Prince George’s County Council set to vote on minimum-wage increase (title, health)

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by armory

People have been screaming about McDonald's raising prices on their $1 menu for the past month.
Get ready for a whole lot of things in all departments to go up in price. That extra $4 hr is not coming out of the business owner's profit, you can bet on that.
Government has taken over healthcare, insurance companies, automobile companies, most manufacturing and now how dictates what the wages of unskilled workers is.
Tyranny, anyone?

I believe that's called inflation.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by elias9193

+1 You raise the minimum wage then all related merchandise goes up in price as well. I would rather take that money and give grants to those who want to better themselves with getting higher education or learn a new vocation of some kind.

Studies have shown that this is not necessarily the case. Especially with internet sales being a competitive option. Also, if restaurant prices rise, people will eat at home more. There are always alternatives. So there is pressure for businesses not to raise their prices just because labor costs increase. They'll lay off people or reduce their hours before they raise prices. In addition, as a business person, would you raise your prices first making your competition a cheaper alternative of your customers? Or will it be a concerted effort between businesses? Then you get into price-fixing laws.

At any rate, when do you raise minimum wage? 10 years from now? Never? Can you imagine a person making $9/hr and the cost to rent just one room costs them $1000/month? That's unsustainable. You'll have half the country on public assistances.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

I believe that's called inflation.

Maybe, but wages will always chase prices. That's the fallacy of the "living/subsistence wage", there will always be people at the bottom. Always.

It doesn't matter what the lowest wage is, the people getting it will be at the bottom and by definition will be poor.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Studies have shown that this is not necessarily the case. Especially with internet sales being a competitive option. Also, if restaurant prices rise, people will eat at home more. There are always alternatives. So there is pressure for businesses not to raise their prices just because labor costs increase. They'll lay off people or reduce their hours before they raise prices. In addition, as a business person, would you raise your prices first making your competition a cheaper alternative of your customers? Or will it be a concerted effort between businesses? Then you get into price-fixing laws.

At any rate, when do you raise minimum wage? 10 years from now? Never? Can you imagine a person making $9/hr and the cost to rent just one room costs them $1000/month? That's unsustainable. You'll have half the country on public assistances.

Then wouldn't it just make sense for the businesses to simply give the raise? After all you are subsequently forcing them into giving raises so if they are willing to do so, then why was their a need for a law? And if they are not willing, what makes you think they will not find out ways to recoup their money?

Even if they lay people off instead of raising prices, isn't that still bad? Possible lower quality service and more unemployed? I don't see how this is positive.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Maybe, but wages will always chase prices. That's the fallacy of the "living/subsistence wage", there will always be people at the bottom. Always.

It doesn't matter what the lowest wage is, the people getting it will be at the bottom and by definition will be poor.

I agree that those who make the lowest wage will be at the bottom, but in the richest economy in the world do we have to have the working-poor? We're not talking about irresponsible people that get into debt and are a slave to their own bills. I'm talking about people working 9-5 and still not making enough to be self-sufficient. It's not about education level, etc. Because I know people with grad degrees who can't find jobs. So, when they choose the minimum wage jobs do they have to starve? That's all I'm sayin'.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

I agree that those who make the lowest wage will be at the bottom, but in the richest economy in the world do we have to have the working-poor? We're not talking about irresponsible people that get into debt and are a slave to their own bills. I'm talking about people working 9-5 and still not making enough to be self-sufficient. It's not about education level, etc. Because I know people with grad degrees who can't find jobs. So, when they choose the minimum wage jobs do they have to starve? That's all I'm sayin'.

We will always have working poor. You set the floor at $100K/year and they will still be the working poor.

And you're correct, it's not always education, although that plays a major part in a majority of cases, but what skills someone brings to the table. That's what it's always been about.

Why do some companies like to hire veterans? Because, especially Senior Enlisted, they've shown the ability to handle responsibility, supervise subordinates and meets deadlines. Value added skills.

Why did I make more money when I left the glass plant and went to the railroad? Because the skills I learned in management at the factory translated value added components at the railroad (which, by the way, turned out to be the worst job I've ever had).

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

I agree that those who make the lowest wage will be at the bottom, but in the richest economy in the world do we have to have the working-poor? We're not talking about irresponsible people that get into debt and are a slave to their own bills. I'm talking about people working 9-5 and still not making enough to be self-sufficient. It's not about education level, etc. Because I know people with grad degrees who can't find jobs. So, when they choose the minimum wage jobs do they have to starve? That's all I'm sayin'.

It's called capitalism. Low skill position do not demand a high salary. Why? Because anyone can do those jobs and it doesn't require any special training to do these jobs. You can fire people and replace them from easily because the job is not that complicated. That is how our economy works. Do you think it's easy to replace you in your job? I remember you were saying that you are in IT, how many people in this nation, have your skill set? That is why people like me and you in the IT field demand high salaries, because we have a very rare skill set. You have to also consider the local economy. This is not a region that makes it possible for low-skill workers to live comfortably. Corporations are unwilling to pay those salaries. If you force them to, you will hurt their bottom line and at that point it would be better for them to leave than to take the financial hit just to "help people pay their bills". This is the reason why people typically who do not have a high skill set move to other areas. Living in this area doesn't make sense.

Again I will reiterate the irony in what you are saying. You are advocated casino jobs and similar jobs and saying jobs are jobs, but you are then complaining about jobs like those not paying enough. So why are you advocating these jobs to come here if you know people can't live off of these salaries. You aren't making any sense and you are actually contradicting yourself. Why would you encourage corporations to bring business to your county if you know people can't live off of those salaries??????????????????????????????????????????

You are basically in so many words saying bringing companies like MGM is great just as long as they pay people a certain amount, but what happens if they don't? The only way you force corporations to pay more is by people not accepting those salaries. If people accept those salaries then they accept the consequences. If the government tries to tell corporation how to spend their money, I promise you jobs will go away.

[e30is]

Not to mention every business has a different business model and for example, if you were a local chain or smaller business, you can raise your minimum wage if you can afford it. Companies and other businesses generally can't if they aren't able to afford it. You are going to see the seasonal jobs and open hiring slowly diminish and that particularly isn't good for the economy.

I see the hike in minimum wage being done out of emotion, not out of economics and logic. Something MD leaders lack knowledge in.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

I agree that those who make the lowest wage will be at the bottom, but in the richest economy in the world do we have to have the working-poor? We're not talking about irresponsible people that get into debt and are a slave to their own bills. I'm talking about people working 9-5 and still not making enough to be self-sufficient. It's not about education level, etc. Because I know people with grad degrees who can't find jobs. So, when they choose the minimum wage jobs do they have to starve? That's all I'm sayin'.

Oh brother so because you work you shall be rich simply because you live in the wealthiest country in the world? Look the benefits of living in a wealthy country such as America means the poor own cell phones, computers, video game consoles, etc. Poor in the USA is relative.

Every society will have the poor, they will remain with us. You advocate for a Utopian socialist state that would render us all equally poor and miserable.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

Oh brother so because you work you shall be rich simply because you live in the wealthiest country in the world? Look the benefits of living in a wealthy country such as America means the poor own cell phones, computers, video game consoles, etc. Poor in the USA is relative.

Every society will have the poor, they will remain with us. You advocate for a Utopian socialist state that would render us all equally poor and miserable.

This is what our media has done to people in this country. People have become so caught up in the idea that socialism is normal and is the way for our country. Understanding our economy more would really help people not even ask questions like this.

I agree with you about the benefits of living here. There are people here who are poor that are wealthier than at least 80% of the world.