Why won't the government just raise minimum wage already?
476924
The United States Congress is currently considering a law that would increase minimum wage to about $7.25. I am just above the current minimum wage and would love to make $7.25, the only problem is economic effects that this could have on the country. Due to the huge rise in wages companies would have to pay out, they would be forced to raise prices to make up for that difference. That would cause the standard of living to increase, which would have a negative impact on our economy and perhaps bringing us back to this same issue. Again I do believe in a high minimum wage, but perhaps (and hopefully) smaller increases over a long period of time would remedy this problem.
466678
It's a drain on the economy. It actually leads to the loss of some jobs as businesses have to make cut backs.\n\nThe minimum wage was introduced in 1938 to combat the exploitative working conditions in an economy reeling from depression and economic shocks. Although economic realities have drastically improved since then, much of our discourse on the subject has not. Many still imagine the minimum wage as one of the front lines in the battle for economic justice, with unscrupulous bosses on the one side and the downtrodden masses on the other.
608267
They need to keep raising the tax free threshold so people on low incomes don't get taxed too harshly.\nThey also need to get rid of the double taxing on petrol - currently there is a 38 cents per litre petrol levy plus you pay 10% GST on the total
1121112
If you are referring to an increase in the minimum wage, It's long overdue. Some conservatives argue that purely economy-driven wages would be better, but those of us that know about corporate evil know that McDonalds would pay $2.00 an hour if it could get away with it.\n\nI'm a conservative, but a realistic one.
887758
No\n\nThe point your trying to make is that a price floor actually creates a shortage.  That is classic economic principles at work.  Lets let go of the emotion and think.  For all of those who think that those earning minimum wage would be better off if we raised minimum wage, consider this:\n\nWhat if, due to the higher cost of labor, businesses hired less people and those people who had the jobs get fired in an attempt by the business to cut costs.  Then their lives would get a lot harder.  Other companies would be doing the same thing.  They may not be able to get any job.  What then?  How are they going to feed their families.  \n\nIts a hard decision to make.  but it is a fact.  Price floors create shortages. To help the unfortunate... what do you do.\n\nThe deeper concepts are that the market sets the price that labor is worth.  If a business cant find any people to do the job that it needs done they raise wages.  The law of supply and demand.  Lots of fast food places don't even pay min wage.  The harsh truth is that if the job that these people were doing was worth more to the business they would be paid more.  When you force a business to pay someone more than they are worth (whether that arbitrary price keeps up with inflation or not) they will take certain steps to require less help from labor.  Mechanize or whatever they need to do.  Jobs will decrease.  \n\nAnyone who is in desperate need of higher min wage should think about moving to New Mexico.  Their min wage is like 9 bucks an hour.  Why are people not stumbling over themselves to go there?  Because there aren't enough jobs to go around.  The price floor of wages has created a shortage and has slowed economic growth.  This is a real life example.
997650
Definitely.  the current minimum wage pays a worker around $200 for a 40-hour week.  Unless you're eating dog food, you can't live on that little money.  And there are millions of Americans who do their best.\n\nBut Congress doesn't care about poor people, so they refuse to allow them to earn a wage they can actually live on.  It's disgusting, the way the government craps on the very people who need their help the most.
1182430
I agree that it should be.\n\nBut the voters have to vote for the right candidates for this.\n\nThe last couple of years (and I don't mean just presidential elections) the people have been voting for candidates that are unconcerned about this issue.\n\nMake a difference by voting for a candidate that finds the significance in raising the minimum wage.
1158321
It gets worse... congressional members have increased their wages by over 30k since the last minimum wage increase.\n\nIt was legislation set to be doomed from the get-go when they made it so high. They should have just went for like $6.15.\n\nPretty depressing if you ask me.
167737
Dear nouni it depends on the nature of work.\n\nbut \nThe current minimum wage for the public sector is $237 (91 dinars) a month.\n\nand yeah please give mcds11211 4 stones 11 pebbles or one goat. hehe.
1154515
The poor would be able to drive to work again...they might be able to get a tank of gas....too bad congress didn't think they needed it..they gave a tax break to the top 3% wealthiest families in America the same day the turned down a raise in minimum wage and the raise was only to $6 anyway...
774018
I don't know anyone who works for minimum wage, but a raise in the rate will not help. The greatest misconception about minimum wage is the idea that it is a living wage. Minimum wage is not and was never intended as such. It is a benchmark rate for workers entering the system. It is assumed that the average worker will gain skills and either move up in their current company, or change positions based on their acquired experience. The reason minimum wage does not help anyone is related to economic cause and effect. If the price of labor increases then the prices of goods and services must also increase to reflect the added cost of doing business. Therefore while you make more money you will also be forced to pay higher prices thus eliminating your surplus income.
306378
To be honest, probably not any time soon.  Those who are in position to vote for this are not poor by any means.  The increase in minimum wage wouldn't even effect the ammount of pay they get.  The only effect it will have on them is that they would have to pay more for everything.  So, if they can be rich and comfortable, who cares about the poor people like us.  That seems like their philosophy.\n\n**note**\n\nCongress gave themselves 5 raises recently that resulted in them making about $10,000 more per year.  Someone working 40 hours a week at minimum wage makes about $10,700 per year.  Government is corrupt no matter where you go.  Don't expect a raise unless it benefits the rich people.
623997
Asked off the bat abourt minimum wage the average joe would most definitely be in support of rasing the thing out the waaaaaaaazzzzzoooooo. When one really thinks about rasing the minimum wage in each city we realize that not everyone will directly benefit from a raise. For instance, a recent study shows that most individuals that take a minimum wage job move up in pay to a position  that is above both the state and the federal minimum wage within three months. If one was to raise the federal minimum wage I believe that it would cause an overall pay raise, thus having no affect at all because of the raise in living that would quickly follow. Although this hypothisies hasn’t been proven due to a lack of searching skills, I have found that some others will side with me on this belief. \n\nAnother issue that is along the lines of minimum wage,and is just as promonent, is a term called living wage.  Although there isn’t exactly a  set figure on what a living wage is, a general definition for some one living in Vermont  would be that minimum wage is a salary that a single individual or family can live off of with 5% left over for spending. Its clearly a serious issue. Companies see more and more young, unexperienced individuals entering their businesses, and there for it is easier for them to keep their wages a level that is very low.\n\nI believe that it is very important for one to keep in mind the type of work that is under the minimum wage blanket. Typically the individual that is being paid minimum wage is doing all of the difficult jobs. Many of the individuals that work as cashiers for example are often required to stand in one posistion for hours at a time. Although the work isnt as phsycially  demanding as general labor, many workers suffer from a wide variety of physcial aliments.\n\nSo, from the limited amount of information that Im going to bother to provide you with, one becomes rather lazy in 90’ weather, you should be able to make your own decision on where you stand on the minimum wage issue. I for one believe that we should evaluate each situation on an individual basis and go from there. What do you think?  To get back to your question the federal minimum wage is $5.75 and Vermont’s is $ 7.25
746895
Because we refuse to get paid 2 dollars an hours. We dint' live with 20 people under one roof so we can afford to make 2 dollars an hour. Further more the federal government would never allow employers to get away with paying us 2 dollars an hour.Because it's the law. But hey what do the illegals care about the law. They didn't obey to come into this country. \nLike it or not it's the Employers that have to be the target! They are the ones that are giving illegals the opportunity! They are the ones that need to pony up! \nI don't want to hear about how we would have to pay more and keeping the costs down.\nIf employers can't find people who want to work for minimum wage. They can either pony up the wages or file with INS to have immigrates come in legally. Where they do have to pay them minimum wages.\nWhat the government has to do is get tough on the employers who hire illegal. Be it for domestic help or manufacturing or anything in between. 10,000 fine per illegal. That would make them change their minds fast about getting illegals to work for them.\nJust an opinion! However I think it's honestly the only morally correct decision. \nIf there is no opportunity then they will soon get the message!
820828
Because in the long run it will be a net loss to the working class.  Prices will go up way out of proportion to the increase to the ones that are putatively being helped.  Even the McDonald's in my area is already paying well above minimum just to get people to work there.  So why legislate something that is automatically being adjusted by the laws of supply and demand.\n\nThe real problem is the number of people trying to live outside their means.  Having more children than they can afford.  Deciding to buy a house that they can barely afford then not being able to make the payments when their adjustable rate mortgage rate goes up.  Most of the real problems with the American economy isn't on the government side, it's on the side of poor choices made by individuals.
693905
Because they always do. They raise taxes, so companies have less money to hire people. They raise the minimum wage, and companies can't hire as many people. They don't encourage small businesses to start. They believe that everyone should be dependent on the government.\n\n.
419655
Hopefully soon. Everything is going up except wages. People can not afford to pay bills and eat too. Utility bills have more than tripled, gasoline has even done more than that, groceries are high, but people can not afford hardly anything if they are working for minimum wage. It's terrible that our country can help other countries but can not and will not help their own. Unemployment is higher than it has ever been and the only people making good money are politicians, people in the entertainment business, and the people who already have it. I don't see things getting any better soon. I just wish there were a way to open the eyes of the people who could change the problems that the lower and middle income people face.