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I was wondering what everyone's opinions are on a minimum wage increase?
I think its ironic that people have objections to the increase from 5.15 to 7.25
an hour at the federal level, many states have already raised the minumum wage to about that level.
According to the CBO in the next 5 years the minimum wage increase would cost 16.5 billion dollars from private sector employers.
I personally think that government should cover half the cost of the 16.5 billion dollar in wage hikes do to the minimum wage increase. That way the small locally owned retail and service companies wouldnt need to lay people off if this passes or cut hours.
I think a good idea would be for the goverment to cover the increase in minimum wage in economically depressed counties with unemployment rates above say 6% or in areas with poverty rates above 15%. That way the employer would still only have to pay 5.15 and the government could pay the 2.10.
While minimum wage hikes are good alot of small and medium sized retail and food servicecompanies in economically depressed areas could need to lay people off if this increase passes, so thus I dont see why the government doesnt cover the minimum wage increase for these companies.
Minimum wage increase hurts the business owner. People who work for minimun wage are students, people who are retired. You should not be depending on a minimum wage job to support a family. So what difference does it make for the student if he is making 5 or 7 dollors an hour???
Mnimum wage hurts prospective workers and minorities the most. Without experience, the employers won't be able to afford to pay those wages to someone fresh out of high school or someone who hasn't held a job previously. Besides, principly, this is fascism for the government to tell a private business owner what wages he must pay. This violates the employer/employee relationship and limits what contracts they are allowed to agree to.
Our minimum wage here in Oregon is above that. It's something like $7.90 per hour. I don't know any business that has closed because of a raise in minimum wage. It was 7.25 or so before they raised it here in Oregon.
Yes I'd say it's way past time to raise the minimun wage. Big Businesses don't like it because it'll cost them money but people need to make more money to live.
No, I don't think it should be raised. Minimum wage is not designed to get people rich, or provide for a family. It's something you should only be making if you are a teenager or a retiree looking to make a few extra dollars. If you are staying in a minimum wage job year after year then you have bigger issues than your salary!
You should be moving up... or moving out! (to another job) People making minimum wage are not victims. They asked for the job and do it by their own free will. No hand outs.
Yes I'd say it's way past time to raise the minimun wage. Big Businesses don't like it because it'll cost them money but people need to make more money to live.
Thus the crux of the issue and the difference between statism and individualism. Why not place the responsibility to "make more money" on the individual instead of on those who have worked hard enough and long enough and are kind enough to provide the jobs?
Location: Huntersville/Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC
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the standard of living has risen since the last time mw was raised. it's about time to raise it. you can't really rely on mw anyway but a little extra $ never hurt anyone.
the standard of living has risen since the last time mw was raised. it's about time to raise it. you can't really rely on mw anyway but a little extra $ never hurt anyone.
How about the principle of the government mandating to a business owner what he should pay his employees? Is this to simply be ignored?
I sympathize with small, maybe even medium-sized businesses who may have to face the very real decision to raise prices or cut employee hours. But I suppose I'm cynical enough to think that the emphasis on the small business owner's plight is, in reality, a smokescreen to shift the focus away from the more dominant Big Business whose top executives may be faced with reducing their own bonuses.
How about the principle of the government mandating to a business owner what he should pay his employees? Is this to simply be ignored?
No, you are correct. It should not be ignored. The government needs to kick their butts and get them to pay a decent wage. Period.
Right now, the $5.15 minimum wage will not pay you a pay check big enough to get you off of food stamps. You still qualify to be poor, to draw food stamps, to be ignored with health care, and you can draw welfare in many states while working 40-60 hours a week on minimum wage.
And don't give me the bull pucky about minimum wage is only for students and retired.
Every employer out there would only pay minimum wage if they could get away with it. They have very little compassion for their employees.
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