Is Washington the next California? (Seattle: crime rates, house, unemployment rate)

[midwest_moon]

Seattle is considering raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. As an outsider, I'm thinking that if I buy a house in Washington, then the taxes and cost of living will increase drastically once this law is passed. What is the opinion of the current residents? Do you see Washington as being unaffordable for the average family in the near future?

[krieger00]

Originally Posted by midwest_moon

Seattle is considering raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. As an outsider, I'm thinking that if I buy a house in Washington, then the taxes and cost of living will increase drastically once this law is passed. What is the opinion of the current residents? Do you see Washington as being unaffordable for the average family in the near future?

raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour it is just a dream and a stupid one. The cost of good are going to just go up two fold .

It is unaffordable for the average family now IMO. I only make 35 a year take home and barely make ends meet. I am one mistake away from being homeless like if i get hurt and have to miss work or get a speeding ticket I am living on the streets.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by midwest_moon

Seattle is considering raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Seattle does stupid things all the time, but Seattle is too smart to do the above.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by krieger00

raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour it is just a dream and a stupid one. The cost of good are going to just go up two fold .

Just to forestall any "*******" or "repuklican" insults, I do not have an opinion one way or the other on raising the minimum wage.

But history has shown that when minimum wage is increased, costs do not go up in any significant way. In fact they usually stay the same and in some sectors (fast food, discount stores,) actually go down due to increased demand and spending power among those affected. The economy of affected locations in strengthened over all while such things as food stamp usage and uninsured health costs go down. Not to mention a decrease in petty crime rates.

Yes, some small companies might go out of business. A small percentage of people might lose their jobs, but overall the impacts are positive to both those affected, and the community in general.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by hamellr

But history has shown that when minimum wage is increased, costs do not go up in any significant way.

Cost in the long term DO rise. In the short term businesses fire employees, cut hours, cut costs, and invest in innovation. Some flat out cheat and hire illegal workers.

The economy of affected locations in strengthened over all while such things as food stamp usage and uninsured health costs go down. Not to mention a decrease in petty crime rates.

No, as unemployment grows, so does dependency on welfare/crime. The fastest way to kill jobs is to raise the minimum wage.

Yes, some small companies might go out of business. A small percentage of people might lose their jobs, but overall the impacts are positive to both those affected, and the community in general.

No, the negatives greatly outweigh the few if any positives. Why do you hate prosperity, jobs, and high quality of life? Crony govt. wage tinkering = what killed Detroit.

[lady fern]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Yes, some small companies might go out of business. A small percentage of people might lose their jobs, but overall the impacts are positive to both those affected, and the community in general.

I would think the hardest ones hit would be the small business owners. Perhaps this is why so much of the country has become one chain store after another.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Just to forestall any "*******" or "repuklican" insults, I do not have an opinion one way or the other on raising the minimum wage.

But history has shown that when minimum wage is increased, costs do not go up in any significant way. In fact they usually stay the same and in some sectors (fast food, discount stores,) actually go down due to increased demand and spending power among those affected. The economy of affected locations in strengthened over all while such things as food stamp usage and uninsured health costs go down. Not to mention a decrease in petty crime rates.

Yes, some small companies might go out of business. A small percentage of people might lose their jobs, but overall the impacts are positive to both those affected, and the community in general.

I agree with this completely. Most areas with higher wages tend to fair better in recessions too. Australia did and I can say from experience, so did San Francisco which has a minimum wage of 10.55 hr. The unemployment rate in that city remained lower than the rest of CA which has a min. wage of 8.00, lower than Washington's and did worse during the recession. The more money people make, the more they tend to spend in general. No sure how that would hurt an economy.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Andy

Cost in the long term DO rise. In the short term businesses fire employees, cut hours, cut costs, and invest in innovation. Some flat out cheat and hire illegal workers.



No, as unemployment grows, so does dependency on welfare/crime. The fastest way to kill jobs is to raise the minimum wage.





No, the negatives greatly outweigh the few if any positives. Why do you hate prosperity, jobs, and high quality of life? Crony govt. wage tinkering = what killed Detroit.

This is just not true for the reasons mentioned.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

I agree with this completely. Most areas with higher wages tend to fair better in recessions too. Australia did and I can say from experience, so did San Francisco which has a minimum wage of 10.55 hr. The unemployment rate in that city remained lower than the rest of CA which has a min. wage of 8.00, lower than Washington's and did worse during the recession. The more money people make, the more they tend to spend in general. No sure how that would hurt an economy.

If Fresno had the highest minimum wage in California, nobody would live there. Only an ultra wealthy city like SF could survive with and desire such an attack on the poorest and less connected in society. Ultra wealthy SF loves pricing away unskilled labor away from their city. Very few other places are wealthy enough to get away with this evil.

In the real world where finances are tight, a minimum wage increase would be disastrous, especially to the poor, unskilled, and teenagers. I understand SF likes Ivy Leaguers flipping burgers, but in the real world that should be some kid earning some car/college money.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

This is just not true for the reasons mentioned.

It is true. Just do the math. Artificially increasing labor costs = less jobs, more under the table jobs, more investment in innovation in products that decrease labor input, and in the long run INCREASED COSTS!

So less jobs, less prosperity, higher costs. If you hate poor/unskilled people, raise the minimum wage to do them tons of harm. Raise the minimum wage to become a city of underachieving college graduate burger flippers and baristas.