American Wages, the Minimum Wage and Income Brackets

Yes, you want to promote the general welfare by getting other peoples stuff. Who knew?

 

nobody takes the right wing seriously about economics.
http://www.usdebtclock.org/

 

Let's start cutting, economics wiz that you are

 

Right. Contempt.

 

I submit that it has to do with education. ALL the above has to do with education. Uneducated people make bad choices more often than educated people do. So what to do. Well, first let's notice that 10% of the federal budget is spent on safety net programs, but only 3% of the federal budget is spent on education.

Meanwhile, the number of families receiving "welfare" has been in decline for years.

 

Then you are clearly in the WRONG DEBATE FORUM!

 

FREE, GRATIS AND FOR NOTHING

If there are "no rules" in the US, yes. But there are MW-rules in most developed countries, and you'd do better to ask why?

And here's my answer: Because the US is a country where far too many take "wage fairness" as a given - and it means principally to "make a megabuck if you can" rather than a decently livable salary for all! Which is why so many line-up to jet-propel themselves into a megabuck-win at public lotteries!

 

I will point out that everyone I know paid less in taxes for 2018. That's remarkable. And having paid less in, we've been able to direct more in charity than we ever have before. A win for everyone from my perspective.

 

MEGABUCK WANNABEES

Get to know more people!

You are in an Economics Forum. Go find the data to support your arguments!

Charity should never be a centerpiece policy in an effort to fight Social Inequality. We can have damn good salaries for all, and those who are looking for megabucks can do so elsewhere. (The South Pole, for instance.)

TV might want to parade their faces flush with pride, but that is for public-consumption - which unfortunately works for most people in America. The country is full of Megabuck Wannabees.

But the only real answer to Social Inequality is taxation, taxation, taxation - and employing the funds for a National Healthcare System as well as very low-cost Post-secondary Education. A better America is a more educated America.

Which is what we need most and not platitudes ... !

 

Smug isn't going to cut it for you here. Since I didn't argue that charity would become a corner piece, it's very disingenuous of you then to have inserted it. More, where did this standard of yours hatch? What is "social inequality" in the first place? Perhaps what you meant to say is financial equality. Did you not? Because, that is your goal, isn't it?

 

Go look it up.

Maybe you'd be happier on a Message Board than a Debate Forum ... ?

 

Did you actually believe that BS when you practiced on yourself in the mirror???

 

Our alleged wars on crime, drugs, and terror are a waste of money.

 

Minimum wage was never supposed to be a living wage. It's just that a minimum. $15 an hour wouldn't be enough for me to live on either. I'm not fighting against raising the minimum wage (my preference would be no minimum wage at all). It should be raised (or not exist at all). However, nationwide $15 an hour is too high of a minimum wage. It means that people who's wages aren't worth $15 an hour won't have a job. I do agree there may be some locales that $15 an hour should be minimum wage, but that should be up to the state/local government, not the federal government.

 

Yes

 

Social standing is a function of financial standing.
Not rocket science.

 

The Minimum Wage, when conceived, was intended at those living on or close to the Poverty Threshold. It has been set at $7.25 an hour since 1991.

Do you really think - given the massive inflation over nearly 30 years - that it still achieves its initial purpose?

I don't ...

So, people are to live in abject poverty because you think $15 an hour is too much?

You're afraid of what? Your BigMac will double in price ... ?

 

I partially agree about education but even with education people still need to make good decisions. Education is the root for thinking and solving problems but education alone won't solve our wage and wealth issues. A high school dropout with no college can do great if they learn the right skills, work hard, and stay out of trouble. I'd say it's more of a human behavioral issue which cannot be solved or constrained or forced to do better. Seems society and politics is always looking to blame our failures on everything except personal responsibility...why is this?

 

Trivial and meaningless information cannot dictate that I am in the wrong forum??

 

I don't care what other countries do? It's impossible to debate MW in the US much less around the world.

If anyone feels they need higher incomes or more wealth or whatever, it is incumbent upon the individual to take steps to achieve whatever it is they desire. There will never be a solution from government! 100% of everything one needs to know lies within their daily routine...if they don't like their routine then change something. So if government can never solve 'their' problems, and people refuse to change paths to obtain more, then we are left with the status quo we have today of millions of Americans left wanting. Yet these same Americans are 100% in control of their lives and still won't take steps to do better? Wages and wealth are not a political issue...

 

Life is hard.
Develop some skills.
Eating crapping and breeding does not entitle one to anything

 

In bold above is not true...the MW was established to provide some stability in the post-depression economy, to protect from predatory employers. While at that time $.25/hour provided a minimal living, using an inflation calculator, $.25 in 1938 would be $4.48 in 2019, well below today's $7.25/hour.

I don't understand why you harp about $15/hour when $15/hour in all major US cities is absolute poverty! And most of these cities have already increased MW between $10-$15/hour.

I'm curious; if the US median wage is about $17/hour, which means about 75 million Americans earn $17/hour or less, if you arbitrarily increase MW to $15/hour, which is more than double the current rate, will you also expect the $17/hour median wage to increase as well to around $35/hour?

 

Because it won't do a thing to raise current minimum wage workers to the middle class. And if my BigMac doubles in price, that will mean that minimum wage will again have to be raised. Thanks for making my point. Raising the minimum wage will cause prices to increase, which will mean that there will be no real gain.

Yes, the minimum wage should be raised. It should be close to $10 now, to keep up with inflation. In FL, it is $8.46 an hour. Also, less than 3% of hourly workers make the minimum wage or less.

https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/minimum-wage/2018/pdf/home.pdf

 

That is not the point!

The objective is to allow them to lead decent lives with a MW that is not almost 30 years old!

What planet do you live on ... ?

 

Do something with yourself and you can have a decent life. Do jack **** to acquire a marketable skill, and you deserve to starve