Virginia, which direction do you want to go? (job market, wages)

[mpier015]

So, we should vote simply on that one issue? What of his other policies?

[VA Yankee]

Originally Posted by mpier015

So, we should vote simply on that one issue? What of his other policies?

That seems to be the mystery because neither his commercials or his site says anything. I would like to know where he stands on the National Republican Position of the election, January 6th and what seems to be trying to turn America back into the 1950's....

[spencer114]

R&R…are you really going on about $15 an hour? Do you know what year it is? While those on the right were telling us all that business would collapse with higher hourly wages, businesses went and raised their starting hourly rate to maintain competitiveness. Chick-fil-A is offering $14 an hour in their rural locations. The minimum wage in Virginia has already been raised but even in 2025 when the gradual yearly increases max out, it will only be $13.50 an hour. So in 4 years the minimum wage will be $.50 less than what fast food establishments are paying right now.

You’re chasing ghosts.

I appreciate your business philosophy and I personally don’t think you’re extreme or unreasonable at all (I’ve even repped you a few times). I just think that your 20th century ideas about capital and labor aren’t working in the 21st century. The state is becoming too big and capitalism has failed too many. Tweak what we have now or prepare for a revolution in 20 years. I’m not a fan of reinventing the wheel (I’m too old for that). Terry is still a moderate and while I’d like to see the end of right-to-work I know that whoever wins, it isn’t going away.

The GOP has been ineffective for the last few decades. Their MO is to try to slow down or stop progress. That works as long as those enjoying the status quo are in the majority. That just isn’t the case any more. In the years that the R’s were trying to scare us by labeling even the most minor tweaks “socialism” medical costs, insurance rates, education and housing costs have skyrocket while wages remained relatively flat. When y’all start to acknowledge that and start to offer fixes, the Republicans will start to win Virginia. If you keep obstructing or shifting focus to culture wars, the masses will become so divested in America that they will blow it all up and start over.

[gemstone1]

Originally Posted by rural & red

The Right-to-Work is a big ticket issue for me. Only Youngkin has stated his desire to protect the sanctity of it during this election.

I'm a fiscal conservative at the core. This issue means a lot to me, my family, my business and associates. I believe in equal opportunity and do not want the interference of labor unions into what are truly personal, contractual obligations between an employer and employee with free will. I believe the only way to acquire the skills necessary to move up in the world means you have to start somewhere. Removing this piece of state law will reduce the total number of jobs in Virginia and raise the entry-level and skill requirements to get a job for people without many skills. They need opportunity not labor union interference.

After all, everyone knows the biggest backers of $15/hr wage are the labor unions, whose members typically make way more than that. Why? Because they don't want competition from less skilled workers who'll accept a lower wage in order to move up in the world. At the end of the day, a business will only pay out $15/hr if the labor can support it, otherwise there is a mismatch and the business will suffer. People need opportunity. What's good for business becomes good for workers and the economy.

I care more about preserving what we have than changing things for the worse.

My first bold typeface says it all...IMO...you are more interested in your welfare as a business owner, than society as a whole. Thanks for confirming my suspicion.

You have not answered my previous question, but you have indicated where your concern is....

And the second boldface is wrong... the largest group of $15/hour supporters are the low wage workers that republicans and business owners wish to keep under the thumb of employers.

And to think...for this single issue you support a trump clone....sad.

Regards
Gemstone1

[rural & red]

^ So many assumptions about a person you've never met. That, I consider sad and inconsiderate. How progressive and tolerant of you.

What's good for business is good for the economy and what's good for the economy is good for people. It's not rocket science. Scare away business and there will be no jobs left. To call that view purely self-interested is a misunderstanding (or misconstrue) of intent.

See, that's the problem with the world today. People think that folks on the other side have ill intent towards some group or another and so it's fair to shame them. I do not think rank-and-file liberals have ill intent, I just disagree with their methodology and the results speak for themselves. Stop viewing this dynamic through a myopic lens of us vs. them.

[mpier015]

You refuse to tell us what Youngkin's other policies are. At this point you are deflecting from them and detracting from an honest conversation. You essentially want the entire state to vote based on one issue. I wanted to ask you if you think that minimum wage should stay the same forever, regardless of COL increases but I think I already know you answer. You are the person who stated that the average citizen shouldn't be able to vote. Please please please, tell us some of Youngkin's other stances. I'm pleading with you.

[lchoro]

It's long past time to raise the minimum wage since it's been over 12 years. It's barely doubled since 1980. In the interim, rents for a typical apartment have gone up 4-fold and price of homes have gone up 6-fold. If you wanted to be conservative, you should've been conservative about policies that affect the cost of living, such as interest rates, subsidies for rents and home purchases, minimum down payments, and credit standards.

Minimum wage probably should be around 11.50 to 12.00. The average increase in wages over that period has been around 4 percent. I think that is a closer approximation of the real inflation rate, not the bogus CPI that claims housing prices are only up 3-fold since the 80's and that new car prices are up 5% in 25 years.

[rural & red]

Originally Posted by mpier015

You refuse to tell us what Youngkin's other policies are. At this point you are deflecting from them and detracting from an honest conversation. You essentially want the entire state to vote based on one issue. I wanted to ask you if you think that minimum wage should stay the same forever, regardless of COL increases but I think I already know you answer. You are the person who stated that the average citizen shouldn't be able to vote. Please please please, tell us some of Youngkin's other stances. I'm pleading with you.

No, the minimum wage should indeed rise with inflation but the minimum wage doesn't need to be a "livable" wage. It was never meant to be. By turning it into a "livable" wage, you are destroying jobs and reducing the chances for low-skilled workers to find employment and move on up. It also creates a negative feedback of dependency on government assistance that curtails individual self-growth and empowerment.

Other than maintaining the Right-to-Work, Youngkin's other policies that I support: his education plan to invest in public schools and facilities, support school choice. Also his plans to establish higher standards in education that would basically undo the damage Terry M did by lowering the accreditation standards and math proficiency in Virginia. Protect the 2A but allowing for increased gun ownership restrictions. Phase out the state income tax that is no longer competitive. In effect, he would boost Virginia's economy by a LOT and preserve our liberties

[rural & red]

Also, where did I say the average person shouldn't vote? I am against gerrymandering. If I said that somewhere, I misspoke or there was a misunderstanding.

It's true that not everyone ought to be encouraged to vote -- I'm not talking about enforced disenfranchisement. Those who's life is in disorder, who make poor decisions, who don't take responsibility for themselves or their actions, are violent criminals, or are generally grumpy do not have my confidence in voting for what's best for the state or nation. That's why the founders created a representative Republic and not a true democracy.

[Lockdev]

Originally Posted by rural & red

Already we are seeing the effect of business fear in this respect...

So much for being good for business, Virginia is now #49 in having a favorable small business environment according to the Motley Fool (https://www.fool.com/the-blueprint/t...mall-business/

That's terrible!

This portents the eventual removal of this vital piece of state law. Terry M is now bragging about his plans to repeal or roll back some of the Right-to-Work with Big Labor.

I run a small business in Virginia and 100% agree with this.

I've run companies in both Michigan and California, which are both pretty left-leaning and not exactly small-business friendly. Virginia so far has been far worse for small businesses. The amount of red tape, ridiculous taxes, and restrictions that are put in place to protect the "big boys" at the detriment of the little guy are ridiculous.

Virginia needs to pull its head out of its ass.