The rhetoric of the minimum wage

[Cap’n AMatrixca]

If someone "chooses" not to get an education in a system geared to the LCD, why should I cry alligator tears over them scrubbing shit at any wage?

I made bad choices when I was young based on a 60's philosophy and ended up on the streets peddling drugs, going day jobs, hustling, etc. But then I made good choices, got a low-paying job, got out of the Sally and off the streets, and then, finally into college and lived the good life. It's AMERICA and I am living proof that ANY idiot can do it and 30 million fucking Mexicans AGREE!

And now the Democrats want to get back to throwing wooden shoes at the economy so they can have a fawkin' "feel good" moment!

Fiscal Luddites!

 

[Cap’n AMatrixca]

Pardon, as I was trying to make light.

My sibling would starve.

I'm sorry, I should have picked up on it, but I get my hackles up and get passionate when people start gearing economics based on the needs of the poor, like we did in the 70's when we built new housing projects and schools for them and then watched them destroy the facilities right along with the new opportunity because we failed to address head-on the mentality that put them in such dire straights.

As I just posted, I have little sympathy for the poor in America.

 

[Cap’n AMatrixca]

PS - It was the dumbfuck Christians that gave me a leg up, not the brilliance of Congress...

 

[Ishmael]

If someone "chooses" not to get an education in a system geared to the LCD, why should I cry alligator tears over them scrubbing shit at any wage?

I made bad choices when I was young based on a 60's philosophy and ended up on the streets peddling drugs, going day jobs, hustling, etc. But then I made good choices, got a low-paying job, got out of the Sally and off the streets, and then, finally into college and lived the good life. It's AMERICA and I am living proof that ANY idiot can do it and 30 million fucking Mexicans AGREE!

And now the Democrats want to get back to throwing wooden shoes at the economy so they can have a fawkin' "feel good" moment!

Fiscal Luddites!

Ahhhhh, you just "won lifes lottery." Ask Al, he knows. *chuckle*

Ishmael

 

[Cap’n AMatrixca]

Is that why I'm only "half" as rich as I should be?

That's who gets soaked. The poor shlubb who finally does get lucky because he's never had enough money in his life to learn how to shelter and protect it...

 

[Ishmael]

Is that why I'm only "half" as rich as I should be?

That's who gets soaked. The poor shlubb who finally does get lucky because he's never had enough money in his life to learn how to shelter and protect it...

As is proven on this board, economics is not a subject covered very well in school, is it?

Ishmael

 

[LadyFunkenstein]

If only a mere 3% of the hourly work force is paid the minimum wage (I am an admitted math dummy, but I think that equals less than 1% of the work force as a whole) then why get all riled up over it?

 

[Cap’n AMatrixca]

Yeah, most everyone here knows we are idiots...




At least I'll admit it (see above post)...

 

[Ishmael]

If only a mere 3% of the hourly work force is paid the minimum wage (I am an admitted math dummy, but I think that equals less than 1% of the work force as a whole) then why get all riled up over it?

Most likely no one would give a shit if it weren't for the fact that a great many union contracts are indexed to the minimum wage.

Ishmael

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

If only a mere 3% of the hourly work force is paid the minimum wage (I am an admitted math dummy, but I think that equals less than 1% of the work force as a whole) then why get all riled up over it?

Because, OMFG, some fresh high school graduate or single parent might be able to actually feed, clothe, and put a fucking roof over their heads.

So what if Ishmael's fucking Ensure goes up in cost by $.01 per can?

 

[SleepingWarrior]

If only a mere 3% of the hourly work force is paid the minimum wage (I am an admitted math dummy, but I think that equals less than 1% of the work force as a whole) then why get all riled up over it?

Because a big raise in the minimum wage is enacted it will drive up wages in the lower/mid level of wages. If you can make 6.75 (or whatever they want to raise it too) an hour flipping burgers why would you want to be stuck at 8 dollars an hour for harder manual labor. Businesses that don't employ non-skilled workers will now have to raise their wages to entice semi-skilled workers to work for them.

I can't speak for the rest of the country but in my neck of the woods the minimum you will find is about 6.50 an hour for unskilled workers but businesses that employ semi-skilled/manual workers have to pay 9-10 an hour to even entice people to work.

 

[Cap’n AMatrixca]

If only a mere 3% of the hourly work force is paid the minimum wage (I am an admitted math dummy, but I think that equals less than 1% of the work force as a whole) then why get all riled up over it?

Because it's based on class warfare.

In my philosophical leanings, every citizen should be treated equally, the scales of justice blind-folded. The church [obligatory, "I'm an Athiest"] is a much better vehicle for hleping those few unfortunates (witness by above autobiographical post).

We are not going to have a united America until we stop using the tax code and law to pit one group against the other and continue to reward bad behavior.

I feel if I don't speak up against class warfare, I could be the next target for the sin of working hard, redressing my past errors and finally getting to the upper middle-class because as Ish pointed out, it looks like I won Life's Lottery.

 

[Cap’n AMatrixca]

Because a big raise in the minimum wage is enacted it will drive up wages in the lower/mid level of wages. If you can make 6.75 (or whatever they want to raise it too) an hour flipping burgers why would you want to be stuck at 8 dollars an hour for harder manual labor. Businesses that don't employ non-skilled workers will now have to raise their wages to entice semi-skilled workers to work for them.

I can't speak for the rest of the country but in my neck of the woods the minimum you will find is about 6.50 an hour for unskilled workers but businesses that employ semi-skilled/manual workers have to pay 9-10 an hour to even entice people to work.

I concurr.

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

Because a big raise in the minimum wage is enacted it will drive up wages in the lower/mid level of wages. If you can make 6.75 (or whatever they want to raise it too) an hour flipping burgers why would you want to be stuck at 8 dollars an hour for harder manual labor. Businesses that don't employ non-skilled workers will now have to raise their wages to entice semi-skilled workers to work for them.

I can't speak for the rest of the country but in my neck of the woods the minimum you will find is about 6.50 an hour for unskilled workers but businesses that employ semi-skilled/manual workers have to pay 9-10 an hour to even entice people to work.

The minimum wage should be indexed to inflation, and raised or lowered (HAH! right) every year as needed.

 

[SleepingWarrior]

Because, OMFG, some fresh high school graduate or single parent might be able to actually feed, clothe, and put a fucking roof over their heads.

So what if Ishmael's fucking Ensure goes up in cost by $.01 per can?

A fresh high school grad can do those things if they have a marketable skill. Why should someone with none of those skills be paid enough to make a living? Where is the incentive to better themselves and gain more skills if they can get by in life doing the bare minimum?

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

A fresh high school grad can do those things if they have a marketable skill. Why should someone with none of those skills be paid enough to make a living? Where is the incentive to better themselves and gain more skills if they can get by in life doing the bare minimum?

Getting by on the bare minimum is no reward. The incentive is to be able to afford a better life than minimum wage can offer.

You act as if the minimum wage will be increased to the level where you can drive a nice new car, live in a luxury apartment, and dine on caviar every night. THOSE are the incentives to better yourself and earn above minimum wage. If you're happy living in a rent controlled apartment, eating TV dinners, and driving your 15 year old POS back and forth to flip burgers for the rest of your life then more power to you, someone has to flip burgers.

 

[Ishmael]

A fresh high school grad can do those things if they have a marketable skill. Why should someone with none of those skills be paid enough to make a living? Where is the incentive to better themselves and gain more skills if they can get by in life doing the bare minimum?

Oh give it up SW.

The demented ones metality is that society as a whole is responsible to pay for the stupid decisions made by others.

Ishmael

 

[OrcishBarbarian]

As I outlined above, under the plans the Democrats have been touting for their first 100 days, the cost of living is yes going to go up. They intend to get the rich as promised and we all know who the rich "get."

Same as it ever was...

Oh please...the "rich" have been having their cake and eating it too ever since Reagan took office.

Somehow corporations have been able to afford several hundred percent pay hikes for CEOs. They can afford to pay a little more to the plebs too. Not that I'm saying we should "soak the rich," but I don't think raising the minimum wage to keep pace with inflation qualifies. And as far as illegal immigrants, they're not supposed to be here anyway. Obviously we need more enforcement of immigration laws.

 

[SleepingWarrior]

Getting by on the bare minimum is no reward. The incentive is to be able to afford a better life than minimum wage can offer.

You act as if the minimum wage will be increased to the level where you can drive a nice new car, live in a luxury apartment, and dine on caviar every night. THOSE are the incentives to better yourself and earn above minimum wage. If you're happy living in a rent controlled apartment, eating TV dinners, and driving your 15 year old POS back and forth to flip burgers for the rest of your life then more power to you, someone has to flip burgers.

Well there seems to be a great many people happy to do just that right now but yet complain about the wages they earn being too low. Many people who are "stuck" in minimum wage jobs complaining about it don't put the effort into acquiring skills that many more people do to better their lives. So instead they want the minimum wage to be increased so they can get paid more for doing the least amount of work they WANT to continue doing. How many of the people that are "stuck" working for minimum wage could instead find work in a field that requires more manual labor and hence get paid better.

 

[Ishmael]

Oh please...the "rich" have been having their cake and eating it too ever since Reagan took office.

Somehow corporations have been able to afford several hundred percent pay hikes for CEOs. They can afford to pay a little more to the plebs too. Not that I'm saying we should "soak the rich," but I don't think raising the minimum wage to keep pace with inflation qualifies. And as far as illegal immigrants, they're not supposed to be here anyway. Obviously we need more enforcement of immigration laws.

Are you a communist? Just asking because it would seem to me that unless you are what a CEO makes is really none of your concern. It's not money out of your wallet or food off your table. It would seem to me to be a positive incentive to be a CEO.

It seems to me you just want to 'kill Igors goat' rather than make an attempt to improve your own life.

Ishmael

 

[unregistered]

 

[Cap’n AMatrixca]

Oh please...the "rich" have been having their cake and eating it too ever since Reagan took office.

Somehow corporations have been able to afford several hundred percent pay hikes for CEOs. They can afford to pay a little more to the plebs too. Not that I'm saying we should "soak the rich," but I don't think raising the minimum wage to keep pace with inflation qualifies. And as far as illegal immigrants, they're not supposed to be here anyway. Obviously we need more enforcement of immigration laws.

Yes, that is a reality and one that Congress cannot address because the rich are collectively a helluva lot smarter than Congress.

Thanks to Ish, when it comes to the "positive interference of government," I refer to von Humboldt's great work. You can never legislate equality or fairness, but in the attempt, you will take away the citizen's freedom to pursue his own happiness, thoughts and desires.

We are not going to get enofrcement of our laws because the Democrats will get those votes, money for nothing, checks for free, like when they check into our hospitals and leave UD with the bill...

 

[Cap’n AMatrixca]

Yep, and let's have government price controls on everything else as well comrade.

When did the Left go from Jack Kennedy to Richard Nixon?

 

[Ishmael]

When did the Left go from Jack Kennedy to Richard Nixon?

Whatever it takes to buy votes bro.

Ishmael

 

[Cheyenne]

I call bullshit. No offense to you, but have to be shitting me.

How many people do YOU know who actually earn minimum wage?

Our lowest wage paid is more than double minimum wage where I work. That's what AJ is saying, the millions of families that exist on minimum wage are a myth.