[Poll] Should the minimum wage be raised?

[Elwar]

Do you think the government should force employers at the point of a gun to pay a wage that the federal government comes up with and spur the robot and automation industry to replace jobs or send jobs overseas?

[beetcoin]

it's not going to fix everything, but the current problem is that the big corporations are eating up small businesses and multiplying in number, which means they get more "bidding" power with laws. they use loopholes to pay their employees as little as possible while gaming the social security/foodstamps, so yes, i think minimum wage should definitely be more than $7.25. the middle class is the engine of our economy anyways.

the waltons are worth about over $150 billion collectivelly, yet they don't make enough money to hire their employees full-time.

[Lethn]

How do you think they're going to pay for it? Higher taxes and when they can't squeeze more money out of people, hyperinflation and more borrowing, you have people cheer leading this but they have clearly never considered the mathematics behind this, pretty much like they do with almost anything suggested in politics and why we're in such a disaster right now. I can understand the argument and the same goes for the ideas of a national healthcare system, but you cannot just ignore basic mathematics and have to consider whether the country you're in can even afford it.

It's a bit like trying to save an endangered species, sure, it may seem like a great idea, but if that species relies on changing the whole eco system around it in order to survive and you kill off everything else in the process of saving that one species it's not really that much of a good idea in the long run is it? People complain about this type of thing but in the end they're never willing to pay for it honestly and the politicians get round it by borrowing the money instead so they're forced to pay for it later and then everybody wonders why we're all bankrupt.

[Ekaros]

Yes. To level where regular person can cover their basic needs including healthcare in their location. So it's variable rate based on cost of living in the area. 40-hour work week should be enough to get some reasonable apartment, food, method of transportation, healthcare and basic goods for living(clothing, some electric appliances).

[Elwar]

$100/hour? Obviously not

Why not? What would be the worst that could happen?

[Elwar]

40-hour work week should be enough

Why 40 hours?

[Ekaros]

$100/hour? Obviously not

Why not? What would be the worst that could happen?

Death of couple americans... Not really that major thing, might be some global economic issues too. But net positive for the world in long run.

[Ekaros]

40-hour work week should be enough

Why 40 hours?

40 hours at high end. Realistically depending on job less would do.

My point is, nobody should be forced to work 40-60 hour a week to cover their basic needs. It's not needed anymore and productivity drops over that number(or even lower number). Mainly it's norm that is reasonable currently.

[hilariousandco]

Obviously there should be a standard minimum living wage set by law, and if the current one isn't actually liveable on then it should be raised. In this country we have a real problem with the benefits system because for a lot of people it's not worth it to work. You can earn the same if not more than the minimum wage by just shitting out a couple of kids and living tax free in a free house, so I can't blame them really. The system needs to be fixed and it needs to be beneficial for people to want to get back into work and raising the minimum wage is one way to do this.

[Elwar]

$100/hour? Obviously not

Why not? What would be the worst that could happen?

Death of couple americans... Not really that major thing, might be some global economic issues too. But net positive for the world in long run.

How would people die from the minimum wage being raised?

[Elwar]

40-hour work week should be enough

Why 40 hours?

40 hours at high end. Realistically depending on job less would do.

My point is, nobody should be forced to work 40-60 hour a week to cover their basic needs. It's not needed anymore and productivity drops over that number(or even lower number). Mainly it's norm that is reasonable currently.

I actually support people working such short hours. It leaves those of us who work 70-80 hours a week with a huge advantage over everyone who only want to barely get through life.

[Ekaros]

Obviously there should be a standard minimum living wage set by law, and if the current one isn't actually liveable on then it should be raised. In this country we have a real problem with the benefits system because for a lot of people it's not worth it to work. You can earn the same if not more than the minimum wage by just shitting out a couple of kids and living tax free in a free house, so I can't blame them really. The system needs to be fixed and it needs to be beneficial for people to want to get back into work and raising the minimum wage is one way to do this.

I think we should try to find a system where any amount of income earned nets person more money, while the basic needs are still covered. Basic wage could be one of these. Ofc, there is lot of issues with implementation and cost differences between countries...

[Ekaros]

$100/hour? Obviously not

Why not? What would be the worst that could happen?

Death of couple americans... Not really that major thing, might be some global economic issues too. But net positive for the world in long run.

How would people die from the minimum wage being raised?

Economy would grind to halt for a while. So people might starve to death or not considering state of population Effects of such policy isn't really simple to find out. But it would probably lead to hyperinflation for moment at least.

[Elwar]

Obviously there should be a standard minimum living wage set by law

I keep seeing this word "obviously" as if the government being involved in every part of our lives is so natural. That is quite scary (the ease of giving up freedom).

[Elwar]

Economy would grind to halt for a while. So people might starve to death or not considering state of population Effects of such policy isn't really simple to find out. But it would probably lead to hyperinflation for moment at least.

So, only a mild form of this is a good idea?

[Elwar]

I think we should try to find a system where...

I think the system you are looking for is "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs..."

[hilariousandco]

Obviously there should be a standard minimum living wage set by law

I keep seeing this word "obviously" as if the government being involved in every part of our lives is so natural. That is quite scary (the ease of giving up freedom).

What exactly do you suggest as an alternative? No government and allowing people to pay their employees whatever they want? I don't see how we're giving up freedom by expecting certain rights and standards.

[Ekaros]

Economy would grind to halt for a while. So people might starve to death or not considering state of population Effects of such policy isn't really simple to find out. But it would probably lead to hyperinflation for moment at least.

So, only a mild form of this is a good idea?

Yes, just consider what would happen to prices if wages of people working in labor-intensive and service fields would increase x10. That is food industry, retail industry and such. In long term it would balance out, but for moment there would be massive problems like layoffs and people just not being able to afford anything and as such to pay anyone that new wage.

[Ekaros]

I think we should try to find a system where...

I think the system you are looking for is "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs..."

No, just that as western societies we can afford to cover the basic needs of everyone who lives here and we already do just that. The current way is just inefficient and bureaucratic. I want to keep doing the same and just find a way where there is always incentive to work or produce something.

[niothor]

Why should there be a minimum wage in the first place?