[animatedmartian]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...imum-wage-9-25

The House voted 76-34 and the Senate voted 24-12 late Tuesday afternoon to raise the state’s current $7.40 minimum in four stages. The first boost, to $8.15 an hour, would take effect in September, then up to $8.50 at the beginning of 2016, $8.90 in 2017 and $9.25 in 2018.

After that, rate increases will be tied to inflation or 3.5%, whichever is lower.

Voter-initiated legislation called for $10.10 per hour with increases tied to inflation.

Thoughts?

[zthatzmanz28]

This is not a raise. It is an end run to avoid immediate effect on a $10.10 an hour ballot vote. By 2017, the minimum wage will still be equivalent to the current $7.65 wage. It is a LOSE-and-LOSE more proposition.

[MS313]

It's about damn time imo. The income inequality in America is outrageous, and it's getting worse and worse. Prices continue to rise rather minimum wage goes up with it or not. So nobody can even use that as an excuse.

[313Weather]

*Over the next 5 years*

Strategic (on the Republicans part), yet meaningless PR move.

1. The Federal Government will likely raise the minimum wage to at least that amount by 2018 any way.

2. Inflation will wipe out this amount of a minimum wage increase.

I don't expect any better though.

[MS313]

Originally Posted by 313Weather

*Over the next 5 years*

Strategic (on the Republicans part), yet meaningless PR move.

1. The Federal Government will likely raise the minimum wage to at least that amount by 2018 any way.

2. Inflation will wipe out this amount of a minimum wage increase.

I don't expect any better though.

Your right about that. But at least the fact that rate increases will be tied to inflation or 3.5% will keep it from getting any worse in the future.

[detwahDJ]

This link brings up several points which I am not in the mood to explore at the moment, but it gives the U.S. Dept. of Labor view.
http://www.dol.gov/minwage/mythbuster.htm

The biggie in my opinion is the right-wing myth which says raising the minimum wage is "bad for business and the economy". For one thing, of all the times it has been raised, has this ever been proven? Also, a low third-world wage results in a class of impoverished working poor who must receive subsidy in order to survive and cannot afford to buy the products they are producing for export only. Some of these countries are engaged in protectionism and unequal tariff manipulations - a problem which we apparently can't address. Lots of politics involved in the problem over and above the simplistic "greedy American worker" demon favored by certain media.
5 Right-Wing Myths About Raising the Minimum Wage, Debunked | AlterNet

Examples of current republican opposition in the Michigan Congress:
"This is why jobs go to China" - meaning to third-world countries where slave and child labor are practiced.
"Businesses should not pay more than what the market will bear" - meaning the global "free market" which allows third-world countries to undercut our labor force.

Not sure if these righties are serious or if it is just blind faith in trickle-down economics (which we have had since Reagan and has failed). If American workers are reduced to third-world status, just like their foreign peers living in mud huts or employer-provided dormitories, they will not be able to buy anything. Our most prosperous economic times were before Reagan when demand-side "trickle-up" was in effect.
Seems to me that some corporate entity took Reagan aside, "read him his rights" by convincing him that they - not consumer demand - were the real "job creators", and then grabbed control of Congress.

The real problem is not America's workforce, but in the economic practices of foreign governments imo.

[westernwilly]

Originally Posted by detwahdj

this link brings up several points which i am not in the mood to explore at the moment, but it gives the u.s. Dept. Of labor view.
http://www.dol.gov/minwage/mythbuster.htm

the biggie in my opinion is the right-wing myth which says raising the minimum wage is "bad for business and the economy". For one thing, of all the times it has been raised, has this ever been proven? Also, a low third-world wage results in a class of impoverished working poor who must receive subsidy in order to survive and cannot afford to buy the products they are producing for export only. Some of these countries are engaged in protectionism and unequal tariff manipulations - a problem which we apparently can't address. Lots of politics involved in the problem over and above the simplistic "greedy american worker" demon favored by certain media.
5 right-wing myths about raising the minimum wage, debunked | alternet

examples of current republican opposition in the michigan congress:
"this is why jobs go to china" - meaning to third-world countries where slave and child labor are practiced.
"businesses should not pay more than what the market will bear" - meaning the global "free market" which allows third-world countries to undercut our labor force.

Not sure if these righties are serious or if it is just blind faith in trickle-down economics (which we have had since reagan and has failed). If american workers are reduced to third-world status, just like their foreign peers living in mud huts or employer-provided dormitories, they will not be able to buy anything. Our most prosperous economic times were before reagan when demand-side "trickle-up" was in effect.
Seems to me that some corporate entity took reagan aside, "read him his rights" by convincing him that they - not consumer demand - were the real "job creators", and then grabbed control of congress.

The real problem is not america's workforce, but in the economic practices of foreign governments imo.

+1

Well said!