with a lot more harassment.
Union-busting is one of the biggest culprits. If you look at jobs in Germany or Finland, nearly everything is subject to collective bargaining from the McDick's cashier to the CEO.
What is the unemployment rate in Germany, and other European countries with crazy labor laws, like France?
What is a living wage? How much??? You do know that ENTRY level jobs are not intended to support families, but as a stepping stone to better jobs? Right?
Living wage varies by area, certainly.
As for it being a stepping stone, in cases where it is a teenager working their first job at the local grocery store or ice cream parlour, I would agree.
That is why I have stated in the past that a graduated minimum wage system based on age might be beneficial (15-17 at the lowest, 18-21 a bit higher and 21+ higher than that).
As for minimum wage not historically meant to be a living wage, that is a fallacy.
In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “no business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country.”
Lots of people made a living wage working at the drug store, cashiering at the local grocery store, ...
Reagan with his amnesty for illegal immigrants and union-busting started the ball rolling to undercut American workers.
nobody made a living wage being a cashier or working at a drug store. That is a complete lie and you know it. Back then you had to have like 20%+ down to buy a house, nobody in those jobs could afford that. NONE.
I used the example of Germany earlier as a positive model. Their unemployment rate is 3.9%.
It always amazes me when Leftists spout this garbage. There is no comparison of the US and Germany when it comes to manufacturing and exports. Not even close. How many industries have been outsourced or offshored in Germany? Not many. They are Nationalists in that way, you know, the very thing the people on the Left hate. Between comparing the US to Germany here and the US and the Nordic countries with their Socialism really shows how intelligent those on the Left really are. NOT!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glamatomic
Living wage varies by area, certainly.
As for it being a stepping stone, in cases where it is a teenager working their first job at the local grocery store or ice cream parlour, I would agree.
That is why I have stated in the past that a graduated minimum wage system based on age might be beneficial (15-17 at the lowest, 18-21 a bit higher and 21+ higher than that).
As for minimum wage not historically meant to be a living wage, that is a fallacy.
In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “no business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country.”
Australia does that, lower minimum for teens than adults
There are tons of liberals who say "Businesses who won't pay a living wage shouldn't be in business". I suggest them to run a business and pay a living wage. Their mouths shut really quick.
I'm a broken record.
I freely admit this.
Other countries around the world have small businesses which pay living wages. Why can't the US?
I submit if you are a small business owner who has to survive by underpaying your employees, you should not be in business. I submit small business owners who are unable to operate their own business without taking advantage of the working class are lacking in business acumen.
Let the market set wages, and prices. Wage, and price controls never work. Nobody is FORCED to take a job at a certain wage. Minimum wage is a joke.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank DeForrest
Pretty much. Workers and employers should be free to negotiate terms without a third party govt. leach getting in between them
When the market set wages the working class was GROSSLY underpaid and when the workers tried to create unions to negotiate they were promptly shut down and had to fight tooth and nail to be heard.
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