This is a minimum wage. Nothing prevents states from increasing it above that. There are 29 states with minimum wage already set higher than than $7.25/hr. West Virginia has a state minimum wage of $8.25/hr. And the proposal is to spread it out over 5 years. That's $1.55/hr increase on average each year, for 5 years.
We have tried "trickle down economics" several times. Most recently the $1 billion tax cut of 2017 for the wealthy and corporations, when the economy was already booming. It never seems to work. The wealth gap has only gotten larger over the years. Maybe it's time to give the bubble up approach a try for a change, and see if all the gloom and doom "predictions" really come true.
Exactly, which is why we do not need a federal minimum wage - let each state decide if they want a minimum wage and if so what it should be. Thanks for proving my point!
So Hoot,you don't mind paying taxes for food stamps rental assistance, Medicaid, child care subsidies, heat assistance? I am so glad to hear that you are a enthusiastic supporter of Socialism. Have you looked at the profit that Wal Mart, Darden,Target,7-11,WAWA, etc and the compensation their CEO's pull in?
Police the police. Yes. Has ANY corporation paid the employess well, ($25/hr in 1980), in line with the profits of the corporation ? The contractors that pay their workers properly, are blessed. Many pay $50/hr or more, fare wages at least . although usually with and from inflated profits like corporations , and no where near medical / farmacy extortion prices.
Some here obviousy have no appreciation or respect for the concept of freedom. Disregard for a moment the need to pay a 17 year old high school kid from home the same salary as a 35 year old adult supporting a family. Disregard the debate of what an appropriate salary should be. Disregard the problem that higher wages increase unemployment and cause inflation. I'd suggest two higher principles should rule: First, If I'm willing to pay my own money for somebody else's labor, and that person willingly accepts my offer for his labor, what right should anyone else have to interfere with the agreement? Is is my money to spend or not? Is it one's right to work at an agreed to price or not? Freedom says yes; a goverment mandated minimum wage means no. Second, no one seems to appreciate the wise restrictions that our nation's founding fathers placed upon the central government. Remember the Constitution's limitations of federal government powers? I understand that the 14th amendment has been used to grant the federal government authority over seemingly all states rights' issues, but the founding fathers would be abhorred with the power that the federal government has assumed over the years. The issue shouldn't be whether $15 is a viable amount or not, but whether the federal government should have the legal (and moral) right to impose ANY law controlling wages. I willingly worked as a farm laborer at $1.35 an hour in high school when the federal minimum wage was $2.15 an hour. I think that was fair and right at the time. Now, I understand and appreciate even more the freedom that was at play there. I think America and society in general would do better to have less government controlling our lives - especially the federal government. I'd encourge everyone to consider the unprecedented freedoms that we've inherited compared to other countries and historical cultures. Then, don't be so willing to give them up.
@Joseph Carl, if I could give you 10 likes for that post I would. It was more than an opinion piece but rather a fact piece and I personally appreciate that.
The fast food joints have seen this coming and have been installing robots in many locations already. When the minimum goes up, many or most of the minimum wage jobs will simply be eliminated. It is a great scheme to expand the number on welfare and eliminate opportunities for high school and college kids to earn a little money. Computers have made "non-commuting" possible and they will make it possible to eliminate the low-skilled jobs as soon as the minimum wage requirements make it profitable to do so. Seattle raised the minimum wage a couple years ago, and most of the fast food places simply moved out side the city limits, as they couldn't stay in business at a $15 minimum wage. When moving isn't practical, the jobs will be mechanized. It may be a "conspiracy" to make young people more dependent on government payments.
If you look at the people in Congress who are pushing for the heightened minimum wage you’ll see that few have ever had a small business or even really worked for a living. Sanders for one, has never really worked a day in his life much less own a business. Heck, the present President has been in Congress for 47 years so what does that say about his dependency on the government? It’s practically the same thing with Pelosi, Schumer, Waters, and a bunch of others.
Right now in this pandemic I don’t feel is the time to consider 15.00 bucks an hour. That’s too big a jump from 7.25. If that’s where we’re eventually going to go, we need to do it in stages so businesses can plan for the increase. I.’d suggest something like $9.50, $11.50, $13.75 & $15.00 over say eight years. For a mandatory, national minimum wage, I personally feel $15.00 an hour is too much.
Rather than writing a whole dialog, I was looking for a good read regarding the reason the minimum wage came into existence and I think this one explains it in detail. In essence, a bloated minimum wage will do just about the same thing as it did back in the 30’s but not necessarily to the same grouping as was initially intended. Note: Of course, added to the link, if we include Margret Sanger to the whole mix then we can see the trend in it’s entirely. Now I do wonder whom the Dems are trying to eliminate or at least exacerbate because they HAVE to know that the jump isn’t going to help out the economy in any fashion. https://medium.com/the-enclave-of-others/the-racist-history-of-minimum-wage-5dd71ebf0770
It will cost jobs create shutdowns of some places and lack of help will prevail from it also prices will rise from it, just yesterday our fuel has increased $1.24 since the election which will impact me every week also grocery prices increased from fuel increases, we had it great for 4 years.