Which is worse: the minimum wage or the Patriot Act?

[Ozwest]

I'm not exactly sure, but the minimum wage in OZ is about 15.00 an hour.

 

[Ozwest]

You're right, it is criminal! Its about $5.25 too high!

I would not insult someone by paying them that wage! A man breaks his back for me, he has a right to his dignity. This is not the industrial revolution!

 

[Bradley in DC]

No question: the USA PATRIOT Act is worse in the sense that it affects us all while almost no one is affected by the minimum wage laws (at least beneficially!).

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/AlanReynolds/2006/01/19/below_the_minimum_wage

 

[Ozwest]

I'm sorry, I haven't read this thread, but surely paying people less than a measly 5.25 an hour cannot be the goal.

 

[kylejack]

I would not insult someone by paying them that wage! A man breaks his back for me, he has a right to his dignity. This is not the industrial revolution!

This is not about what you would pay, but about what the government should enforce. Let's say I want to hire an employee but I can only afford $3 per hour. I find a person who would like to work for me at that rate. The government steps in and says "No, you can't go work for him for that price. We prohibit it." Now he's unemployed because the government won't allow him to work for me at that rate, and I can't afford more. He should be able to make any deal he wants for his employment.

No question: the USA PATRIOT Act is worse in the sense that it affects us all while almost no one is affected by the minimum wage laws (at least beneficially!).

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/AlanReynolds/2006/01/19/below_the_minimum_wage

Minimum wage raises the prices for everyone's purchases.

 

[Ozwest]

So 5.25 is too much!!!

 

[kylejack]

So 5.25 is too much!!!

If I find an employer willing to employ me for $3 an hour and I want to work for him, it is unethical for you or any government to stop me from doing so. It is my right to contract for labor at any price I desire.

 

[Ozwest]

In a strong economy wages naturally escalate. Always comes back to supply and demand. But seriously 5.25 is too much!

 

[kylejack]

In a strong economy wages naturally escalate. Always comes back to supply and demand. But seriously 5.25 is too much!

That's right, it is a NATURAL economic process in a fiat currency system that doesn't need to be interfered with by the government.

 

[Ozwest]

I'm not tech. but you can double check me. Our minimum wage is about 15.00 an hour. I recently sold my business of 15 years, and looking after my employees was top priority.

 

[Ozwest]

The guy who mows my lawns drives a Range Rover. Seriously.

 

[Ozwest]

I'm not having a go at you guys, merely stating the facts. If you don't want Ron Paul, we'll have him as our Prime Minister. No 5.25 an hour though.

 

[kylejack]

I'm not having a go at you guys, merely stating the facts. If you don't want Ron Paul, we'll have him as our Prime Minister. No 5.25 an hour though.

Ron Paul votes against minimum wage increases. As president, he would work to abolish the minimum wage, in my opinion.

 

[Ozwest]

It wouldn't really matter over here if there was a minimum wage or not, no one would clean your toilets for less than 15.00 an hour, probably want more. Supply and demand. I promise you I'm not messing about.

 

[Ozwest]

Was it my bad manners? I lied to you? I love America, I left at the age of 23, but you guys don't have the same lifestyle as we have here.

 

[F3d]

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[Ozwest]

Minimum wage hurts the poor because companies will hire less and instead will hire mostly middle class teenagers. Some unions make it unfair to other workers because they want to be compensated 15 an hour to be a cashier while another cashier at Walmart makes 7 an hour.

I am not a socialist, but if you want to be a slave to your corporate masters, feel free to do so. Plenty of Chinese waiting to out-bid you.

 

[F3d]

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[Brutus]

There is no wealth without productivity. Wealth isn't a lot of zeros at the end of your paycheck (we're working up to that now with the falling dollar) but a lot of goods you can buy with your paycheck.

The minimum wage has only bad effects. Only. There are NO good ones. If you'd like I can get you the economic links, but that is beside the point of this thread.

However, we've lived with the bad effects of the minimum wage for decades and the Patriot Act is newly offensive. They are both very bad, though. Both abridge freedom in a fundamental way.

 

[F3d]

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