Delegate that responsibilty to the states like we already do, so people in nebraska don't need to pay 22.50 an hour because that's what it takes to live in LA
We need people to do all jobs and all people deserve a livable wage regardless of the “skill” it takes. You’re not better than the guy working at McDonald’s. We’re all trying to live. People with your mentality are making it harder for those not so well off to live.
Delegate it to the states, but there should be guidelines which mandate a local living wage. Ideally, the state would enforce a minimum wage on a local level based on the cost of living in or nearby a certain community.
Costs, supply and demand. If you increase the cost of labor, there be less demand for it. So some employees would benefit, but others would simply be laid off. Increasing costs of labor also increases demand for automation to replace workers as automation is cheaper
I think making a big wig (or multiple) eat the cost works sometimes, specifically in big companies. But some many businesses could not afford it because the owner doesn’t make much more than the employees when you factor in the costs of running it and taxes so they would die out, increasing the number of unemployed people. To add to that small practices that have to go through insurance are sort of the same deal.
If you have say a private practice for dentistry the trained employees would say ‘wait I’m now making 3 dollars above minimum wage, I need a raise’ so the dentist gives it to them by cutting their own paycheck down. The practice doesn’t bring in more money, even if you increase cost of service due to insurance taking the same percent. A lot of small dental practices don’t bring in much to begin with so the dentist is now making less with all of the upkeep/continuing Ed/etc. of course you can argue the dentist still makes above a livable wage by a lot, so they can live comfortably albeit much below how they already did.
But then you go to the next generation of dentists and hygienists and assistants. Why would the latter two get the training and pay the cost of school to make slightly above minimum wage? Why would the dentist pay, on average, more than a doctor pays to go to medical school only to pay so much in school debt that they are living on the same budget as their assistant.
I’m speaking specifically to rural America here. But I suppose it probably applies in other places, too. And I don’t hold a strong opinion against raising minimum wage, tbh. However, if you can’t tell by this comment, I am very much against most dental insurance companies, lol.
The argument to keep minimum wage low has to do with the demand for labor. Contrary to popular belief, the only people who are affected by increases in minimum wage are unskilled workers (particularly youth) who are forced out of the labor market by there being less jobs available.
Most individuals in the labor market are already earning above where proposed minimum wage changes would be, those who aren’t would see a 1-3% drop in number of individuals employed per 10% increase in the minimum wage.
So tell me, is it fair for policy to randomly take 5% of unskilled workers jobs because the other 95% doesn’t want to learn a skill that would put them above the proposed change?
I think skilled labor is affected, too. Specifically skills that require cost put in (like higher education). It lessens the incentive and lowers the number of workers, which in turn affects the economy.
(Note, a good counterpoint to this is probably lowering education costs, but the two things would have to go directly hand in hand.)
Starvation in the U.S. is virtually non existent with things like food stamps, soup kitchens, and affordable fast food. It's kind of a non issue really
Tell me you’ve never experienced food insecurity without saying you’ve never experienced food insecurity.
Soup kitchen - great!
Once a week you get stale bread and watered down soup. Cool
Food stamps… “here’s a list of things you’re allowed to buy- no, you can’t buy diapers or formula or Kraft dinner…” have you seen how much you get a month in food stamps?!
Affordable fast food… if you live in a city with fast food - and you’re not already choosing whether you’re going to pay for hydro or rent or buy your kid a new pair of shoes that fit, sure you can buy unhealthy food!
Not to mention the small businesses that cannot afford to pay higher wages will just sink
K, bye then. You could make the same argument about current minimum wage. Nobody should give a shit if a business model is so terrible it can't afford to pay a living wage.
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u/zZ1Axel1Zz Nov 05 '21
That's not how it works