So You Want A $15 Minimum Wage? / What About All of Us Already at $12? (employees, profit)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The title pretty much makes the point; for every whiny child making $7.50/hr flipping burgers and mopping floors, there are two or three people who have already worked their way halfway up the ladder. If you ever managed to schmooze a few half-literate politicians into doubling your pay, do you think the rest of us, who've already "paid our dues" are going to be content joining you and yours back on the bottom of the economic dungheap?
A proportionate raise for someone already working at $12/hr would raise their base pay to $24/hr; that works out to $960/wk, or just a little under $50K/yr -- which is a lot less than most teachers, or office workers earn. (And don't forget that those individuals often have to furnish the trappings of their careers, such as more-expensive clothing, at their own expense; and might face pressure to work more than the usual 40-hour week while limitd to a straight salary). .
Oh yeah, we know; you think your employer has a huge vault full of money -- somewhere -- from which he/she can satisfy all your fantasies without raising the prices paid by the rest of us.
It's time to grow up.
Last edited by 2nd trick op; 05-25-2015 at 09:50 AM..
they don't care, other people's problems aren't theirs... just like it isn't their problem that the employers has to find the money to pay more if they make it $15/hr... except it will when they get fired
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,687 posts, read 81,491,960 times
Reputation: 57948
Quote:
Originally Posted by redplanet321
So its okay for prices to rise on everything every year, but its not okay to raise the minimum wage?
People who "paid their dues" to get to $12/hr probably deserve more money as well.
There are many factors contributing to higher prices for "everything", including lawyers for lawsuits, insurance, government regulations and taxes, and of course, supply and demand (housing in desirable areas). Companies are in business to make a profit, and as their costs go up so must their prices to maintain any profit. Paying higher wages will add to their cost and prices will go up even more, and/or hours will be cut or automation increased, so the net result for those going from $8-10 to $15 will be no gain in spending ability. Automation is a one-time investment with some additional maintenance costs, while higher salaries are recurring, every two weeks.
Raising the minimum wage can cause all wages to rise... but the result will be inflation wiping out the gain. It can cause unemployment as employers make do with fewer, more expensive workers (which is good for those employed but not those who lose their job). And it can cause wage compression where those at lower wages see an increase while those at higher wages do not, or even see a drop -- this is the intended effect, though those pushing for a higher minimum wage would prefer the effect extend to a higher wage level than it likely will. It's also likely to be combined with inflation and/or unemployment.
This has always been the way it works. Life's not fair. I remember having an hourly job once, when the minimum wage was raised, and then I got to experience the joy of having someone who was brand new making as much as I did.
There is LESS money available for raises for long time employees when the min wage is raised.
So its okay for prices to rise on everything every year, but its not okay to raise the minimum wage?
People who "paid their dues" to get to $12/hr probably deserve more money as well.
I agree, sadly we have seen the costs go up despite stagnant wages.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2nd trick op
But you haven't addressed the question of where that money is supposed to come from -- because you can't.
Here we go again -- "the 1%", "global corporations", "rich Republicans", "the Koch brothers", "Bush", Bush", "Bush".......
CEOs could get paid a little less. There's no real reason for CEOs to make $10 million. "Because they can," isn't a good reason by the way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nybbler
Raising the minimum wage can cause all wages to rise... but the result will be inflation wiping out the gain. It can cause unemployment as employers make do with fewer, more expensive workers (which is good for those employed but not those who lose their job). And it can cause wage compression where those at lower wages see an increase while those at higher wages do not, or even see a drop -- this is the intended effect, though those pushing for a higher minimum wage would prefer the effect extend to a higher wage level than it likely will. It's also likely to be combined with inflation and/or unemployment.
I am for an increase in minimum wage but you are right in the likely outcome. I don't want a $15 minimum wage all over the board, not all areas are Seattle, New York or Los Angeles.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PierceMarx
Do you have any sort of study on this or are you just speculating?
It is the likely outcome given recent trends.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
