Minimum Wage Options

[Spirited Away]

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?

This is all the time I have for, but per your question...

Using your statistics and your logic, with respect to the rising cost of living, that "considerable minority" group will not be able to buy anything if their pay does not adjust to the steady increasing cost of living. Consequently, businesses will lose that "considerable minority" group as consumers because they are unable to afford anymore than dollar store goods, fast food services, and the cheapest produce. All in all, a bad thing for the economy seeing how there is a "considerable" amount of people in that group.

The cost to run the business will rise, no argument there, but it rises along with many other factors. More importantly, how can you run a business when you're losing customers becaue they can't afford your products/services?

[illriginal]

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.

Is this your personal opinion? I think you're missing the bigger picture of things. It seems like this is more personal than it is general. But please enlighten me

[*Steven*]

Is this your personal opinion? I think you're missing the bigger picture of things. It seems like this is more personal than it is general. But please enlighten me

Yes it is my personal opinion, hence the "I think" portion of the post.
What exactly are you arguing? I've posted my opinion plenty in this thread, and would like to ask what you in fact are trying to argue.

This is all the time I have for, but per your question...

Using your statistics and your logic, with respect to the rising cost of living, that "considerable minority" group will not be able to buy anything if their pay does not adjust to the steady increasing cost of living. Consequently, businesses will lose that "considerable minority" group as consumers because they are unable to afford anymore than dollar store goods, fast food services, and the cheapest produce. All in all, a bad thing for the economy seeing how there is a "considerable" amount of people in that group.

The cost to run the business will rise, no argument there, but it rises along with many other factors. More importantly, how can you run a business when you're losing customers becaue they can't afford your products/services?

Err I think I'm misunderstanding what you're trying to say. Are you saying that if the minority can't afford to live off that wage it hurts the economy as a whole?

One of my biggest issues w/ raising minimum wage is that it's more aimed at a small group of people(in my opinion), as most people don't stay near making minimum wage for very long at all. Minimum wage, in my opinion, is something you make at your first jobs, when you're in high school or college, and are looking more for some money to pay back loans as you go or spending money. If I (with only a high school degree at the moment) can get a job starting at 1.35$/hr over minimum wage, as my first job with no prior experience, I don't see why others can't. I have a job now paying 2.85$/hr above and I've only completed a year of college (and I've had this job sine before college).

[Spirited Away]

Yes it is my personal opinion, hence the "I think" portion of the post.
What exactly are you arguing? I've posted my opinion plenty in this thread, and would like to ask what you in fact are trying to argue.
Err I think I'm misunderstanding what you're trying to say. Are you saying that if the minority can't afford to live off that wage it hurts the economy as a whole?

One of my biggest issues w/ raising minimum wage is that it's more aimed at a small group of people(in my opinion), as most people don't stay near making minimum wage for very long at all. Minimum wage, in my opinion, is something you make at your first jobs, when you're in high school or college, and are looking more for some money to pay back loans as you go or spending money. If I (with only a high school degree at the moment) can get a job starting at 1.35$/hr over minimum wage, as my first job with no prior experience, I don't see why others can't. I have a job now paying 2.85$/hr above and I've only completed a year of college (and I've had this job sine before college).

Because of exploitation. Believe me, without minimum wage, plenty of people would be making $1/hr; that's what sets us apart from a number of other countries. With minimum wage there are still a "considerable" number of people who still make minimum wage.

The reason is simple and I cannot take credit for this because I heard it in my econ class a couple of years ago. Our society isn't fully productive. Minimum wage is targeted towards the least productive people in our society. In other words, "minimum productivity" gives you "minimum wage". This low productive group consists of high schools students, drop outs... the likes.

Sure you can find a job with higher pay that the minimum, but remember that not everyone is as productive. Each job requires different skills and more than likely, if you're being paid minimum wage, your job doesn't take as much effort as higher paying jobs.

As to my previous post, I'm saying that if minimum wage does not keep up with rising cost of living, then that will hurt the economy as a whole... equilibrium would be off.

[*Steven*]

I see I see.

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?

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.

[*Steven*]

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.

[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.

[*ersatz*]

It's hard to get a job that pays well without a college education and it's hard to do that when one doesn't make enough money to pay for college. Like, say, me. So, without the increase, it would be pretty hard to even GET to the good job.

[Spirited Away]

'zactly.

[*karmakiller*]

The price of living is increasing, so the money we're making should increase too, right?

So do you think that if they don't increase the amount of money people are making that goods won't cost more? (Because if people can't afford the goods, the people making the goods will have no other choice but to lower their prices?)



To comment on the fact that people shouldn't have children until they have the finacial needs to meet what it takes to care for children... there's lots of divorces that happen and lots of single parents. When my mother was on her own with us kids living in a crappy hotel she couldn't get a good job because of her pre-exsisting medical problems. It wasn't far that places didn't want to hire her and a minimum wage job didn't cut it.

[RAWRstephishere]

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.

Half the population is Texas is illegal immigrants..
Thats probably why its so low here.

[Spirited Away]

Half the population is Texas is illegal immigrants..
Thats probably why its so low here.

I think you're kidding, but I'm not sure so ignore me if you are.

Employer of illegal immigrants do not need to pay them minimum wage. They can pay them a nickle an hour if they want.

Our minimum wage is lower than states like California and New York is because our cost of living is lower than theirs.

[*Steven*]

Fae do you live in Texas?

And I find it very hard to believe that half Texas' population is comprised of illegal immigrants.

[RAWRstephishere]

Half the population is Texas is illegal immigrants..
Thats probably why its so low here.

Yes, that was sarcasm.

[Spirited Away]

^ haha.. okay.

Yea, Steven, I live in Houston.

[*Steven*]

Oo didn't know that. I live in houston too haha. Come to think of it, you might have mentioned it earlier and I just forgot? Oh well.

Whereabouts lol? I'd ask in PM but mine aren't working -.-

[Spirited Away]

Northwest area. Around the Beltway and 290. You?

[*Steven*]

Sugar Land, southwest

[Spirited Away]

Ah, you rich punk (j/k). I work in sugar land sometimes. near first colony.

anyway... good night.