Minimum Wage Options

[*Steven*]

It's being raised, I think it's a dumb idea. What are your thoughts on the matter?

The minimum wage in Texas is 5.15$/hr. They're raising it to 7.25$/hr over the next 3 summers. I think that's kind of, unnecessary. For one, the majority of people making minimum wage are young high-school students etc. They don't stay making this wage for very long, and it's typically a starter job in which they make this money. By raising the minimum wage, no one (imo) benefits. The prices of goods go up because the employers are having to pay their employees more money and don't want to lose profit. Because of this, every day goods prices have gone up and people who don't benefit from the wage increase have to pay a larger sum of their salary/paycheck towards those every day goods. The people who are getting a higher wage (assuming they were working minimum) don't earn any more money in comparison to what they can buy. Sure the dollar amount is higher, but they have to spend more.

[Spirited Away]

I see I see.

1) I hate to be dense, but why should we raise the minimum wage for people who take no incentive to better themselves -.-? I know there are always exceptions, but if people aren't doing anything to try to earn a higher wage, why should everyone else suffer on their behalf?

2) There are also jobs that you can take that pay you pretty good money and help you with your schooling (such as UPS). If people really want to better their lives, it's not outside of their grasp. Again, I'm not including families who have to work just to support their family in a nasty poverty-like state.

1. I don't think you're dense, I just don't think you're looking at this from every angle. Not everyone works at the same level because not everyone owns the same sets of skills, and what's more, not every business requires the same level of education/skills. Why would you, as a restaurant owner, wants to pay a bus-boy higher than minimum wage? If you're saying that the bus-boy can find a better job, I disagree. If everyone can find great jobs, then why do these lower paying jobs exsist?

2. That's pretty idealistic. I was raised to believe that everyone can be at their best and get what they deserve if they try their hardest, so I agree with you on some level. However, by experience and observing humanity at work, I also believe that life sucks for many people.

Also, how many companies out there can give great benefits like USPS? Are there enough for all "considerable" amount of people you stated earlier?

A good friend of mine graduated college magna cum laude with a B.A. in Marketing. She couldn't find a decent job for two years! TWO YEARS. She got stuck working at the YMCA with me getting $7.25/hour, keeping in mind that she has a marketing degree. I was there with her every step of the way when she applies for jobs, I know how hard it is for people to find jobs sometimes.

Not everyone can get great paying jobs; not everyone has the opportunity to go back to school; not everyone can live life the way they want to live it.

I hate to be an ass about it, but I think it's kind of dumb to try and raise a family when you don't have the money to support it. That's not to say that they shouldn't have kids, but IMO they should get a better living and income before they decide on children.

I agree with you, but bad things happen to both good and irresponsible people, I'm sure you know this.