Minimum Wage

1. 61

   Cassandra Godutiposted 12 years ago

   People who work in jobs who have college degrees are actually getting paid at least 12% less than the baby boomers who at one time had filled those positions. For that reason, as I am sure among others, does it bother you that there are discussions of raising the minimum wage?

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2. 72

   Cagsilposted 12 years ago

   I always find it interesting when people bring up minimum wage.
   
   Do people seriously think that States abide by Federal minimum wage?
   
   Federal jobs are paid Federal Minimum Wage.
   
   States have their own minimum wage in place which governs average workforce employees.
   
   The raising of Federal Minimum Wage should concern ALL citizens because it would be more Federal money spent. By all accounts, until the Economy has been restored, the budget established, the deficit reduced to a manageable level, then Federal Minimum Wages and all other raises for any government worker should be frozen in place.
   
   For those who are curious about minimum wage in their state, then check with your state.

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   1. 76

      stclairjackposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      well stated

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   2. 60

      Josakposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      This is not quite true firstly because: Today, the Federal minimum wage law (the FLSA) applies to employees of enterprises that do at least $500,000 in business a year. It also applies to employees of smaller firms if the employees are engaged in interstate commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, such as employees who work in transportation or communications or who regularly use the mails or telephones for interstate communications. It also applies to employees of federal, state or local government agencies, hospitals and schools, and it generally applies to domestic workers. That is slightly under a quarter of the US workforce and affects workers in every state.
      
      Additionally there are four states:  Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee where the federal minimum wage applies to all employees in that state.

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      1. 72

         Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Interesting.

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      2. 71

         teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Josak's statements are the truth, as far I remember it from my business/employment law studies.  I am sure that some places to need to raise the wage, but wouldn't it be better to add jobs to aspire to for everyone?

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      3. 59

         Repairguy47posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         The only States that have a lower minimum wage than the the federal standard are Arkansas and Wyoming.

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         1. 60

            Josakposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Correct and in those instances the higher rate applies so in conjunction that means that federal wage affects 1/4 of the total workforce plus everyone in those six states, furthermore if it is raised it will pass many state minimum wages thus becoming the operative wage.

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3. 86

   lovemychrisposted 12 years ago

   Something has to give....either wages go up, or cost of living goes down. And both are tied to profits, so good luck with that.
   
   A study was done here year ago, and even back then, they concluded that you needed $14.00 an hr just to survive.
   
   I rather like the term "livable wage". Because you're going to break your back either way. Would be nice if you had something to show for it.

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   1. 80

      cloverleaffarmposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I guess that would depend on your way of life.

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      1. 86

         lovemychrisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         No--this is just to survive....the cost of living here in Massachussetts....way of life has nothing to do with it. This is simply survival mode.

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4. 60

   knolyourselfposted 12 years ago

   "House panel OKs missile defense site on East Coast"...
   "The House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday backed construction of a missile defense site on the East Coast, rejecting Pentagon arguments that the facility is unnecessary and Democratic complaints that the nearly $5 billion project amounts to wasteful spending in a time of tight budgets."...
   "The committee fleshed out a blueprint for next year that calls for a base defense budget of $554 billion, including nuclear weapons spending, plus $88 billion for the war in Afghanistan and counterterrorism efforts."
   
   War not wages.

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   1. 86

      lovemychrisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes...these clowns have no limit on spending when it comes to what they want.
      That is why I say there is no money problem here!! No shortage! OBVIOUSLY--it's given to the uber rich to hoard, and spent on special interests.
      
      And working slobs don't rate. That's why we need unions, and why they are gutting them.

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5. 60

   Disturbiaposted 12 years ago

   Having a college degree doesn't magically entitle anyone to a better life. It means they have a college degree in a particular field of study. That's all it means.  It doesn't guarantee them a certain type of job, or a job at a certain wage, or even a job at all.
   
   If today's college grads are making 12% less than the generation that preceded them, maybe it's because the economy was good in the 80s and that generation was overvalued and overpaid.  Or possibly in today's world there is such a glut of mediocre and uninspiring grads in the market place that employeers don't have to compete as hard for good candidates and can simply get away with paying less.
   
   I'm afraid I don't understand the point you are trying to make, or the relationship between college grads earning less and minimum wage earners getting an increase.  You're not saying that just because someone doesn't have a college degree they shouldn't be entitled to earn a decent living wage, are you?

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   1. 61

      Cassandra Godutiposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The reason why wages originally went down in the workplace was because it started that the men were only working. Then women wanted to work, then entered the immigrant population. More people are in the workplace.

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   2. 72

      jacharlessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Ding! In actuality, due to the education push -to ease workforce issues, market saturation, unemployment- during the last recession, a super-excess of graduates, as far up as MBA or PhD, are working for entry level wages. In three years that number is going to double because of increased web-based businesses, off-shoring, out-sourcing by businesses.
      
      James

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6. 68

   psycheskinnerposted 12 years ago

   The minimum wage should be enough to support healthy life in that community.  An unbalanced budget is not a license to have full time workers on food stamps.  It is something everyone should have an equal hand in correcting, rather than taking it out of the wages of police, military, teachers and other tax-supported professions.

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