NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,206195,00.html

"WASHINGTON — Republicans muscled the first minimum wage increase in a decade through the House of Representatives early Saturday after pairing it with a cut in inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates."

Now, approving an increase in the minimum wage may or may not be a good idea. That depends on your political viewpoint and the Democrats love increases in the minimum wage. So, the Republicans vote to increase the minimum wage, but tie it to cutting the estate tax. Cutting the estate tax may or may not be a good idea. That depends on your political viewpoint and the Republicans love cuts in estate taxes.

So, will the end result be an increase in the minimum wage and a decrease in estate taxes, or is this just a lot of political bull crap by both parties to get votes in this election year?

Where are the citizen legislators when you need them? Up with a third party.

More money... w00h00!!!

What, exactly, is the problem with this?

It doesn't mention what the wage would increase to

Two bad policies rolled into one.

It doesn't mention what the wage would increase to
7.15 an hour, if I recall.

7.15 an hour, if I recall.
Hmm...my state (NJ) is already moving its minimum wage up to that in October IIRC. My wages by then will already be above-minimum wage so I'm not sure how they'll be affected.

Hmm...my state (NJ) is already moving its minimum wage up to that in October IIRC. My wages by then will already be above-minimum wage so I'm not sure how they'll be affected.

Yay, more money to go to the movies.

Hmm...my state (NJ) is already moving its minimum wage up to that in October IIRC. My wages by then will already be above-minimum wage so I'm not sure how they'll be affected.

They won't most likely.

A state may, at its discression, place a minimum wage for that state higher than that mandated by the federal government, never lower however.

Now, approving an increase in the minimum wage may or may not be a good idea.
Perhaps this has more to do with the elections coming up in November and the Republicans are on the ropes because of a number of issues?

Perhaps this has more to do with the elections coming up in November and the Republicans are on the ropes because of a number of issues?
Bingo.

More money... w00h00!!!
Yes, more money, which is worth less.

Raising the minimum wage only really serves to make poor people even more poor and increase inflation, since people running buisnesses that employ those being paid minimum wage simply raise their prices to compensate, thus meaning that the raise in wages does not result in minimum-wage earners having any more buying power.
Raising the minimum wage works under SOME circumstances, but raising it for the sake of raising it only hurts the economy.

Why, god? Why?!?!?!
Why does the average In-duh-vidual fail at economics?!?
I make this pledge: I wash my hands of the Republican Party and the shit that it has become.
They raised the minimum wage. They get this from me:upyours:
This means now I'm supporting Kinky for governor.

Why, god? Why?!?!?!
Why does the average In-duh-vidual fail at economics?!?
I make this pledge: I wash my hands of the Republican Party and the shit that it has become.
They raised the minimum wage. They get this from me:upyours:
This means now I'm supporting Kinky for governor.
while they "raised" the minimum wage they added in something the dems won't like so the whole thing will probably go down in flames anyway

yep, politics as usual I LOVE IT! :D

Yes, more money, which is worth less.

Raising the minimum wage only really serves to make poor people even more poor and increase inflation, since people running buisnesses that employ those being paid minimum wage simply raise their prices to compensate, thus meaning that the raise in wages does not result in minimum-wage earners having any more buying power.
Raising the minimum wage works under SOME circumstances, but raising it for the sake of raising it only hurts the economy.
Your argument is busted!! Everybody but minimum wage earners are deserving a raise? How much has inflation gone up in the 10 years that the minimum wage earners were not getting increases? Every year their money was buying less and less.

It would be great if there was zero inflation, but you certainly can't blame it on minimum wage earners that in reality the cost of living has indeed gone up.

Your argument is busted!! Everybody but minimum wage earners are deserving a raise? How much has inflation gone up in the 10 years that the minimum wage earners were not getting increases? Every year their money was buying less and less.

It would be great if there was zero inflation, but you certainly can't blame it on minimum wage earners that in reality the cost of living has indeed gone up.
M'kay, look at the last paragraph of the post.
My arguement is that raising minimum wage to say, "HEY EVERYBODY, WERE GIVING YOU MORE MONEY, VOTE FOR US!" hurts the economy. Adjusting it every now and then to compensate for inflation is fine.

M'kay, look at the last paragraph of the post.
My arguement is that raising minimum wage to say, "HEY EVERYBODY, WERE GIVING YOU MORE MONEY, VOTE FOR US!" hurts the economy. Adjusting it every now and then to compensate for inflation is fine.
Actually, giving low end earners more money is good for the economy. They will spend every penny of it and that is good for business.

wonder when people will finally wake up and throw those frauds out of office. so much for representative government, everyone know neither issue would stand on its own merits only a small groupo of well funded 'special' interest groups care about either issue. bu tyeh i guess those politicians just need all that money and funding to push ads on tv and such so they get reelected. since they would never be elected by the people they were supposed to represent except though massive distortions of relity they pay media to do for them. so they get elected by people that would otherwise hate them they lie so well and so often they even believe themselves, they actually convinced them selves that the two issues are tied together and belong in one bill. after all the only ethical bill is a bill that covers and deals with one issue, passing on the merits that the majority actually supports it rather then tacking on pork to raise the votes and get it passed

after all the only ethical bill is a bill that covers and deals with one issue, passing on the merits that the majority actually supports it rather then tacking on pork to raise the votes and get it passed

Nonsense. A compromise bill that, as a whole, attains the support of the majority is perfectly legitimate. Basic coalition-building.

Meh. Most jobs around my work start at 8 dollars(where I work) or a tiny bit under.

My first job, at target, was 7.25.

Sure, the minimum wage here is 6.75 already, so maybe they will raise it higher than the federal minimum wage... maybe... but most likely, I won't probably see a pay raise :(

while they "raised" the minimum wage they added in something the dems won't like so the whole thing will probably go down in flames anyway

yep, politics as usual I LOVE IT! :D

Minimum wage is stupid.

It's gonna cost jobs, I tell ya, and it's socialism...I despise it.


Savages.

Hmm...my state (NJ) is already moving its minimum wage up to that in October IIRC. My wages by then will already be above-minimum wage so I'm not sure how they'll be affected.
Well, if you ever go to McDs your wait'll be longer since they'll have less people. Same thing with any other place that hires local kids at minimum wage.

Well, if you ever go to McDs your wait'll be longer since they'll have less people. Same thing with any other place that hires local kids at minimum wage.


IT'S BUSH-MCCHIMPY-HITLERS FAULT!!!!!!1111111!1111!!!!!1111!!!!

Well, hey, I suppose we'll see more teenage unemployment and more opportunities for illegal immigrants to have jobs that, with these laws, the marginal cost would otherwise exceed the marginal benefit of employing more workers. This is why I'm a free marketeer who's never called himself a Republican.

http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=7/18415443864.jpg&s=f10

Actually, giving low end earners more money is good for the economy. They will spend every penny of it and that is good for business.
Y'see, the problem of it is that the people who have to pay those low end earners more have to make up their loss. Consider McDonalds. Raising the minimum wage fifty cents adds up to millions of dollars for them, and you can bet the McDonalds execs arent going to make it up.
So, McDonalds raises prices, and all the low-end earners who eat at McDonalds have to pay more.
Now, spread it out amoung every single store out there that has minimum wage employees.
They spend more money, yes, but the money they spend is worth less than they money they had before.

Its like saying that the US could pay off all of its forign debt by simply printing more money.

Y'see, the problem of it is that the people who have to pay those low end earners more have to make up their loss. Consider McDonalds. Raising the minimum wage fifty cents adds up to millions of dollars for them, and you can bet the McDonalds execs arent going to make it up.
So, McDonalds raises prices, and all the low-end earners who eat at McDonalds have to pay more.
Now, spread it out amoung every single store out there that has minimum wage employees.
They spend more money, yes, but the money they spend is worth less than they money they had before.

Its like saying that the US could pay off all of its forign debt by simply printing more money.

Economics don't apply to socialism.

Economics don't apply to socialism.
Silly me, here I was in the real world :P
Hungarian Pengo's for all!
(look it up :P)

Savages.

Savagery is the way to go buddy! :)

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,206195,00.html

"WASHINGTON — Republicans muscled the first minimum wage increase in a decade through the House of Representatives early Saturday after pairing it with a cut in inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates."

Now, approving an increase in the minimum wage may or may not be a good idea. That depends on your political viewpoint and the Democrats love increases in the minimum wage. So, the Republicans vote to increase the minimum wage, but tie it to cutting the estate tax. Cutting the estate tax may or may not be a good idea. That depends on your political viewpoint and the Republicans love cuts in estate taxes.

So, will the end result be an increase in the minimum wage and a decrease in estate taxes, or is this just a lot of political bull crap by both parties to get votes in this election year?

Where are the citizen legislators when you need them? Up with a third party.

I'd increase minimum wage and increase the tax of multi-million dollar estates by a considerable margin.

Y'see, the problem of it is that the people who have to pay those low end earners more have to make up their loss. Consider McDonalds. Raising the minimum wage fifty cents adds up to millions of dollars for them, and you can bet the McDonalds execs arent going to make it up.
So, McDonalds raises prices, and all the low-end earners who eat at McDonalds have to pay more.
Now, spread it out amoung every single store out there that has minimum wage employees.
They spend more money, yes, but the money they spend is worth less than they money they had before.

Its like saying that the US could pay off all of its forign debt by simply printing more money.
So, what are you trying to say? Are you suggesting that McDonald's employees shouldn't get a raise and that McDonald's should only buy supplies from other companies that don't give their employees raises just so you can have a cheaper hamburger?

Here in Canada, the Jan. 1996 CPI was 104.8, and as of June 2006 it is 130.4, which is about a 24% increase in the cost of living. How would you feel if after 10 years of employment that your purchasing power had decreased by 25%? You would definitely spend less money? Less money in circulation = bad for the economy?

So, what are you trying to say? Are you suggesting that McDonald's employees shouldn't get a raise and that McDonald's should only buy supplies from other companies that don't give their employees raises just so you can have a cheaper hamburger?

Here in Canada, the Jan. 1996 CPI was 104.8, and as of June 2006 it is 130.4, which is about a 24% increase in the cost of living. How would you feel if after 10 years of employment that your purchasing power had decreased by 25%? You would definitely spend less money? Less money in circulation = bad for the economy?
Yes, but also remember we Canadians pay almost 48% of the money we earn to one form of tax or another. That kills purchasing power by itself. And I (nor I think the other posters) are not arguing against raises per se, but however against arbitrary minimum wages and the raising thereof. Giving a worker a raise once in a while is a good thing, but rasing minimum wage (or having it for that matter) are detremental to the economy by adding to the already large problem of inflation.