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.

[xchrystizzle]

I don't think it's so dumb. but then I do...

it's good for states like California or Florida, where there are immigrants (I'm talking about the legal ones) who can't get a college education. they work hard to support their families that are in AND out of the US. it depends on the state and who's the majority working at minimum wage.

I think $7.25 is overkill. $6.50 should be good enough, like you said, it'll be the others that end up paying more while their pay remains the same...

[*Steven*]

But even if the people making min wage get the raise, they won't benefit. It'll be the same for them because of all the increased prices *shrug* I researched somewhere and it said that somewhere around 2% of adults (I forget what age they used) made minimum wage.

[falsetigerlimbs]

Minimum wage in CA is already at $7.50, and even that isn't enough to support yourself with unless you live in a really cheap area.
What you said about minimum wage workers mainly being young people is a good point, but the increase in minimum wage also affects people who have higher wages, because their salary will often increase too. I got a pay rise this year after minimum wage went up.
I think that minimum wage is necessary. Yes, the prices of things are going up, so they're having to pay more, but surely that means that minimum wage DOES need to be increased so that people can afford the climbing prices?
The price of everything is going up all over the place, so salaries need to be raised to keep up. I don't think it's about them getting a "benefit," it's more like they NEED the extra money to be able to keep their quality of living the same.

[*Steven*]

Yes I understand all of that but the point I'm trying to make is that the businesses aren't going to leave their prices where they are and lose money due to increased minimum wage.

[BOOGERSHAHA]

i never dabble in the debate forum (and i'm barely debating, in my opinion), butttttt...

there's a solid economic argument that raising the minimum wage is not good. it leaves more people unemployed.

let's say the minimum wage is raised. employers are annoyed because their expenses are higher. so with the higher minimum wage, they'll want to hire "better," "smarter" people to do the job. makes sense right? if you're shelling out more money for employees, you'd want better quality.

so basically the "dumber" people who were supposed to benefit from minimum wage are actually screwed because people don't want to hire them.

aaand i'm out.

[*Steven*]

^Yeah, there's that. Also I didn't even mention issues of fairness for say people that worked for a year at ap lace and are earning say 6.15/hr then all of a sudden there are other people who just started making the same due to min wage increases. Resentment maybe? Or the company will have to pay them more as well.

There's the issue of unemployment due to the company not wanting to pay that much to employees, but there's also the issue of jacking up prices to keep the current employees.

[falsetigerlimbs]

Yes I understand all of that but the point I'm trying to make is that the businesses aren't going to leave their prices where they are and lose money due to increased minimum wage.

But isn't that obvious...?

The companies don't really have any choice. Everything's rising. It's called inflation.

I don't understand what you're trying to debate?

[*Steven*]

I'm saying raising the minimum wage is pointless and doesn't help anyone. If they're going to raise it anyways why spend all the time and legislature raising the wage.

[kimmytree]

I think it needed to be raised. Here in Florida its only $6.70 something. And there are people besides high school/college students who are working for that kind of salary. How on earth is a person supposed to survive on that? Right now I'm only being paid minimum wage... I couldnt imagine having to survive without my parents on such a low salary.

As prices go up, pay needs to go up as well. We cant just watch prices on goods and the cost of living inflate and not raise the minimum wage. Adults who work for minimum wage are already poor enough as it is... not giving them a raise to cope with inflation would just make them even poorer.

[*Steven*]

You shouldn't have to live on minimum wage. You should be making much more, even without a college background, due to age/experience. I know they prefer older people for sales over young people. I can find the exact amount, but I believe it's somewhere around 2% of adults making minimum wage. That's 2% of the population living on minimum wage. Instead of helping out those 2% (who probably deserve what they got, but not saying all do) let's raise the minimum wage so everyone has to spend more to help those 2% !!!! /sarcasm

[*Michelle*]

Steven, you just like to make arguments that you know you'll win on.




I think it's bad, b/c then the prices of Ugly Dolls will go up, and then I'll be devastated. :[

[*Steven*]

Well why would I make one that I'd lose ^^?

I like to see if someone has really good counter-arguments, but meh.

[LadyXTor]

I agree, raising the minimum wage is actually hurting the people that it's supposed to be helping. It's going to be sad how many small businesses are going to be shut down and how a lot more people are going to be out of work.

[Simba]

Just get a better job, ninjas. =P

[Jeng]

I get minimum wage STILL and I've been working at Mcd;s for almost friggen 2 years, they don't raise it, they do it when they have to. So I would want to get a wage, an increase.

[Spirited Away]

First, minimum wage must adjust to the rising cost of living. For example, as the price of gas increases (as it has been), the cost of everyday business operations increases making goods and services more costly to consumers. The phrase here is that the current minimum wage "has no purchasing power". If you can imagine, the equilibrium is off, and rising minimum wage makes a good parity.

Second, there is a long term benefit to employers not hiring less skilled workers due to high cost of labor. Guess what? People will be forced/encouraged to become more productive and education has higher value. All in all, if a society is productive and educated, it is better off.

Third, oh wait... I don't remember. What's another concern about minimum wage do you all have?

EDIT---

I agree, raising the minimum wage is actually hurting the people that it's supposed to be helping. It's going to be sad how many small businesses are going to be shut down and how a lot more people are going to be out of work.

Sad short term, happy for long term. Economically speaking, if a business barely makes payroll, it is already in trouble. Anything can make it close; a competing business, for example. Maybe these business owners will invest in something they can do better (make more money) than the business they're currently in.

[lojay]

I think that with living expenses rising, the wages should rise as well. Not saying I'm supporting that living expenses be raised, but I think you should be able to afford things. For example, my family is well off, so we don't have any money problems, but if we did, then my mom would be screwed. She has worked at the same place for like 15 years now? And she is pretty much the best worker there, but hardly ever gets a raise. Even though the living expenses have risen, she has to deal with the wages she gets. Companies aren't offering more money even though living expenses have gone up. Where is the compensation? If minimum wage raises, shouldn't corporate raise their wages too?

As for high school kids with minimum wage jobs...eh? Minimum wage in NJ is $7.15/hour as of right now. But personally, it is easy to find a job that pays more. I easily found a job that pays 8.50 an hour and another that pays 9. Even so, most people can bargain their pay higher when getting a job. I guess I agree that no one benefits by raising minimum wage, considering that economy is always raising prices... but I also think that not many people actually get paid minimum wage. There's always a way around it.

[Spirited Away]

I think that with living expenses rising, the wages should rise as well. Not saying I'm supporting that living expenses be raised, but I think you should be able to afford things. For example, my family is well off, so we don't have any money problems, but if we did, then my mom would be screwed. She has worked at the same place for like 15 years now? And she is pretty much the best worker there, but hardly ever gets a raise. Even though the living expenses have risen, she has to deal with the wages she gets. Companies aren't offering more money even though living expenses have gone up. Where is the compensation? If minimum wage raises, shouldn't corporate raise their wages too?

You brought up an excellent point. An example of a profession with a pretty static wage is teaching. It is very hard to get a raise. Their general pay was increase only recently.

[NoSex]

Your off on a few things and you're missing a few points, Steve.

First of all, adults (20+) make up about 70.8% of low-wage earners who would be directly affected by the wage increase. Not two percent, not a minority, but a majority of low-wage (near minimum wage) workers are adults. [1] So, the affected parties are parties which need money. Many of these people have families which need support and which fall below the current poverty threshold.
Secondly, you are completely ignoring the real term decrease in the value of minimum wage due to inflation. The minimum wage today is actually lower, in real terms, than it was in 1968. Today's minimum wage is merely 65% of the 1968 wage: This is a problem which needs to be addressed. The cost of living has risen, and we're actually making less than we were four decades ago! We need to adjust for these economic changes and return purchasing power to the minimum wage. [2]
Further, you are ignoring a history of wage increases which never saw economic downfall or trouble. In fact, our most dramatic wage increases never negatively effected the job market. Employment continued to rise, and business wasn't significantly hurt.
And, lastly, you are ignoring the dynamic of supply and demand. Sure, cost is a factor, but prices will meet at an equilibrium which will be adjusted appropriately and accordingly. The cost may lower the supply, but demand will rise which will feed the economy and support a greater supply in effect.

Really, I use to be in the same boat you were, but when recognizing the increasing gap between those in the lower income-earning brackets and those in the middle class and wealthier classes, when you realize that people are still under the poverty threshold despite working full-time, and when understanding the eroded value of our current minimum wage it really only makes sense to support an adjusted and gradual increase in our wages. It'll stimulate the economy and help those who can barely feed themselves.

[retaliate]

Just get a better job, ninjas. =P

Exactly

The minimum wage isn't created for you to live on, most people who are making minimum wage aren't full time employees.

Raising the minimum wage wouldn't necessarily raise the cost of goods, given that most people with a steady job are legally allowed to request a cost of living salary increase each year which is like 3%?

[xxpimpjuice1227x]

well for California, min. wage is $7.50 and trust me its not even enough, California is EXPENSIVE period.

[*Steven*]

NoSex, I'll respond further in the morning, but in case anyone is checking up on this tonight, this is one of the charts I have used to back arguments in the past.

[kimmytree]

^ That's funny. There's just as many adult women working for minimum wage as 16 - 24 year olds, according to your chart. I think that proves my point, that the minimum wage does need to be increased. Most adult women that are working for such a low wage isnt working just for the heck of it - they're doing it to support their family. The current minimum wage isnt enough to do that, especially if a woman is a single mother. For someone working for minimum wage and working full time, that's only like $250 - $300 a week, and just over $1,000 a month. And then only $12,000 a year. That's sad.

[*Steven*]

1.7% of the total population, 25 years and over, make minimum wage. ONE POINT SEVEN. That's a considerable minority. Women 25 and over, 2.3%.

What exactly is your point? Why does it need to be increased, when all it will do is create associated prices to rise?