raydawg wrote on 07/11/17 at 10:32:05:


IMHO, the minimum wage should track inflation.  Also, I don't think it should be a living wage.... it's minimum...right?

Back when I had one of those jobs, I was making $3.25 - worth about $9.50 in today's money.

I say we go there, and keep adjusting for inflation.

However... this ain't the '80s anymore.  Things have obviously changed and everyone seems to think that a minimum wage should be a living wage.  It was never really designed to be that.

The problem, I think, is opportunity - and mindset.  For some reason, there's a stigma in the US now that the only way to prosperity is through college.  It's been ingrained in our schools for decades.  That needs to stop.  Schools should bring back vocational ed.  We should offer kids an alternative to college.  You can make a great living in the trades.  Too many forget that and look at the trades as "less than"... Sad.  I wish more people would listen to the likes of Mike Rowe.

In addition, manufacturing has dropped off and gone overseas.  Corporations consolidate, make more money and move offshore instead of reinvest.

There was a time when big corporations had a conscience, but those days are gone... for now.  Until the big corporations turn around and invest back into this country, it won't get any better - and all those folks who have a minimum wage job will scream for a "living wage".

No argument with Tt,


Could this just be a government ploy to get cash flow?

I put nothing past them.
Unions are some potential winners. The contracts are pegged to minimum wage.

One thing I do..
When I see a position being pushed and there are clear reasons Why it's Not a Good Idea, I look for greed from somewhere that would cause it. Corporations shooting the upstart business isn't a bad start. But union wages are calculated from the minimum wage. Or so I heard. I never wanted a union job.

raydawg wrote on 07/11/17 at 11:47:35:

How do you figger TT?

If the bottom rung is raised, it bumps up the next class too, if you are in the upper rung of that class, or you will then you will be absorbed into the lower class as it reaches up to you.

Please explain how the minimum helps the next step up please?

raydawg wrote on 07/11/17 at 13:15:08:



You misunderstand, and perhaps I misunderstood your last post.  I don't think that raising the minimum wage to $15/hr. will "raise the bottom rung".  I think it will hurt small business and cascade downward.

The only thing that will "raise the rungs" in my opinion is capital investment of corporations into US manufacturing.

I think we all need to look at reality for a moment.  Most of the manufacturing jobs have been lost to robots, who do no take vacation etc so the initial outlay is fairly quickly made up.  This is in auto, coal for example.  The minimum wage jobs now are in box stores, fast food stores and manual labor such as working harvests.  The problem with raising the minimum wage is it only raises the costs, both to the store,farms but is passed on to the consumer.  But, if, as for many in the cities and rural poverty, there are no middle class  jobs available, well then you need the increased minimum wage because you can't find a better paying job with your limited skill sets.
Upstate New York is big on casinos, one at practically every exit on the Thruway.  How long before saturation..there are only so many gambling fools.  We need industries to develop new products and services that can employ our people.  The Republicans have always liked the war machine, the billions spent on Aircraft Carriers, Tanks etc feed our core rusting belt industries while all those young warriors shrink the unemployment numbers.  The Dems see the human costs in WAR and would prefer to spend on infrastructure, providing work on much needed crapping out sewers, highways and bridges (non of which seem important when sipping mint jullips in South Carolina or Mar Largo or Mar New Swamp).  They (the Dems)then  like to give lots of money to those who can't get those jobs (live in ghetto, hardly speak intelligible English, sell drugs to fund life or, on the female side, start having babies at fifteen cause it is the only thing found to raise one's status in their community).  Just like a rising tide lifts all boats was B.S., a living wage minimum wage is only a surcharge.