Why is it that Republicans oppose increasing the minimum wage?
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.
1016710
The same people who believe prices are going to skyrocket if we evict the illegals also believe that increasing minimum wage will improve the quality of life for the poor. Seems in this country every one is entitled to wealth, whether they sling burgers for McDonald's or if they are CEO of a fortune 500. \n\nSeems to alot of people, riches should be doled out as a human right rather than something a human has to earn.
782992
There are misconceptions about the minimum wage.\nLiving wage - Minimum wage was not designed as a living wage and never will be. It is a benchmark for workers entering the system.\nIncreased cost of goods and services - Many people believe incorrectly that you can raise the minimum wage and it will help the poor or lower middle class. This is not true. Raising the minimum wage causes the cost of doing business to increase. Therefore the price of good and services will also increase thereby rendering the surplus gained from the wage increase null and void. Employers are not going to just absorb the added cost and take a hit on their profit margin.\nJob creation - When the cost of doing business goes up less new jobs are created. Employers forced to pay higher costs will require existing employees to do more while hiring less new labor force.\nSmall Business - Small businesses tend to be primary employers in the most devastated areas of society.  Many have small profit margins to begin with and when faced with higher labor costs find themselves unable to remain in business. Further less new small business is created.\n\nCan we absorb an increase in minimum wage? Yes we can. We have done it in the past, but it is frivilous to believe that there will not be consequences for this action and that the people it is designed to help will actually benefit from it. Most workers do not remain at minimum wage. They get raises or gain experience and move into other better paying positions. The simple fact is that if you have a worker who remains at minimum for years at a time, they are either unmotivated to improve their circumstance, or they change jobs often. Take exception to this statement if you will, but it is a fact none the less.
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.
475333
The Pros:\n\nRaising the minimum wage would put more money in the hands of those who need it most.  Many people agree that a person, especially a single parent, could never survive on ~$10K/yr.\n\nThe Cons:\n\n1.  Raising the minimum wage can create inflation.  Because there are a lot of minimum wage jobs, total wages would increase for such items as fast food, lawn service, etc.  This in turn would get passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.\n\n2.  It might increase unemployment, especially among teens and marginal help.  There are always businesses who are just making it.  By increasing the wages they have to pay, you'd put some of them out of business.  Who knows how many.  It is debated all the time among economists.  Also, with increased minimum wage, employers will seek out better help rather than give a kid his first chance.\n\nPersonally, I think this is a state issue, but that is a matter of taste, not economics.  I don't expect the next raise to occur until a Democratic President and Congress are elected.
1007408
People need to understand the government is not really on your side, both Republicans and Democrats. They take you money no matter what you think of the job they are doing. Businesses on the other hand must please you, the customer, or they will go out of existance. Thats why the government needs to stay out of business affairs, the companys will pay workers whatever the job they are doing is really worth. This keeps the cost to us consumers down. If we force businesses to pay people more for the same amount of work, it will force them to fire the low wage employees as well as make their products cost more. So instead of increasing the minimum wage, I believe we should get rid of it completely.
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.
770735
Some people don't have the opportunity to get better jobs. For those stuck in a job paying minimum wage and trying to survive, a pay increase makes living bareable instead of almost impossible.\n\nAlso, for those saying a minimum wage increase is a wash for those effected are not looking at the whole picture. It might be a wash for the economy as whole because prices will go up to compensate, but those making minimum wage will NOT feel the effects of that as much as middle and upper class. Those making minimum wage would definitely benefit from minimum wage increase.
826124
Case in point MN raised minimum wage to 6.15 an hour (with soc, and medicare and other taxes that is 7.08 an hour.  I had 104 employees of which 68 were minimum wage wait staff.  Their take home pay was about $150 a night in tips plus the $30 in wages for a total of $46,800 a year on average.  The 20% increase in the minimum wage cost all 104 employees their jobs.\n\n(note: this was a upscale restaurant and bar.  Two weeks before they passed the mim wage the Democratic also passed a smoking ban for the city, my daily bar business drove or walked five blocks away across city lines to be able to drink and smoke.\nIn addition my clientele was not minimum wage earners so the wage increase did not effect them.)
925376
Republicans have never raised minimum wage ever, they don't want Americans to have any pay increases at all with their greed.
1120198
The minimum wage was not necessarily established with the expectation that one would have to make do living on that wage.  There are people who are actually supported by others who are happy to receive 5.25 an hour--namely but not limited to teen agers.  Others might include retired people wanting to add a little income and perhaps others with a full time job wanting to make a little extra.
996377
Republicans are very.. Stubborn so to say. They believe in giving buisinesses and the wealthy every tax cut they possibly can, but could care less about the single parents, the less fortunate, and the hard working.\n\nTHANK YOU DEMS FOR VOTING NO TO THE PAY INCREASE.\nTHANKS DEMS FOR VOTING TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE!\n\nWhy can't the Republicans have someone like Feingold, who whenever he gets a pay raise, he puts all of that money in the treasury.\n\nThe congressmen and women of our government are hardworkers, but come on now.. They were elected to represent the American people, and to do what's best. If having a social security system that is going bankrupt, poverty at its highest, and medicade failing is what people say is representing the American people, then they are sadly mistaking.\n\nIt's time for a change. It's time to raise that minimum wage. It's time to help the American people. \n\n\nVOTE DEMOCRAT ALL THE TIME!
1077573
Personally, I think the Republicans who voted against the minimum wage should be forced to live on it for a few months and then see if they want to change their vote.\n\nYes, CEO's should have a salary cap and not be given a "golden parachute" when they exit the company. It would help the airline industry too.
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.
797945
The price of goods are increasing steadily without a minimum wage increase.  If it cost $4 for a gallon of milk and the minimum wage is $5.15 then, yes, I think the minimum wage increase would help those people making minimum wage.  Oh, and it's not just teenagers making minimum wage. \n\nHere's an except from an article on the people making minimum wage. \n\n"One reason even some Republicans are mulling the wage hike is that the number of single mothers making minimum wage has nearly doubled in the last 10 years. Of Americans making less than $7.25 an hour, half are over 24 years old, and about half are primary household earners. Sixty-two percent are white, 16 percent are black, and 17 percent are Hispanic. Nearly twice as many are women than men.
932200
NOT true. However a minimum wage increase is on the communist agenda right after #1 CUT and RUN and #2 Aletrnative Energy.
369113
Why should a person who owns MORE than $60,000 per year support the views of the Republican Party? \n\nThe Republican Party works for the big industrials, ensuring that US Government policy is manipulated to meet the requirements of the corporations. There is no way that can be said to be Government for the people - no matter how much people earn!