71% of Americans Support Increasing the Minimum Wage

[green73]

It can be logically shown that an increase in the minimum wage will increase unemployment, yet, the overwhelming majority of Americans appear to not be aware of the logical progression that leads to this conclusion.

In USA Today/Pew Research Center poll, 71% of Americans back increasing the minimum wage to $9 an hour from $7.25 currently.

The plan has 87% support among Democrats and 68% support among independents. Among Republicans, 50% back the measure, with 47% opposed.

Things are much better with tea party types. People who identified themselves as agreeing with the tea party opposed the minimum wage measure 64% to 32%.

(Via WSJ)

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2013/02/71-of-americans-support-increasing.html

 

[MRK]

Why not $28/hour? Then everyone would be middle class!

 

[MRK]

Why not $1000/hour? No need for the rich to have that edge. Now everyone can be rich!

 

[MRK]

To hell with it, let's just make the minimum wage 1 billion dollars per day. After all, a million dollars isn't exactly a lot of money these days. How are people going to afford to eat without $30 billion/month?

 

[MRK]

Actually you know what, this whole money system thing doesn't make sense. I see no reason why people can't just walk into a hotel and demand lodging, and then walk into the restaurant next door and demand meals. Money is an archaic medium of living, and as a modern, civilized society we know better than to let anyone be treated any differently than anyone else.

 

[FSP-Rebel]

Goes to show that half of repubics are actually dems at heart or have no understanding of the problems w/ the MW in the first place. It's like magic, 25% pay increases for those at the bottom rung yet will squeeze out many more people than those it benefits. If low wage jobs are the way of the future, how delightful that this category won't be hiring either. unemployment^ underemployment^^

 

[MRK]

 

[cheapseats]

I support LIVABLE WAGES for conscientious full-time work at the lowest rung of the ladder. OTHERWISE, unless you are willing to step over corpses where they drop, you have a Welfare Society from the get-go PLUS an administrative layer of bureaucratic bullshit AND political intrigue.

That is NOT to say that anyone who employs anyone should be obligated to come up with full-time HOURS...or healthcare insurance, or anything else (LIVABLE WAGES means exactly that). I got no problem with people being "burdened" with COBBLING TOGETHER a full-time schedule. But, yeah, I strongly support Livable Wages for the lowest rung of the ladder...THE ONE THAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAPPILY TAKE FOR SUB-SUBSISTENCE WAGES, WHICH ARE SO LAVISH COMPARED TO BACK HOME IN THEIR IRON CURTAIN COUNTRIES & BANANA REPUBLICS THAT THEY NOT ONLY AVOID TAXES & COLLECT BENEFITS, THEY SEND MONEY "HOME".

[I realize my use of CAPITAL LETTERS is annoying to some. Consider it an exercise in sorely needed self-discipline to keep it to yourself.]

 

[oyarde]

Well , the dumbasses could go to Australian minimum , swing by the golden arches , get a $10 burger...

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

71% of Americans Support Increasing Inflation and Government taking more of their paychecks... both Federal and State.

 

[MRK]

Well , the dumbasses could go to Australian minimum , swing by the golden arches , get a $10 burger...

A few weeks ago, the Australian government raised minimum wage to A$15 an hour (about $15.30 USD). It's more than double the federal minimum wage in the United States.
...
Most people who earn minimum wage are young, unskilled workers. How are they doing in Australia?
In June, Australia's unemployment rate for workers age 15 to 19 was 16.5%.
Last December, 63% of all jobs lost were jobs for young, unskilled Australians.
It's simple: when the price of something goes up, people buy less. So when the price of labor goes up, employers hire less.

Holy moley!

 

[MRK]

I know a few deadbeat "collectors" (as opposed to "earners") who hop from job to job and are content with earning minimum wage. I got one a job in a sales position where he earned a draw of minimum wage but had the potential to earn much more. At the time I worked in the same company and position as this guy. Whereas I was giving 100% of my effort when I was in that position, boosting my earnings/hour to about $24/hour, he would sit on his ass and play with his phone, happy to be making minimum wage without having to do anything as opposed to his other minimum wage jobs where he actually had to work (gasp).

I need to call this guy up, and tell him I found a perfect job for him in Australia from any employer foolish enough to hire him. It would be perfect for his collector mindset. Until he got fired again of course.

 

[TokenLibertarianGuy]

Since the US is a democracy it should be raised!

 

[juleswin]

Goes to show that half of repubics are actually dems at heart or have no understanding of the problems w/ the MW in the first place. It's like magic, 25% pay increases for those at the bottom rung yet will squeeze out many more people than those it benefits. If low wage jobs are the way of the future, how delightful that this category won't be hiring either. unemployment^ underemployment^^

Correct, the morning paper had an articles telling how the Republican governors of Alabama and Michigan are proposing massive increases in their pre K budgets. These people are so called conservatives calling for an even more expansive Dept of Education. And somehow we are supposed to take over this group of people.

 

[juleswin]

Since the US is a democracy it should be raised!

Democratic republic with a constitution to "protect" citizens from the tyranny of the majority. But its weird how it is set up since a super majority can still override the protection of the minority

 

[No Free Beer]

its interesting because i had a conversation with a girl in my class about this.

she said she was in favor of increasing the minimum wage.

I then saw a janitor starting to clean the floors of the building. I said to her, "im goign to go and ask that guy how much he makes an hour."

she said, "omg! dont!"

I then said, "do you think he makes minimum wage?" to which she answered, "no, i would think he makes more."

so i go, "then why is there a minimum wage? if people are being paid more, whats the point?"

 

[KrokHead]

Minimum wage is a bugaboo. You increase it, less people have jobs, you keep it low people are forced to go on social programs to live. However if there were much less social programs, corporate responsibility (paying grown men grown men wages instead of expecting a $8 an hour plebeian workforce while giving failing executives wages exponentially greater than normal Americans,) and measures to protect American industries minimum wage wouldn't be an issue. Because then there could be crap jobs for kids who don't deserve more than $5 an hour.

 

[Anti Federalist]

To hell with it, let's just make the minimum wage 1 billion dollars per day. After all, a million dollars isn't exactly a lot of money these days. How are people going to afford to eat without $30 billion/month?

Heartless thieving capitalist.

Y U so cheep?

$1 trillion an hour.

Even got the notes ready to pay out:

(Yes, it's very real.)

 

[invisible]

The problem here is that minimum wage increases do not help the people that they are supposed to help. For many years, I was at or near the very bottom of the wage scale. Raising the minimum wage never resulted in any increase in my pay, it only meant that workers who knew less or had fewer skills were now paid what I was (and that I could only get a raise by changing jobs). It also meant, every time, that my rent would increase sometime in the following year. Raising the minimum wage has always taken money out of my pocket. Raising the minimum wage never keeps up with (let alone gets ahead of) the inflation that it causes: employers have to pay more for labor at the low end of the scale, so end up raising prices on their customers. Everyone's cost of living increases, so everyone raises prices on everything across the board. Minimum wage was never really an issue when we were still on the gold standard, a dollar was a dollar.

 

[QuickZ06]

Comments from the video.........we're doomed.

Again, another stupid video dude... first of all, it's all about supply and demand... if a company is doing well and needs more workers to keep up with the demand, I don't care if they pay them 7 or 9 dollars an hour they will still hire them. PWNED AGAIN