I support 8.25/hour national minimum wage(house republicans do it!)

[Roadrunner]

$9? Why not make it $25? Or $35?

Don't you CARE about people?

Hey Matthew. You think the above comment is what passes for intelligent debate on this subject in our wonderful Congress?

This is all the tea party has...The top 400 people in this country make as much as the other half of America. During the past 15 years this has become a major problem as it just grows as the worker gets fucked.

Think this is fair tea partiers?

Look at all the welfare we have to give to walmart workers to see that this isn't working.

I bet the top 400 don't smoke crack, have tattoos, have babies out of wedlock, and did not drop out of free public school and the opportunities offered there.

 

[Roadrunner]

$9? Why not make it $25? Or $35?

Don't you CARE about people?

Hey Matthew. You think the above comment is what passes for intelligent debate on this subject in our wonderful Congress?

This is all the tea party has...The top 400 people in this country make as much as the other half of America. During the past 15 years this has become a major problem as it just grows as the worker gets fucked.

Think this is fair tea partiers?

Look at all the welfare we have to give to walmart workers to see that this isn't working.

Deport 10 million illegals and WalMart might have to raise wages to hire enough workers.
Git 'er done!!!

Cut off welfare, and the jobless bums will drive the illegals out of the country, as they scramble to grab jobs "Americans are too good to do" in an effort to avoid starvation.

 

[Roadrunner]

But why not $10.10/hour? What's the difference between raising it to $8.25/hour and $10.10/hour?

Why not cut a check for $25,000 to every living American.

Pay it January 1.

Those that blow it, die of starvation.

 

[Roadrunner]

Small increments sounds like a good idea.

zero sounds like a good idea

It's been at $7.25 for the last 5 years. Geez.

Now, find one person stuck at $7.25 for 5 years, and you might have a point.

 

[Roadrunner]

7 something or 8 something an hour is not much of a difference. If one works 80 hours per week at that wage that still isn't enough to pay one bill and provide food. Minimum wage jobs are designed for kids only or those that perhaps have zero interests and for some sickening reason like to work for a pittance. I don't see what raising it is going to do. 8.25 an hour is still something that one isn't really getting paid for.

Sometimes people don't have a choice but to take a minimum wage job. Its not as easy as people like to think to get skilled - it costs time and money, which people don't have, otherwise they wouldn't be working minimum wage!

That is utter bullshit.

We have schooling, free, from three year old programs up to High School, and in many cases even free trade school.

To be born in America and stay poor means one thing, you just fuckin' suck at life skills.

 

[Roadrunner]

I support minimum wage of 4.50 per hour.

Perhaps that will motivate people to actually improve themselves.

You are judging people without even knowing their situation.

Actually, I am not.

A school kid making 4.50 an hour is just gravy for their desires. They have no need to make more than that, and if they do, the experience will give them a leg up.

A person who has been working for minimum wage for 10 years, however; has other problems beside the wage earned. I don't really care what that problem is, as long as they find some way to improve themselves. Or not. It is totally up to them.

I will not punish an entire country for a few who cannot find the motivation to get ahead.

Okay, working for the same wage for ten years is not what anyone wants to do, unless its a good wage, but if its minimum wage, obviously you would want more. But you need to consider that if a person requests a pay rise, they might not get one, and have to settle with what they have. There are not jobs on every street corner, you know.

I am sure that people do the best they can with what they have. Asking for assistance is nothing to be ashamed of. Living on assistance of decades is not something to be proud of, but then, I don't know what your situation is and I am not going to judge.

I have never had a minimum wage job that did not have an increase after a short probationary period, and regular raises after that.

There are virtually no actual real people stuck long term in minimum wage jobs.

It is an Alinskyite propaganda issue aimed at dividing people and creating ill-will, and nothing less.

 

[Roadrunner]

Better yet, I 'd require these corporations to pay only 30 times the pay for their ceo to lowest paid employee. This would be better as it would spread the monetary resources to the workers. I'd only do it on corporations making more than 5 billion/year.

No more golden parachutes for the bastards.

Also, I am not against 10.10 per hour. Just that we might not get it with the republicans and all.

Holy toledo Matthew. I'm pissed off at some of the wages as well but that is not for us nor the government to decide. Only the shareholders.

You start to get into who deserves what for pay and you are opening Pandora's Box my friend. And that's never a good thing.

Who cares what the CEOs make if the stock is earning money?

That is the stockholders business and nobody elses.

Now, if someone is stuck in minimum wage, he has other issues.

Raise it, and most likely thousands of marginal employees will lose their jobs to better workers.

 

[Billy000]

Lol dude all of this is your personal opinion. There's no way to know how other employers will judge their employees. And I will say this a third time, so the fuck what? Either way the employer will hire employees. Hopefully better ones. If not, well I guess that's the nature of business isnt it?

No, it's my experience, moron. And I do management and have for my career since 1988. What you are saying is an "opinion" of which you have no experience at all.

So your position is there is no difference between people? They are like screwdrivers and socket wrenches? Differences in wages are just random? That's just stupid.

Obviously different employees are worth different wages. My point is that your idea of who is worth $8 is not going to be same to another employer. That makes your point moot. There's no way to objectively determine who is worth what. You're just spitballing.

 

[Roadrunner]

Plenty of slackers on shift. They get paid the same, assuming they are the same age as me, but if they fuck up, they lose hours. Two people were recently told that if they didn't shape up, they would lose hours.

My hours have increased, so I must be doing something right.

That you must. You must be doing something right but truly you've thrown a few spanners in the works for me with your profile of how the restaurant business works down there.

I've been a bus boy in the days no one sweated being a girl called a bus boy waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in time when I was a baby of 12 working at a place called the Jet in Hamilton Ontario for my mom's friend. I was enthralled with having my first job. 3 bucks an hour. But the staff at the time I guess looking back in time were so happy because in the early 60's they were making whoa geeze 10 dollars plus an hour so that comparitively was a big wage. But this was a big successful restaurant and consequently Mrs. Bater gave out the money because she believed in team.

She hired me because of her connection with my mom but thankfully I lived up to expectations and I just adored being able to get my little paycheck at the end of a weekend. I was of course going to school at the same time and I was a dancer in a Ukrainian dance troupe so part time it was.

Here is what you see in a good owner/boss/employer. At the end of the year for me, just this kid who showed up to work on time, with a smile and thrilled at being part of this crew called the Jet, Mrs. Bater had held back part of my pay to match with a bonus and I got a check of a thousand dollars.

She set the standard for me. Employer. Employee. Just words. We were family. She died a few years back. I flew in to say goodbye. I owed her so much.

Sadly we don't seem to have that around these days. So we have to make our ways differently. If you have the where with all though Noomi and you seem like such a special lass is there not one way you can elevate yourself in the business?

I would LOVE to elevate myself within the business. At my old store I used to get asked time and again why I wasn't a manager, and I told those kids that I wasn't because I wasn't permitted to be. Being partially dead, I can't always understand people, or use the head sets they use for the drive thru. All managers are required to use them - so that eliminates me entirely.
Also prevents me taking a job as a receptionist, for example.

You sound like you had an awesome relationship with your first employer. I wish there were people like her around, people would be so much happier in their jobs.

The local TAFE (training facility) is opening up personal training courses soon. I'll do one of those and become a personal trainer.

Hey what level are you deaf? I'm looking at getting an implant. For me it's not just hereditary I stood in front of a lot of speakers in my lifetime in rock I think it's worth the investment. Rush (ok get out the holy water here to protect yourself) Limbaugh is deaf and he swears by his implants.

I miss hearing birds especially. But if this small disability is what is holding you back, hey check it out if you can get it.

And yes Mrs Bater was the best. I learned so many lessons. I worked my first Thanksgiving. My grandparents were really upset that I wasn't at home but my mom and dad knew I had to.

Poor people came in. I never knew this. What was known in Hamilton was Mrs Bater would open the Jet to the poor on Thanksgiving and even if someone could give a quarter for a meal the meal was paid for. If all they could do was offer a prayer the meal was paid for.

So I served up (I'd made it to waitress level by 13 YAY!) all these souls. Washed up for today. They washed up for the day. Every one was to be served a thanksgiving meal. I remember her having us at the back of the restaurant. Looking us all in the eye. Telling us that you serve them and you serve them with dignity. Not one snicker. Or fired on the spot.

These people were coming in at her request from the streets of Hamilton and they were her guests. Mrs. Bater really was a sgt major She was some piece of work.

I'm glad I learned from her. She was some sort of cool.

I haven't heard a cricket since the Who at the Fillmore in '68!!!!!

It used to drive my students mad, they'd get to chirping in the room, and I'd just go on teaching.

Had to put a warning light in my boat, because I cannot hear the alarm if the motor heats up.

 

[Roadrunner]

I started working minimum wage at $2 an hour. For $2 an hour I could:

Buy seven gallons of gas........You can buy two gallons today
Buy a new car by working half a year.......It will take you a year and a half today
Pay for my college tuition working just three months a year......It will take a full year today

Minimum wage would have to pay $15 an hour today just to equal the buying power I had at $2 an hour.

Millions of unskilled illegals tend to hold down the wages of unskilled Americans.

Actually, it is Republucans who hold down the wages of unskilled Americans. They must serve their corporate masters and provide a low cost workforce

Bullshit, it is the lack of skills that hold down the wages of unskilled Americans.

But, I have come to see the wisdom of your facetious postings.

 

[Roadrunner]

Minimum wage is a job growth prohibitive

-Geaux

If it takes 12 dollars per hour just to eat and provide some light. How does it not discourage workers if they're making slave wages and can never expect to make it. Further into debt just to maintain enough money to feed themselves.

Think this is fair when mr.pig is making billions?


You know damn sure the rich will take advantage of the workers and do exactly this. Look at the world and open up a history book.

You know damn sure the rich will take advantage of the workers and do exactly this.

Kill the greedy kulaks, eh comrade?

You think becoming like Mexico with a small super rich and a huge poor class is a good thing? Seems to be your goal.

During the 1940-1970's we had the largest middle class on earth with the best standards in everything. Guess what, the rich paid their share and we invested in our own fucking country.

You really are brainwashed.

I feel not for the middle class.

They opted to elect those that have turned us into a welfare state in the mistaken belief that domestic tranquillity can be bought with bread and circuses paid for by borrowed money.

The middle class is its own worst enemy, while they were watching TV, their lifestyle was stolen.

Tough shit.

 

[Roadrunner]

I support minimum wage of 4.50 per hour.

Perhaps that will motivate people to actually improve themselves.

I support you surrendering all your wealth to pay for all the government support of all workers.

Why would I do that? I am not responsible for anyone else having a job.

Shit, the kid entering the workforce today will be responsible for two sons of bitches that refuse to work.

It is a crime.

 

[kaz]

Lol dude all of this is your personal opinion. There's no way to know how other employers will judge their employees. And I will say this a third time, so the fuck what? Either way the employer will hire employees. Hopefully better ones. If not, well I guess that's the nature of business isnt it?

No, it's my experience, moron. And I do management and have for my career since 1988. What you are saying is an "opinion" of which you have no experience at all.

So your position is there is no difference between people? They are like screwdrivers and socket wrenches? Differences in wages are just random? That's just stupid.

Obviously different employees are worth different wages. My point is that your idea of who is worth $8 is not going to be same to another employer. That makes your point moot. There's no way to objectively determine who is worth what. You're just spitballing.

Of course it's different. Here's the thing, the employee can take the best job they are offered. If one is working for $7.25, that was the best wage they got, no one offered more. Does it ever occur to you people to actually take an economics course and learn something about the subject you keep posting on?

 

[Roadrunner]

That's mega-fail argument. Here's why:

If the minimum cost of living for a single person is $X, then that person should be paid $X. Otherwise, the taxpayers have to pay that person welfare benefits just to keep him alive, sheltered, and fed. Why should taxpayers foot the bill? Paying wages is the employer's job.

I'm a business owner. My business is a services company, so most of my employees are well paid. I do have two employees who get government assistance. Here's the thing. I pay them both what they are worth to me, and I doubt either could get another job paying what I pay them.

So what would be your thought where we go from here?

1) I voluntarily raise their pay and pay them what they are not worth? This isn't going to happen.

2) Government forces me to raise their pay. I will fire them both, they aren't worth what it would cost for them to live without government assistance. If I paid more, I could expand both jobs and give them other tasks that the people I have doing them now can't do. I am OK with what they do for what I pay them.

3) You admit that maybe you don't know what you are talking about and it's better they have a job they can partially support themselves than they live entirely on government assistance.

What say you?

What is happening now, under Obamanomics, is that good workers are being put on part time, and marginal workers are just getting fired.

 

[Roadrunner]

Oregon has a $9/hour minimum wage. So the argument that it kills business doesn't work.

Wait a minute....Without supporting data, we're just supposed to accept that?

Oregon and Washington still have businesses. It is real life..

Oregon has a $9/hour minimum wage. So the argument that it kills business doesn't work.

Wait a minute....Without supporting data, we're just supposed to accept that?

Oregon and Washington still have businesses. It is real life..

Oregon, 78% white, 12% Latino, 2% black

Washington 81% white,12% Latino, 4% black.

From 2010 census.

It is real life.

Think cultural factors, like work ethic, contribute?

 

[Billy000]

Lol dude all of this is your personal opinion. There's no way to know how other employers will judge their employees. And I will say this a third time, so the fuck what? Either way the employer will hire employees. Hopefully better ones. If not, well I guess that's the nature of business isnt it?

No, it's my experience, moron. And I do management and have for my career since 1988. What you are saying is an "opinion" of which you have no experience at all.

So your position is there is no difference between people? They are like screwdrivers and socket wrenches? Differences in wages are just random? That's just stupid.

Obviously different employees are worth different wages. My point is that your idea of who is worth $8 is not going to be same to another employer. That makes your point moot. There's no way to objectively determine who is worth what. You're just spitballing.

Of course it's different. Here's the thing, the employee can take the best job they are offered. If one is working for $7.25, that was the best wage they got, no one offered more. Does it ever occur to you people to actually take an economics course and learn something about the subject you keep posting on?

You're just making up your own metrics. That isn't economics my friend. You deciding who is worth $8 an hour does nothing for your argument objectively.

 

[kaz]

Of course it's different. Here's the thing, the employee can take the best job they are offered. If one is working for $7.25, that was the best wage they got, no one offered more. Does it ever occur to you people to actually take an economics course and learn something about the subject you keep posting on?

You're just making up your own metrics. That isn't economics my friend. You deciding who is worth $8 an hour does nothing for your argument objectively.

WTF? If an employee's best offer is 7.25, that's me making up what they are worth? That's not economics? Dude, that's retarded. I didn't go to the Marx school of Capitalism like you, I went to a real business school.

 

[rdean]

$9? Why not make it $25? Or $35?

Don't you CARE about people?

Uh, 25 and 35 is a lot bigger than a mere 9.

Is that the best Republicans can do? Course, they hit their zenith with "let him die".

 

[Billy000]

Of course it's different. Here's the thing, the employee can take the best job they are offered. If one is working for $7.25, that was the best wage they got, no one offered more. Does it ever occur to you people to actually take an economics course and learn something about the subject you keep posting on?

You're just making up your own metrics. That isn't economics my friend. You deciding who is worth $8 an hour does nothing for your argument objectively.

WTF? If an employee's best offer is 7.25, that's me making up what they are worth? That's not economics? Dude, that's retarded. I didn't go to the Marx school of Capitalism like you, I went to a real business school.

Lol the reason why so many employers offer 7.25 an hour is because it's the lowest wage they can get away with. It's about maximizing profit. Were you not aware that's how it works?

 

[kaz]

Lol the reason why so many employers offer 7.25 an hour is because it's the lowest wage they can get away with. It's about maximizing profit. Were you not aware that's how it works?

Again, you know nothing about markets. And you know nothing about profits.

Free markets mean that if an employer underbids, someone else can get a better employee by paying more. Your belief I can pay my employees anything I want is just utter ignorance. I'm competing for employees just like employees are competing for jobs. We're talking about the ones with very low skills, that's why they can't get better jobs.

As for profit, profit is not just cost. Which would you pick?

Employee A - costs $20 an hour, generates $200 in value.

Employee B - Costs $7.25 an hour, generates $20 in value.

Business people would pick Employee A. You? No idea. Profit isn't "cost." It's revenue - cost.