Let's talk about mimimum wage. This is a topic near and dear to my heart since I worked on the Democrat Party-funded "increase the minimum wage campaign" in my state and discovered that the majority of people earning minimun wage earn approximately five thousand dollars below the federal poverty line. This is without even including the cost of inflation of necessities like food and gas...it's just the money earned working 40 hours per week at the set minimum wage.
In my state, the Republicans in the legislature (who were the majority and who set the schedule) refused for two years to even put the minimum wage increase on the agenda. They worked part time and paid themselves full time money all of last summer, and they earned as much in those few four months as a full-time minimum wage earned would earn over the course of the whole year.
Yet suddenly, they felt the heat of election year politics, and they saw support for increasing the minimum wage above the 70%. The Democrats had been working their keister's off to put the minimum wage increase on the ballot. Knowing they were not only going to go down to a strong defeat, but that Democrats were actually earning bonus points for fighting for the average person, they decided to 'give in' and within one short day, the Republicans in the legislature decided to raise the minimum wage begining this October, right before the November election. They saw they were losing on an important issue during an election year and decided they're policy of obstruction wasn't going very well. The problem is their quick decision without any discussion on the floor, only private Republican only discussions behind closed doors, caused a big snafu in the new bill. Incompetence and bad policy by Republicans once again! (Discussing more economic ways they've obstructed job growth in a political ploy manuever is a whole different article.)
At any rate, two years have gone by with the Republicans obstructing policies that would raise the minimum wage and help protect lives here on earth. While poor people across this country starved, or froze to death, or died of heat stroke because they just couldn't live on that eleven thousand per year, the Republican majority has shown how little they care about the average person out here. And instead, they waited...and they waited...while thousands went hungry...and thousands died.
Even way back in 2004, John Kerry called for an increase in the minimum wage to $7.00 an hour by 2005 and President Bush, in another display of perfecting the art of Republican me-too-ism, said he was willing to consider any increase that is "reasonable," whatever that means. Yet, two years later, the poor and middle-class wait for the Republicans to do their jobs properly!
The Republicans once again have failed to create sound policies for the average American. They chose to wait two years before bringing the minimum wage increase back to the table. They voted against raising it before they voted to raise it! But with the threat of elections in November, and their fear that not only will they not be re-elected but that they'll lose millions of dollars in donations, the Republican caucus has decided to tie the minimum wage increase in with eliminating the Paris Hilton Estate Tax. Yes...the same Estate Tax that only affects 7500 Americans but man...those 7500 are Republican donors! And the fact that the majority of Americans do not support their tax change doesn't matter to them. They couldn't get the Paris Hilton Estate Tax passed on its own merits, but they see one last chance to push it through.
Those dollar signs keep floating in their heads. (Rather lost dollar signs if they can't hand out thousands of dollars to these 7500 people.)
They're so sneaky about what they're doing that Congress was discussing the minimum wage increase and the elimination of the Paris Hilton Estate Tax in the middle of the night, right before leaving on their August recess.
Listen to this floor speech from Rep. Charles Rangel posted at Crooks and Liars.
Here's a rough transcript:
My collegues I've been in this place for a long time, but I don't remember even this close to the election seeing this type of hypocracy that we see today.
There is only one ship that they would like to see get on the waters and that is the estate tax relief. And it's only going to provide relief for a fraction of 1% ... or some 7500 individuals in the country. That is the wealthiest of the wealthy. Most Americans can't even dream of getting to the status that they're going to be liable for taxes.
And why do they want this? They want this because if you want campaign contributions you go to where the money is. And believe me this is the cream of the crop of the money that we have in the USA.
They know this bill stinks to high heavens; that's why it's not on it's own two feet. If this was the great thing for American democracy...one...we wouldn't wait until midnight to talk about it and two...we'd be so proud of it with the star spangle banner would be there & the lights would be shining and we would be talking about estate tax relief.
But it stinks so heavy that they try to sweeten it up by putting other tax bills on it. (plus other (40) extenders that do good work.)
And so they say, "If you want these extenders you're gonna buy this stinkaroo!"
But that's not enough. Whatever you do for the corporations or the rich folks but why hold millions of Americans (that are work) who can't get an increase in minimum wage... why would(n't?) you put them on top of this? Why would you hold them hostage?
And whether the bill pases in the other house. Don't we have any shame? Aren't all of these important enough for this August body to take them up one by one. It's almost like taking a child and talking about, "I want so badly to increase the minimum wage for them," and then you put these concrete shoes on them as you throw them into the ocean alone and not being able to swim.
If you care about poor folks, act like it! Give them a day by themselves. Don't mix their problems with the richest of the rich of this country.
Hypocracy...I've now seen it all!!!
Republicans in our Federal Congress and the Republicans in my state Congress have certainly taken hypocricy and incompentency to a whole new level. I wish I could say that it's not that bad. The problem is that greed and self-serving policies have overtaken public service and competency in this Republican Party.
Have they no shame?
In my opinion, not enough...not nearly enough!
Get a life and give me a break you bunch of whiners!
Commie Central.... it says at the bottom of the page that this is a non partisan website... ahhh I call Bullshit!
LOSERS. But, but, but, "Where's the free stuff?!?!?"
"I gave bread to the poor and they called me a saint. I asked why the poor had no food and they called me a communist." --Dom Helder Camara
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. --Jimi Hendrix
This article is extremely short-sighted. If people want to make more money, they should educate themselves or acquire skills that will increase their value in the job market. If you want a helping hand, look on the end of your arm and you will find one. Raising the minimum wage only hurts small business owners and it deters job growth. The esate tax is plain theft. These people earned that money and the government has no right to take it away. The only hypocracy I see is in this article itself. Be generous with one group, but take away from another group. How about we be fair to everyone?
Please stop confusing the author with facts :-)
I have to agree with Randy about an Education helps to make more money, however the rest of this is BS. If you come from a family that makes only $15'000 per year I'm sure the first thing that crosses you mind is "lets save money for college and forget about eating." If you would like to know what is really hurting small business owners try looking up the name WAL-MART. You can find out just how many American owned companies they have put out of business. So by the sound of this you also believe we shouldn't have govermental taxes and I quote "These people earned that money and the government has no right to take it away." I think if the rich don't like it they can always move to another country. You know like the ones that they keep sending US jobs to like India, China, and Mexico just to name a few. Personally I am tired of having MY country run by the 1% when its the rest of us that make this country run.
YAWn!! Thats Right!!
I came from a family that was poor. We had to struggle to put food on the table. Our family consisted of a single mom with four kids. She never owned a car. I got a college degree. My brother got a college degree. I started a company. Now I'm one of the evil rich. Try being responsible for yourself for a change. The government should increase student aid not increase the minimum wage. One encourages wealth the other encourages poverty. That's right folks, the Democrats need to pay people to remain in poverty to get the votes they so desparately need. Why are there no curbs on illegal immigration. Because the Dem's are importing voters. If you work hard and get ahead the Dem's want to take it away from you because somehow, somewhere you had to oppress someone along the way.
It would appear Randy, that you haven't thought through your comments before putting them to paper. Please explain to me how people inheriting money have "earned" it? Earned it by being a good child, relative, etc.? I'm not necessarily a supporter of the estate tax, but you can hardly claim anyone has "earned" that money. You have the short-sighted mindset that people who earn minimum wage or less WANT to earn wages below the poverty level or that they're LAZY. A lot of manufacturing jobs have been outsourced (good ol' corporate America, always looking out for its profit margin) because a non-US worker will accept a much MUCH lower wage than an American worker (whole other ball of wax). So, the poor bastard who wasn't very good in school or didn't have the opportunity (read: financial means) to go on for a higher education goes into manufacturing or manual labor because that's his or her best bet a steady job. Only, it's not, because the American worker is being sold out by corporations that care only about increasing profits. This argument could go on for pages. Lastly, you really should pull your head out of your ass. Raising minimum wage doesn't "only hurt small business owners and deter job growth." You must be parroting what your short-sighted daddy has told you. The minimum wage increase would only apply to medium to large businesses. And in states where they've passed their own higher minimum wage, job growth has not been deterred. The opposite, actually, has occurred. Just something to think about the next time you decide to bloviate.
How is working for a living getting a helping hand? Why does the Bush administration give a helping hand to the rich, and then conservatives say nothing about that kind of welfare. Using your argument, we should lower the minimum wage to encourage job growth. Let's just get rid of the minimum wage and the American dream all together. Shame on anyone for thinking they can own their own house, much less raise a family. Do you honstly think that a family getting the minimum wage can afford to send any of their kids to higher education to break the cycle? Be real. In capitalism, employers are going to take advantage of anyone they can to improve their bottom line. The minimum wage IS BEING FAIR to everyone. Without it, don't count on the marketplace to be fair to low wage earners.
yawn,
Point is that minimum wage is currently set to low, and in most areas, the Fast Food joints already are paying better than that ($7.00+ an hour) anyway.
Those that pay around that of the minimum wage, are more than likely, laughing all the way to the bank with all kinds of profits.
Be careful as some franchises set pricing so the owner still makes a decent profit. Greed / profits are a 2 way street.
Too low? Says who? Jobs are a supply / demand thing. If you dont wanna work at that price, dont. Get some real skills and you will get paid more. Do scut work and refuse to better yourself and get paid less.
But, but, but, WHERE'S THE FREE STUFF! LOL
The Richs gets richer, the Poors gets poorer. You guess it!!
The way I look at it is that Bush and Cohort Republicans got their posterior on a panini grill and cannot close the lid.
""Have they no shame?""
No, just a bad memory.
They are hoping the voting population has even a worse one come election time. Hopefully Americans can see through the Retarded Republican Regime and vote them out of the Offices they hold.
Don't raise the minimum wage
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Economy/wm1176.cfm
Econ 101:
Minimum wages increase unemployment.
If minimum wages rise, the low skill workers in
the jobs now will be replaced by higher skilled
workers who now want these formerly low
paying jobs.
You're hurting the poor and the uneducated,
while at the same time pretending you're doing
them a great service. Whatever dude, study
economics first.
Why not make the minimum wage $250,000 a
a year? Or a million? Then we'd all be rich, right?
Don't you see there's a hole in the logic there
somewhere?
Minumum wage jobs are FIRST jobs, jobs that
get teens and formerly unemployed people
back into the workforce and build their skills
so they can get better jobs. It's like saying
kindergarden doesn't teach job skills, so
let's make kindergarden like college, think
how much better off the toddlers will be!
Well, they're not ready for it yet, they need
to learn more first.
Additionally, the ability to compete is stifled. If one wants to work less than $7 to beat the competition then he cannot. This is a privilege enjoyed by higher wage earners.
Additionally, the ability to compete is stifled. If one wants to work less than $7 to beat the competition then he cannot. This is a privilege enjoyed by higher wage earners.
clarify your point. are you supporting the increase in minimum wage, or just posting sarcastic rhetoric that goes no where?
Amen. preach it!
"If you want a helping hand, look on the end of your arm and you will find one." Which is why the estate tax should remain in place. Why should the lazy children of billionaires get a free ride? Make them work for their wealth, not just inherit it!
Your stupid !
Those rich folks... they already paid taxes on all the money (presumably).
You think the government should just take !
Your stupid !
It's "You're"...
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. --Jimi Hendrix
"If you want a helping hand, look on the end of your arm and you will find one." Which is why the estate tax should remain in place. Why should the lazy children of billionaires get a free ride? Make them work for their wealth, not just inherit it!
You can call it incompetence, bad policy or whatever else you want. As a small business owner, I vote Republican because I know they will look out for those of us providing minimum wage jobs. Now, I must let go two minimum wage earners if this passes. To them, I bet the current minimum wage is better than nothing at all.
You can call it incompetence, bad policy or whatever else you want. As a small business owner, I vote Republican because I know they will look out for those of us providing minimum wage jobs. Now, I must let go two minimum wage earners if this passes. To them, I bet the current minimum wage is better than nothing at all.
Small business owner here too. That's exactly why I see that Republican policies are short-termed, limited, not very cost effective, and just plain bad for everyone including the small business owner!
Thanks for your comment.
***The thing is, if you control the Senate meetings, you control the gavel. And the gavel is a very important instrument... an instrument of power. An instrument that establishes the agenda.
Dan Quayle former Republican VP of George Bush Sr***
Yay for raising inflation... erm, minimum wage!
Inflation? We already have inflation. In 2000, when Bushco took office gas was 1.40. Today, it's 3.20/gallon.
Hamburger meat was 1/2 the price.
Heating fuels have been over a hundred dollars more per month than they were in 2000.
No increase in pay to blame this on.
Truckers, who fuel our economy, are going under faster than new businesses are created. The cost of fuel increases the cost of food, goods, and services; however, these inflationary prices are not the result of fair pay. They are the result of greedy profiteers who sit in Congress and the White House and who lobby our Congressional representatives.
***The thing is, if you control the Senate meetings, you control the gavel. And the gavel is a very important instrument... an instrument of power. An instrument that establishes the agenda.
Dan Quayle former Republican VP of George Bush Sr***
How ignorant these replies are. These are the same people that can’t see that we are in a big mess in this country and they still play their childish games.
Raising minimal wage is bad? Wow I see the Republican gang has been through here already.. I guess knowing the country has figured out your game has made you all bitter.
Raising minimal wage is bad? Wow I see the Republican gang has been through here already.. I guess knowing the country has figured out your game has made you all bitter.
I disagree with all of you.
I believe that minimum wage, regardless of your opinion with economics, is a necessity and I agree that an increase is what many individuals need to survive. The Federal minimum wage is $5.15 per hour and it hasn't changed since 1997, That's obviously a problem--but I don't think it should be the Federal Government's job to set that wage. I think that all State Governments should mandate their own minimum wages that are relevant to their local needs. California's is $6.75, and many other states have also set their wage requirement significantly above the Federal mandate. It works for California, Nevada, and Florida--why not other states as well.
My opinion: Have a minimum wage--But don't let it be a burden to tax payers in states that don't need it.
To Econ 101:
Who spends money the second they get paid? The answer??? Minimum wage earners. You raise minimum wage, those people are going to spend it. That is fact! Your increasing the disposable income of the very people who spend money the fastest, namely teenagers and the low skilled worker. The economy is immediately stimulated by all the money pouring in. The average minimum wage earner has $7500 credit card debt. Are they going to take that money and pay off their entire debt. Maybe? More than likely, the statistics will bear out they will spend it.
The money gets spent whether or not the minimum wage is increased, but the act of spending is not likely to lead to any growth beyond what would have occurred without the minimum wage increase. Recall that spending, or consumption, is using things up. This cannot possibly increase wealth. Increasing wealth requires the opposite of consumption, production. However, production would be discouraged by the minimum wage because the minimum imposes an additional cost on the production process.
The fact is that while yes, some of those currently making minimum wage are 16 year old burger-flippers, the vast majority are adults working their tails off to support their children, keep food on their tables, a roof over their heads, and keep the water and electricity turned on.
Those who do not support an increase in minimum wage are surely nothing more than sheep lead astray by republican lies filtered down to the masses by a corrupt media. I'd hate to think that any person could reach such a level of ignorance entirely on their own.
you are such a communist it is not even funny, what you are trying to do is make the poor work less and rely on the democractic candidates for money. Thsi is all a scheme to give all the rich peoples money to the lazy poor people, making everyone equal, because the frycook at mcdonalds should be just as equal as the ceo of a major corporation....not damn democrats
Wow. This was dumb. How did this get posted?
The democrats cannot see what is right in front of them, that raising the minimum wage will do nothing but harm! If we were to raise it to $7.00/hour or so, then that means people getting paid $9.00/hour would also receive an increase in pay. In the end a minimum wage increase would only bring forth increases in inflation and unemployment. Some small business owners with unusual ventures pay their employees above minimum wage as it is, and to have to adjust the costs would be detrimental to the company but even more so to its employees.
The thing I hate most is that communist, out-of-touch with reality, Hollywood crowd continue to talk flack about the current administration and the level of poverty in America. I guess it would be blasphemy to even suggest that maybe they could give a portion of their $5 million or more per picture to the "average" american people struggling to make ends meet.
The democrats cannot see what is right in front of them, that raising the minimum wage will do nothing but harm! If we were to raise it to $7.00/hour or so, then that means people getting paid $9.00/hour would also receive an increase in pay. In the end a minimum wage increase would only bring forth increases in inflation and unemployment. Some small business owners with unusual ventures pay their employees above minimum wage as it is, and to have to adjust the costs would be detrimental to the company but even more so to its employees.
The thing I hate most is that communist, out-of-touch with reality, Hollywood crowd who continue to talk flack about the current administration and the level of poverty in America. I guess it would be blasphemy to even suggest that maybe they could give a portion of their $5 million or more per picture to the "average" american people struggling to make ends meet.
Congress deliberating about the federal minimum wage is a bigger waste of tax payer money than anything else considering legislation at the state level has lead to state minimum wage increases above that of the federal government. Instead of arguining whether or not the federal minimum wage should be raised we should be arguing about giving more power to the states because what good is a federal minimum wage when each state and geograpical area has differing costs of living...is someone in NY supposed to live off the same amount that someone does in Montana?
Logic people!!
Congress deliberating about the federal minimum wage is a bigger waste of tax payer money than anything else considering legislation at the state level has lead to state minimum wage increases above that of the federal government. Instead of arguining whether or not the federal minimum wage should be raised we should be arguing about giving more power to the states because what good is a federal minimum wage when each state and geograpical area has differing costs of living...is someone in NY supposed to live off the same amount that someone does in Montana?
Logic people!!
The minimum wage is not going to be 'too much' in one state over the other. However, in states that have a bigger cost of living, then they already have the option of raising the minimum wage in their state.
Last I knew 12 states had raised the minimum wage already. That is one example of why it's ok to have a Federal minimum wage and then a state who can increase their own minimum wage.
None of this is going to matter after the insane leadership of this country turns totally against us. Both Republicans and Democrats are stupid as hell these days, they become so oriented into one party or the other and forget their common denominator -- at some point we are going to find out who the Americans are in this country.
First off, the great thing about capitalism is that if there is a need someone can fill it and profit from it. If a business owner’s attitude is to lean on the current advantage of profit margins, how will businesses ever be motivated to do better? I think this wage increase is used to spur competition, not necessarily to accommodate for lifestyles. I have mixed feelings about this but I focus on skilled employees for my workforce so it doesn’t necessarily affect me. That is unless you account for the higher fees I will have to pay set by the vendors that I depend on. I don’t mind the extra cost because I know over time it will provide an advantage for a person like myself.
On the other side of the spectrum, I know a lot of people that are limited to any effort to improve themselves because of the accumulated debt they incurred over the past 10 years. Some work extremely hard for very little and all because they were either misinformed or uneducated about financial responsibility. There were many companies that took advantage of their ignorance leaving these hard working individuals in the positions they now find themselves in. If it is a case of retraining, who will end up lending them the money to do it? I leave that question open ended for a reason.
One of the pieces of the puzzle that most people miss with regards to raising the minimum wage is that it will have a direct impact on the prices of goods and services; raise the minimum wage and prices will raise correspondingly. Thus, the effect of the increase in minimum wage will have on the very people who's lives we're trying to improve will be mitigated by the increases in the costs of many of the very goods and services they regularly consume. A famous man once said: Give a man a fish, feed him for a day, teach him to fish, and feed him for a lifetime! Instead of raising the minimum wage (giving the fish), provide more opportunities for improving their skills via education (teaching to fish).
Funny that you should say, "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime!"
Heck right! I say! So quite FEEDING the rich! They've been taught to fish with our tax dollars and they don't need to keep receiving free money from the poor any longer. They need to go fish instead of feeding on the moneyhandouts given by Republicans to the wealthy.
http://www.progressiveu.org/190000-republicans-say-economy-is-great-give-bush-some-credit-yeh-charge-it-to-the-taxpayers
Fish...rich men..go fish. Stop keeping your begging jar out there to Congress and go use the skills that our tax dollars gave you.
***The thing is, if you control the Senate meetings, you control the gavel. And the gavel is a very important instrument... an instrument of power. An instrument that establishes the agenda.
Dan Quayle former Republican VP of George Bush Sr***
In my email: The GOP Minimum Wage CUT Bill
The GOP Minimum Wage CUT Bill
by NathanNewman [Subscribe]
Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 10:41:54 AM PDT
In the cynical monstrosity that the GOP calls its "minimum wage" bill, most progressives have focused on the perversity of demanding a tax cut for Paris Hilton as the price for getting a minimum wage increase.
But progressives should be trumpeting that the bill will actually CUT wages for workers in a number of states by preempting state minimum wage laws for tipped workers. (Link and provision courtesy of the National Restaurant Association) So Paris Hilton's tax cut is going to be coming directly out of the lower wages for tipped workers in California and a number of others states.
NathanNewman's diary :: ::
Rick Santorum tried this gambit last year but now they've pushed it through and progressives should be highlighting the unprecedented nature of this assault on state minimum wage laws. Here's the deal:
The federal minimum wage is explicit that states and local governments are free to create higher minimum wage rates than the federal level for any and all groups of workers. While the federal minimum wage allows employers to pay a lower wage to tipped workers, a number of states have eliminated this so-called tip credit on the assumption that consumers pay tips not to subsidize low-wage employers but to actually reward service.
But the new House bill would preempt those state laws and actually cut wages for tipped workers in states like California, Oregon and Washington where tipped workers would see a lower minimum wage rate imposed compared to what they were guaranteed under state law.
This would be an unprecedented move by the federal government to preempt state minimum wage laws. Not only would it hurt tipped workers, it would set a precedent for conservatives to try to preempt all minimum wage rates higher than the federal level.
If that sounds too paranoid, consider this. after a number of cities began enacting city minimum wage laws, about a dozen southern and western states, including Florida, Louisiana and Georgia, passed legislation banning local governments from enforcing local minimum wages higher than the federal minimum wage level. Backed by the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council, these "minimum wage repeal acts" are the model for the national GOP going further and preempting state minimum wage laws, just as they recently preempted state class action laws and just as they have preemped state health care and environmental regulation.
Progressives are actually winning a range of battles at the state level and conservatives are increasingly looking to use the federal government to shut those progressive state laws down. This new minimum wage cut for tipped workers is just one more shot in that attack.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/31/134154/959
Make sure you read it...many links there too.
***The thing is, if you control the Senate meetings, you control the gavel. And the gavel is a very important instrument... an instrument of power. An instrument that establishes the agenda.
Dan Quayle former Republican VP of George Bush Sr***
ok, so the republicans are doing what the democrats wanted to do and that makes you mad? by the way, minimum wage workers are in entry level positions and part timepositions or positions with other reimbursements and most are in high school living with parents, room mates etc. the problem here is your fear and ignorance of conservatisim. maybe you would be happier in a country with fewer rights and opportunites then the USA...try iran or Europe where evryone is poor, more poor then in the USA where even the poor are rich compared to the rest of the world.
No, Sweetheart. The Republicans ARE NOT doing what Iwant them to do. Do I want a Paris Hilton Tax break when we're trillions and trillions of dollars in debt and when China owns our country? Not bloody likely, sweatheart.
You talk about the few rights like say Europe or Iran...but let's talk about Bush and the Republicans illegally wiretapping Americans and holding people of a certain nationality for years without trial? Is this the conservative agenda that I'm not understanding?
Or let's talk about Torture and how Republicans and Bush tossed out the Geneva Conventions and got a major smack down by the Supreme Court.
Or perhaps, you like how the Republicans 'slipped' into the Ominibus Bill in 2004 a little sentence that would allow them to LOOK AT EVERY AMERICANS TAX FILES...just a little 'sneak peak' snuck into their Republican Bill.
By the way, minimum wage earners are people like, single moms...divorced moms who need a job now and who now live in poverty. They're teachers and secretaries and businessmen/women and retirees who discover that one job isn't paying for gas, healthcare, food, and medicine...
Minimum wage earners aren't just teenagers like you guys claim. Minumum wage earners are the young, the old, the middle, men women of every nationality...
But just curious..why do you neoconservatives always say, "Get out" instead of, "Well, let's work together to improve our country for all?"
***The thing is, if you control the Senate meetings, you control the gavel. And the gavel is a very important instrument... an instrument of power. An instrument that establishes the agenda.
Dan Quayle former Republican VP of George Bush Sr***
By the way, here's the link that you didn't read:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/NEWS12/607170419/-1/BUSINESS07
It's not what Republicans passed in Michigan...it's the screw up because they had to sneak behind closed doors and try to create their agenda in secretive way, and in a way that actually hurts more people living below the poverty line, and then discovered that their new 'law' is not in-line with Federal guidelines.
To screw up is human. To really screw up is Republican!
***The thing is, if you control the Senate meetings, you control the gavel. And the gavel is a very important instrument... an instrument of power. An instrument that establishes the agenda.
Dan Quayle former Republican VP of George Bush Sr***
This is a Trojan Horse!
Let me break this down for you sparky..... Anyone who voted for this bill voted to take $1,000 out of your pocket and stuff it down Paris Hilton's shirt. When Lou Dobbs and Warren Buffett are opposed to this nonsense you know it's a dog. They are wealthy, conservative Republicans who care about this country... that's why they oppose this crap.
In your fifth paragraph, you admit that you have no idea what "reasonable" means.
That speaks volumes.
really? seems to me that the sentence was snark at the unspecificity of GWB...the master liar who is suppose to KNOW what is 'reasonable".
So...hmmm...for GWB...is 7 dollars 'reasonable"? What about 10? 15?
Ah...yes, he and his supporters like a different number...2 dollars...nice and even and low! It's why they support the companies who hire illegal immigrants and why he wanted to begin his 'guest worker' program.
Nothing stopped your State Legilature from increasing your states minimum wage to whatever they wanted to.
So quit bitching that Bush screwed you over.
Go whine and cry to your Govenor and State Representatives.
Check out Washington States minimum wage and then tell me it's Bush's fault.
You are just a DUMB FUCKING NIGGER. Raising the minimum wage will do nothing but boost inflation. The poor must remain poor so the middle class and the rich(who are actually the ones working) can maintain status quo. Wake up fucking asshole.
Reply: "Dumb FUCKING NIGGER"
the above comment needs to be removed for its lack of contribution to the conversation. Only in over simplified models does raising the minimum wage automatically lead to inflation...parlor trick economic graphs (that you learn in high school or intro econ) do not take into account any of the more complex factors used in econometric models and these still posses deficiencies in predicting outcomes. I find it interesting how most of these posts take on the economic prospective while simultaneously disregarding the social impact, or necessity.
As for the author of this comment who harbors much racial animosity I ask: Since you hate Blacks (i would assume other undesirable minorities included) why would you want their plight to increase? In this post Civil Rights Era it is no longer in the interest of the ruling class to oppress communities of color so overtly or harshly (take for instance the intense govn't fear toward the Black Liberation movement during the 1970's). It is in the interest of the ruling class to acquiesce certain demands to the working class in order to stave off uprising. Do not be unhappy about the govn't raising something that has little impact on you. White flight was the upper middle classes response to encroachment by working class people but there is only so much desirable open land left. You can't keep running, you can't keep ignoring the problems of the oppressed, and you can't keep being an ignorant bigot. Its not in your interest. If you are of the ruling class (that is you make your money through what you own, not your labor) be afraid of mobs of angry people that just might take to the streets and violently bringing about change. And maybe read a little: ZOLA's Germinal, but for you read it as a warning not a tale of human struggle.
You know... I dont approve of dropping the N word. At all. But whining for free stuff and claiming that the "man is keeping you down" is so sixties it's not funny. Why is it that some "minorities", like Koreans and Japanese dont have any problems integrating into the American mainstream and often end up owning their own business and earning a great living.
I dont see a lot of whining and loser behavior from them.
Regarding the original statements made... What are the real facts ? There are so many general statements like 'the average american' and 'thousands and thousands have died because...' . State some facts, post the sources, then let's discuss it again (Maybe). It is unfortunate that this trend is used by all (Republican and Democrat). Everyone seems to want to believe only what they want to agree with. Seems like we need more critical thinkers and fewer blind sheep.
Not only is re-distribution of wealth 'not fair' it actually is immoral and is just plain dumb policy.
When you take money from the rich (ostensibly) and try to give to their poor brethren, for one, 'they' don't get it, two, when is the governments job to 'take and give'?
Smaller, less obtrusive and cheaper government will get everyone wealthier, top to bottom, or don't want that either?
Democrats are never happy, even when they get their way. Thousands do not die because of starvation in this country. That is just an insidious remark and hate speach to accuse republicans of people starving or freezing or overheating to death. Simply because there is not a thread of truth in it. There is a church on every corner ready and willing to solve those problems, all you need to do is ask. And you know what is really funny about that, they are dominated by republicans.
So instead of feeling like your backs are up against the wall (which they are because of your policies and short sighted ethics) provide clear and concise plans of action that make sense and supported by factual information. Instead of screaming about everything no matter what it is, maybe try some positive output. John Kerry lost because of this simple reason, he never layed out a single plan in detail. I am not opposed to solving problems, but it is never done out of bitterness and poor sportsmanship.
I absolutely agree. It shows the true integrity of the people representing our country. Hell, the money that they would give to the rich would pay for the increase in the minimum wage. I find it offensive that these two are tied together and just clearly exhibits why you can't trust anyone in politics.
Wait a minute... if they are given money to the rich AND the poor here, as I am seeing claimed... where is this money coming from? Or does it just change the inherent value of the dollar and all stays the same except we slide in comparison to the Euro and other currencies?
Sean Mahoney
The first thing you must understand is that the government does not give money to the rich, they take less-there is a difference. The top 50% wage earners in this country pay 96% of the taxes, does that seem fair to you? It doesn't to me.
Now, I am no economist, but I don't see how raising the minimum wage helps the poor except in the VERY short run. My logic would tell me that raising the minimum wage would do a couple of things.
First, it would raise the cost to run a business that uses this labor. This initial effect would not immediately effect business with 'skilled' labor, that would come labor. Instead these business would need to significantly raise prices to cover the cost of the increase, meaning that increases these wages isn't coming out of the rich pockets but from the pockets of the people consuming most of these services... including the people who just had their wages raised. So the raise benefit goes away once prices adjust to pay for the increases.
Second, the law wouldn't require that they guy who is currently making a dollar over minimum wage remain one dollar over the new minimum wage, so when things all balance out he effectively will have taken a pay cut as a result. Sure, he would be up to the new minimum wage, but once prices meet that (since the money to pay them has to come from somewhere) he is drug back down with everyone else at minimum wage. So an increase in the minimum wage actually just increases the number of people who make minimum wage and experience all that entails.
Third, and I think this is a positive... sort of, is that some business owners will decide to instead of jacking prices they will lay people off and then be forced to be creative, doing same amount with less. The bad part of this is less people making money at all since there are jobs lost. The good part is it increases inovation and overall that business may be more successful. But there are better ways to spur this on. The best for the public is just having competition. So I guess this one really nets out even... not positive or negative (unless you are one of the people laid off).
So I guess I just can't see how a minimum wage helps the poor? Can someone (without just insulting me) help me understand? The rich will adapt and make sure to protect themselves... this won't end up taking money out of their pockets... in fact, they are smart and wiley and many will figure out how to make more money as a result. The minimum wage folks will stay in the same boat as prices will rise to meet em. And the poor schmucks making just over minimum wage and have worked hard to get those raises (takes a while when you only get $0.25 raise a year to get $2.00 over minimum wage) will have lost all that they worked for as they will be brought up to the minimum.
Seems to me that if you wanted to help the poor in this country you would take the government out of more things (yes, this also helps the rich, but I don't understand why that is bad... you were successful at the American Dream? We should take it away then!). It would seem that to do this one would need to reform our tax structure in such a way that moving corporations to America was advantageous, or at least not detrimental as the current tax code stands. Also, making all the taxes visible instead of all these hidden taxes would be huge... something like the FairTax law would neex to be initiated... but I am sure that is a subject for another discussion.
Sean Mahoney
Hell, $7.00 is not a respectable wage. Lets make it $25 per hour so they can live it up a bit. Flat screen, swimming pool- the works! Morons! Get an ed-u-ma-cation.
Take from the rich and give to the poor!! It's up to the POOR people to decide how much is too much, and take that excess from the rich!!! THAT way, no one will have to work to have money, and no one will be movitated, and no one will try to excel or improve themselves or their enviornment, and THEN we'll be ready to be told what to do by a perfectly nice and caring Islamic council as they take over a lazy, apathetic country where no one is responsible for their own situations or actions.
Great!!!
Welcome to the "Whiners Anonymous".... Yeah, sure, it's all whitey's fault that you cant get a better job. It's all whitey's fault that your life sucks. It's all whitey's fault that you dont go back to school and learn some skills. LOSERS.
Vote Democrat!
Promote Envy. Punish Success.
Reading thru all of these posts shows that the majority of you are under the age of 25. Maybe younger. Everyone keep talking abou getting an education. GREAT!!! POOF!!!! YOUR EDUCATED, $20,000 in debt with college loans AND no jobs.
Thinking about the technology field, move to India, Pakastan or work for a large BANKING corporation and make sure you have a foreign name. Then you'll find a job. EDUCATION is NOT THE ANSWER PROPLE.
Creating jobs is the answer. The more good paying jobs there are that require an education, the more people will want to go $20,000 in debt. When the government tells you it is great for economy to out source American jobs to India, Pakastan and the likes, there is a problem. Give the big corporations huge tax breaks for shipping jobs overseas. Screw the American worker.
Do you think Chicago's economy is going to go to hell in a handbasket because they passed the Fiar Wage laws. NO. It means that giant money making corporations like WALMART won't put a store on Michigan ave because they don't want to pay a fair living wage.
And lets be honet here. Not everyone has Einstein/Rhodes Scholor brains. But because they do not have a propensity for education, should they not be allowed to earn a living. We are the richest country in the world. WORLD. Yet we have poverty on our streets in every city in every state in this country. Sure, some people drink and gamble themselves into this situation. Granted. THEIR OWN FAULT. But what about the rest of the poor and homeless that work a full time miminum wage job that can't afford a damn thing.
Think about what your saying here. If all of you are so rich and behind this non-sense, find a homeless guy on the streets and give him a 50. Can you afford it?
This article shows a certain lack of maturity and understanding of American Society. Minimum wage is not meant to be a right to live above poverty. It's a way to make sure high school/college students and part time employees get a fair wage. It's not meant to live on. We have a tax policy that is more like Robin Hood where I pay a disproportionate amount of taxes to the services I require from my government. I make sure that before I have another child I can afford the healthcare, home, food and education necessary. My taxes help pay for those that don't have the foresite to do this. Oh well, last night I heard the national anthem at a ballgame and realized that even with all the idiots we have in this country we are still the best.
As a small business person who hires high-schoolers and starts them out on minimum wage let me say...The good employess earn more after 30 days the slackers go to work somewhere else. Raise the Minimum wage and I will, in turn, raise my prices and you will pay more for products. P.S. I also worked for minimum wage in high school. See how that works?
I can guarantee that 99% of you posting to this board make much more than the minimum wage. In EVERY state that has increased the minimum wage, there has been economic growth and more net jobs. Clinton raised taxes AND the minimum wage in the early 90's and we had close to ten years of historical GROWTH both in net jobs and the economy. Please explain how that happened, since you had the same bullshit arguments against raising the minimum wage back then. Trickle down economics doesn't work- you arse-kissing toadies are prostituting yourselves out to the rich hoping that they give you a few more crumbs than your neighbors and selling out yourselves and your children while you're at it. Your conservative "moral" high ground in these arguments is simply a cover to justify your selfishness and greed.
I don't know that this is actually true. Now, I don't have statistics on this so I won't even try and speak for other states, but in Washington State we have had a LOSS of jobs in that time frame. But here's the kicker... it had nothing to do with Clinton or his policies. It had to do with being at the center of the dot com boom and riding down with the ship. Will we recover? Absolutely... pretty much there at this point... though I wouldn't credit that to Bush, just like I don't credit the fall to Clinton. It is economics and free markets. Things change, people adapt.
From where I am sitting, once again I am not an economist, I have seen overall job growth in america for a long time. The only thing that makes the news is the layoffs and outsources but overall there is still net growth. And that has been in times of raising of minimum wages and in those not... it doesn't seem to matter. Now, I have see more inflation and the lessing of the value of the dollar...
Sean Mahoney
We shouldn't be talking about a "minimum wage", we should really be discussing a "living wage" - a wage that represents the true costs of living. A wage negotiated at the state/local level, based on the economics in the region.
As for all you doom-speaking Republicans, I don't remember the economy tanking in the 90s when we last raised the minimum wage. I remember the economy tanking after Bush took office.
Let's not talk about living wage, let's talk about an executive wage. Who are we to put a limit on what people should earn? Better yet, lets let all employees determine their own wage.
Arbitrary wage prices are immoral, and they don't work. They don't reward people who do good work and work hard. Look at our labor unions, our auto companies are getting smoked by imports and our schools are going to hell due to the "minimum" wages the teachers are getting. They are not performance based so there is no need to perform.
Right... but the economy tanking the DAY after bush took office doesn't have anything to do with Bush's policies. If you had to blame one presidents policies it would have to be Clinton, although I think that would also be short sited.
And overall haven't we seen a great rise in the economy since Bush took office (even counting the downward trend it was exeriencing when he took office)?
Sean Mahoney
Minimum Wage......exactly what it stands for. This is the wage I started out at.(3.35/hr) Did I like it? NO. Did I whine about it or want to raise hell with someone of a higher authority?NO. Why? Because it is exactly what it is, a minumum wage. Something to start on and a wage you never want to see again the rest of your life. It should be raised only on the basis if it needs it by our economic standards of living deemed by our economic situations per state. Yes, I beleive the feds should butt out. Each state will take care of its own. If they dont, people will leave and is the last thing you want for your state and your constituents. I dont care who is in our most powerful office of this great nation, Republican or Democrat. One question to ask, "Whom has made it worse for the American people,NAFTA(Clinton),CAFTA(Bush)? It seems both parties are ready, willing and ,unfortunately, very able to give away what we all have in this country. I suppose I see this both ways, yet, getting down to it, with the minimum going up my pay will not increase, but products I buy will. One thing about the poor, if they want out, will the minimum wage help? Or will it become a crutch?
Minimum Wage......exactly what it stands for. This is the wage I started out at.(3.35/hr) Did I like it? NO. Did I whine about it or want to raise hell with someone of a higher authority?NO. Why? Because it is exactly what it is, a minumum wage. Something to start on and a wage you never want to see again the rest of your life. It should be raised only on the basis if it needs it by our economic standards of living deemed by our economic situations per state. Yes, I beleive the feds should butt out. Each state will take care of its own. If they dont, people will leave and is the last thing you want for your state and your constituents. I dont care who is in our most powerful office of this great nation, Republican or Democrat. One question to ask, "Whom has made it worse for the American people,NAFTA(Clinton),CAFTA(Bush)? It seems both parties are ready, willing and ,unfortunately, very able to give away what we all have in this country. I suppose I see this both ways, yet, getting down to it, with the minimum going up my pay will not increase, but products I buy will. One thing about the poor, if they want out, will the minimum wage help? Or will it become a crutch?
Why do we always talk about min wage. The poor do not pay taxes. Not ones from the FED. If you want to help the poor make it so they are not subject to payroll taxes. If they take home all of their pay check that will help. Also make it a law that Union contracts cannot have their pay tied to the FED min wage and see how many dems support it. Most of this comes from big Unions because all or most of the contracts are tied to FED min wage.
I love this hysteria.
If you would like to know what is really hurting small business owners try looking up the name WAL-MART.
The same thing was said about strip centers 60 years ago and of shopping malls 30-40 years ago. Yet somehow small businesses are STILL out there and growing.
Isn't it funny how the left never mentions Costco, Target, Home Depot, Lowes etc. etc. etc.?
Speaking of Wal-Mart, it's interesting to note that Chicago's mandatory minimum wage increase doesn't apply to union shops? I saw an article the other day that mentioned the Jewel grocery chain in Chicago. The increase doesn't apply there because it's a union shop. Sounds fair, don't it?
Speaking of earning more money, why not join a union? Did you know that the average income of a longshoreman in Charleston, SC. last year was just over $117,000? Last I checked, that constitutes as rich to liberals. Furthermore, instead of making one person richer by your labor, you make the union bosses richer. Not only that, but your money also goes to "Democrat" candidates the union likes regardless of whether or not you like them.
I'm also sure that since Fox here is so educated on the issue of minimum wage, surely he's aware of the economic consensus that every 10% increase results in the destruction of 1-2% of the jobs. I'm sure he's also aware of the fact that the minority of those on minimum wage are heads of households. That brings us to this bit of hysteria:
Do you honstly think that a family getting the minimum wage can afford to send any of their kids to higher education to break the cycle? Be real.
Ask Fox. He's a learned, honest guy right? I'm sure he'd be willing to show you that only 30% of those "families" are working minimum wage jobs.
Minimum wage is a political tool of the liberals. It's yet another class envy card and is only meant for you to believe that they really give a damn about the little guy. Keep that in mind when there's 800,000 - 1.2 million people who can't get a job because a few got a raise (and that's not counting those not on minimum wage, but demand a raise to stay above it). Of course the unions benefit the most and will reward their politicians handsomely (i.e. Cash).
Oh yeah. I almost forgot:
but man...those 7500 are Republican donors!
I'm sure you have that list readily available, right?
The Hamas, and the Hellabazoo, the Hezballoo, have to really be cut, this cancer cut, out of our society now. -- Charles Rangel (D, NY)
Costco pays above Federal Minimum wage AND has insurance. The left talks about their fairness over Walmart/Sams club all the time. Two comparable enterprises, yet Sams club is minimum wage and no insurance. Walrmart/Sams club likes to have the states pay for their employees health care and they work-em till they drop.
Get off your conservative blogs and you'd know that.
How many can't get a job?
Gee...those people are already out of a job thanks to your conservatives allowing businesses to move labor overseas, get a tax break, and then reimport the goods with out punishing them for bringing these goods back into the states.
We should abolish minimum wage, not raise it!
If minimue wage goes up, then the commpany will have to raise prices, for some reason, to give that money, than we're at square one, but i do think it is a good idea, that lawyers wrote the thing, so it doesn't do much good, and rich people, HELLLLLOOOOOOOO, they make toooo much as is. they should be giving us money, or atleast put it some place good, so research for enviro. stuff. but back to point, yes and not, more money is always good, but there are to many taxes on stuff need to live, adn the rich people do give enough taxes(thats why there are so many taxes)
ha, the question is though how many people work for minimal wage anyhow? Hardly anyone at all outside of teenagers, no family is even going to think of working for minimal wage.
Increasing the wage will only increase inflation... pfft its ridiuclous.
I have to agree with the rep. Im sorry but the average person does not make minimum wage. In fact if you look at this more clearly you would see a trend.
1.Minimum wage actually hurts the poor becuase they lose jobs or it becomes harder to find a job when the job supplier have to pay more for the worker.
2.the people who want minimum wage to riase are the same uneducated people that dont realize there hurting themselevs.
3.This just seems like the dem. are willing to further impoverish by taking advantage of the uneducated.
4. by raising minimum rage for any reason, the government is over steping its boundary.
Bucky Cat