Market demand dictates wages - absolutely. And if we don't have a fed min wage of $7.25, I'm sure the market can push it down to $5, maybe even lower. If there wasn't a min age, I'm sure the market would still have child labor. A true leave-it-to-the market is good for efficiency and such, but it doesn't care for human needs or values.
If costs are too high , especially for manufacturing, companies will go overseas for labor... Oh that's been happening! nevermind
Can you point to a single human who thinks this is a holistic solution to all our problems rather than just a small piece?
Hard to outsource service industry. As for manuf, US shouldn't abandon effort on raising labor standard oversea.
Race to the bottom might happen with manufacturing of goods, but services can't be shipped overseas. And if robots are poised to replace fast food and daycare, well society needs to open up more opportunities for jobs that aren't easily replaceable or support displaced workers with all this new efficiency gains.
This is what's ignored when people are talking about moving for a job in another area and it could also apply to just the other side of town, especially in a place like Houston.
Those immigrants are usually living with family and have those people to lean on and the immigrants are the ones working minimum wage.
true. but there's a new trend of service jobs being automated. like at the movie theater, you use to have people make you popcorn etc, now it's just grab and go.
automation likely will impact higher paying job; don't think $15 is going to be enough to invest in expensive machinery
machinery is getting cheaper and maybe more reliable than the high school kid who's smoking weed in the back.
You got me. There's no way out for anyone, no matter how hard a person tries. We're locked in to our preordained caste like Gattaca. Just give up and become mortar to be ground by the gears. We're all dooooomed! @KingCheetah
If the minimum wage does not change year to year, the effect is that minimum wage workers are taking a pay cut.
I am not in favor of a federally mandated minimum wage law. I think it make sense in some cities with a high cost of living, but not for the federal gov't to step in as it simply is inflationary. I do think the gov't can step in and find ways to help people earn a better living.
Why are you using hyperbole to make a point? Nobody is saying there is no way out I am just pushing back on the just try harder ethos. there are real roadblocks to moving up the ladder. Now we can actually discuss these issues or you can continue with your Gattaca analogy.
But ultra conservative states would never have w minimum. I think $11 is a fair minimum wage Luckily places like Seattle are setting their own even though $15 was a bit much in retrospect
The "15 minimum wage will kill all the jerbs" talk has been around for a decade and it hasn't, anywhere it's been tried. You know what I call people who make very little money who then make a little bit more? Job creators. Because a huge percentage of that redistribution is pumped back into the economy, creating more employment. I mean FLORIDA has a $15 minimum wage being [hased in now FLORIDA. maybe it will finally be right - there's only one way to find out!
