How could anyone argue that a Universal Living Wage is a good idea?

[beer]

I have liberal tendencies but I think a set living wage is the stupidest idea anyone has ever come up with in the history of politics. It would seem to me that a federal 'living wage' that some fringe groups want the government to support would do nothing but trigger massive inflation and dramatically increase unemplyoment.

For information: This was advertised at a campus rally this week

Can any economicists on this board argue in favor of this? After 1 semester of econ it would seem pretty easy to undestand why this doesn't work, so why do they have so many 'endorsements?' (on their endorsement page). Are people really this blind?

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: beer
Are people really this blind?

Yes.

 

[zimu]

well. since i'm unemployed, doesnt' sound too bad an idea.

i'm sure if i had a 200K job and worked hard to earn the priveledge i'd hate it.

actually, even unemployed i hate the idea. no motivation, no drive, nothing.

 

[zimu]

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: beer
Are people really this blind?

Yes.

I think that just about sums it up.

 

[Gyrene]

Socialism is bad.

 

[Techie333]

Similar thing going around my campus........"sign to raise minimum wage".......my reply was, do you want more people to loose their jobs right now and have companies move jobs to india?!?!?! LOL! Morons!

 

[matt426malm]

Originally posted by: Techie333
Similar thing going around my campus........"sign to raise minimum wage".......my reply was, do you want more people to loose their jobs right now or move to india?!?!?! LOL! Morons!

exactly

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: zimu
well. since i'm unemployed, doesnt' sound too bad an idea.

i'm sure if i had a 200K job and worked hard to earn the priveledge i'd hate it.

actually, even unemployed i hate the idea. no motivation, no drive, nothing.

It sounds like a horrible idea. Free businesses would cut non-essential employees from their payrolls and drastically raise prices to compensate for the essential ones to meet the living wage. They'd be in the same poverty because all the prices of goods would rise. The nonessential employees will be completely eliminated from the payroll and, as they are likely unskilled, would likely remain unemployed for a long, long time.

 

[Jmman]

Maybe economics classes should be mandatory....just an idea....

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: Jmman
Maybe economics classes should be mandatory....just an idea....

Personally, I think it should be to. And I think other states should follow Texas, and require both Federal and State Govt to earn any college degree.

 

[yukichigai]

I'd be for a raise in minimum wage, but only if they did it like they've done here in Nevada with state wages: gradually over a period of years. Of course with a universal increase I imagine it'd have to be a much slower rate. Much slower. The state can keep up with anything because it can't go bankrupt. Companies don't have that luxury.

Actually, scratch that. What we should just do is simply adjust the minimum wage up every 2-4 years, based on inflation rates using a 3-5 year running average. Sure, in hard dollars it goes up, but relative to the price of everything it should stay the same.

 

[bigalt]

Originally posted by: Techie333
Similar thing going around my campus........"sign to raise minimum wage".......my reply was, do you want more people to loose their jobs right now and have companies move jobs to india?!?!?! LOL! Morons!

since your job is going to india anyway, you might as well sign in the hopes that your mcjob will support you well enough to live!

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: dtyn
Socialism is bad.

Not inherently. Too many people have trouble seperating economic and social governmental structures.

The living wage idea is way to idealistic...just like communism (which as an idea is nice, but would never work).

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: Jmman
Maybe economics classes should be mandatory....just an idea....

Personally, I think it should be to. And I think other states should follow Texas, and require both Federal and State Govt to earn any college degree.

Governments can earn degrees?

Seriously though, do you mean government leaders or government employees? 'cause if it were employees that would suck. How many Highway Patrol Officers do you think really need that Bachelor's in art history?

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: dtyn
Socialism is bad.

Not inherently. Too many people have trouble seperating economic and social governmental structures.

The living wage idea is way to idealistic...just like communism (which as an idea is nice, but would never work).

The problem with socialism and communism can be summed up as such: "never underestimate the power of large groups of stupid people."

Actually, more accurately it should be "there are far too many assholes in power for us to give our leaders full economic control"

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: yukichigai

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: Jmman
Maybe economics classes should be mandatory....just an idea....

Personally, I think it should be to. And I think other states should follow Texas, and require both Federal and State Govt to earn any college degree.

Governments can earn degrees?

Seriously though, do you mean government leaders or government employees? 'cause if it were employees that would suck. How many Highway Patrol Officers do you think really need that Bachelor's in art history?

You have to take 1 semester of American and Texas gov't and 1 semester of foreign policy in a particular field. You also need two semester of US history. To earn any 4-year degree in Texas, but I don't think it applies to associate's degrees

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: yukichigai
I'd be for a raise in minimum wage, but only if they did it like they've done here in Nevada with state wages: gradually over a period of years. Of course with a universal increase I imagine it'd have to be a much slower rate. Much slower. The state can keep up with anything because it can't go bankrupt. Companies don't have that luxury.

Actually, scratch that. What we should just do is simply adjust the minimum wage up every 2-4 years, based on inflation rates using a 3-5 year running average. Sure, in hard dollars it goes up, but relative to the price of everything it should stay the same.

problem is that inflation is often overstated

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: yukichigai

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: dtyn
Socialism is bad.

Not inherently. Too many people have trouble seperating economic and social governmental structures.

The living wage idea is way to idealistic...just like communism (which as an idea is nice, but would never work).

The problem with socialism and communism can be summed up as such: "never underestimate the power of large groups of stupid people."

Actually, more accurately it should be "there are far too many assholes in power for us to give our leaders full economic control"

The first one describes democracy .

So the assholes in power AREN'T our leaders?

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: beer
You have to take 1 semester of American and Texas gov't and 1 semester of foreign policy in a particular field. You also need two semester of US history. To earn any 4-year degree in Texas, but I don't think it applies to associate's degrees

Umm, what? I don't understand your engrish.

So let me get this straight: any Texas state employee is required to have a college degree? Are we talking a minimum 2-year or something? Can it be a General Education degree?

 

[matt426malm]

It wouldn't do anything things would end up costing more so what's the difference.

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: yukichigai
I'd be for a raise in minimum wage, but only if they did it like they've done here in Nevada with state wages: gradually over a period of years. Of course with a universal increase I imagine it'd have to be a much slower rate. Much slower. The state can keep up with anything because it can't go bankrupt. Companies don't have that luxury.

Actually, scratch that. What we should just do is simply adjust the minimum wage up every 2-4 years, based on inflation rates using a 3-5 year running average. Sure, in hard dollars it goes up, but relative to the price of everything it should stay the same.

problem is that inflation is often overstated

Hence the 3-5 year running average.

Trust me dude, if it works for gas tax it should work for minimum wage.

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: bradruth
The first one describes democracy .

So the assholes in power AREN'T our leaders?

Yeah, it kind of does doesn't it? (Florida, I'm looking at you)

No, the assholes in power are our leaders most of the time. Thank jeebus they don't have full economic control though.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: yukichigai

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: yukichigai
I'd be for a raise in minimum wage, but only if they did it like they've done here in Nevada with state wages: gradually over a period of years. Of course with a universal increase I imagine it'd have to be a much slower rate. Much slower. The state can keep up with anything because it can't go bankrupt. Companies don't have that luxury.

Actually, scratch that. What we should just do is simply adjust the minimum wage up every 2-4 years, based on inflation rates using a 3-5 year running average. Sure, in hard dollars it goes up, but relative to the price of everything it should stay the same.

problem is that inflation is often overstated

Hence the 3-5 year running average.

Trust me dude, if it works for gas tax it should work for minimum wage.

umm... no, even with a 3-5 year average inflation is overstated. it is due to deficiencies in the way inflation is measured. its measured by using a set basket of goods, without recognizing that consumer spending habits change with regards to pricing fluctuations, quality changes, etc.

 

[ultimatebob]

I know better than arguing for a higher base minimum wage, because I'll get flamed by all of the "armchair economists" and small business owners who can't afford to pay a higher wage.

I still think that most American corporations are too greedy, though, and could afford to pay most of those burger flippers and grocery baggers out there an extra buck an hour without impacting their bottom line too much. I know that the grocery store that I worked at as a kid made hundreds of millions in annual profits, but payed their employees a measly 10 cents over minimum wage. They also screwed their older employees out of state mandated benefits by not allowing them to work more than 39.5 hours a week, and used scare tactics to keep their employees from joining a union.

Bush's job training benefits sounds like a good start, but we also need some tougher laws out there that keep crooked companies from screwing their employees.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
I know better than arguing for a higher base minimum wage, because I'll get flamed by all of the "armchair economists" and small business owners who can't afford to pay a higher wage.

I still think that most American corporations are too greedy, though, and could afford to pay most of those burger flippers and grocery baggers out there an extra buck an hour without impacting their bottom line too much. I know that the grocery store that I worked at as a kid made hundreds of millions in annual profits, but payed their employees a measly 10 cents over minimum wage. They also screwed their older employees out of state mandated benefits by not allowing them to work more than 39.5 hours a week, and used scare tactics to keep their employees from joining a union.

Bush's job training benefits sounds like a good start, but we also need some tougher laws out there that keep crooked companies from screwing their employees.

and more jobs will flee the country...