Originally Posted by superbadbrutha";p=&quot

............doesn't Union wages go up when minimum wage goes up. If you are a adult over the age of 25 and you are making minimum wage you have made some bad decisions somewhere in life. Don't get me wrong we all go through hard times in life, but really the majority of people that make minimum wage are teenagers and those just moving into the workforce.
Peace.

Originally Posted by Rebellion";p=&quot

states make more sense because what someone needs in Manhattan to survive is not the same as what someone needs in Barrow, Alaska. Also, let each state decide according to its means, taxation, etc.

Originally Posted by bktx1";p=&quot

On the surface, it sounds like a good way to promote a living wage.


But in fact, it is often disfunctional and hurts those who need work:

- I don't see a single min. wage which could even come close to being a living wage

- by creating an artificial minimum, many employers will choose not to hire many marginal workers, including many part time student workers.


The fact is that employees are paid for their productivity and against the laws of supply and demand. There are forces out there and competition for jobs worldwide which affect workers. It is often painful and discouraging. You have to bring something to the table, and find something which you love and which has long term potential. If you find something that you love, then do that, but if you love what you do, you will find success. Sometimes it takes awhile to figure out what that is. It took me 18 years of work to figure out what I really loved. (When I say do something you love, I mean find an occupation that you love with a realistic chance of success.)

There are lots and lots of unhappy lawyers and dentists out there.

Originally Posted by Mack";p=&quot

The problem with the supply and demand argument is that the employee is making their decisions on the fact that they will be receiving some serious supplemental income from the US government in the form of welfare, food stamps, medicaid, and earned income tax credits. This messes up the supply curve and makes many workers take jobs they ordinarily wouldn't.

Originally Posted by bktx1";p=&quot

Isn't what you are saying an argument against a minimum wage?

Originally Posted by Ben";p=&quot

If anything, the minimum wage should be eroded by inflation. Raising is the last thing that should happen, sure, the workers will get more...assuming they keep their jobs. I doubt any employer is going to pay $7.50/hr for a 15 year old boy to bring the grocery bags to a car. labor contracts should be left between the employer and the employee. if you look into the history of this law you'll find it's glaringly racist too.

Originally Posted by Mack";p=&quot

No. The point is that people will work at an artificially low wage because they will receive other social benefits like the ones listed above. With a high enough minimum wage, the company is forced to pay the minimum amount at which someone would choose to work instead of being unemployed. Without minimum wages, the burden of paying living wages is forced onto tax payers.

Originally Posted by heikstheo";p=&quot

On the other hand, without these subsidies in the form of social welfare programs, the burden of actually paying a living wage falls on the employer.

Originally Posted by Mack";p=&quot

True. However, the fact of the matter is that these programs do exist, and it is very unlikely that they are going away any time soon. The merit of these programs is an entirely different and complicated debate so I chose to just acknowledge that they do exist and go from there.