prowler1971 | (no subject)

(no subject)

Democrats vow to block pay raises until minimum wage increased

Democrats in the House and Senate want the $5.15-per-hour federal minimum wage, in place since 1997, to rise in 70-cent increments to $7.25 by January 1, 2009.

In arguing for the minimum-wage increase, Democrats are emphasizing that salaries for members of Congress have risen $31,600 during the time the minimum wage has been frozen.

Not that I'm affected by the minimum wage, but I'd like to see people making a living wage. $7.25 ain't it by the way.

I think we should get to vote annually on whether or not Congress deserves a raise.

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Agreed. The people should set the wage, not the members themselves. They want a pay raise, it has to go to a general vote.

The way it currently works is they get a raise annually unless it is specifically voted down. So if they do nothing... boom... raise.

How about that, something we all actually agree on. I'm thinking not making the job so lucrative that people want to stay there for life would be a good start to going back to being run by a better mix of citizens.

Dan

We probably agree on a lot more than you think.

Woah... I agree too. *looks around for a comet*

I was at a workshop that discussed class and race and they said that a living wage is $28/hour. That's how much people would need to make in order to pay the bills and have money left over to save and get out of poverty.

I would like to see nonprofit organizations paying at least minimum wage. I'm getting a little sick of 'we're doing it for the kids' bullshit. Yeah, I am doing it for the kids, but I can't pay my bills.

I was at a workshop that discussed class and race and they said that a living wage is $28/hour.

You have to be more specific. Was this for "family of X" or for an individual? That's a lot for one person. A single person doesn't need to make nearly that... unless they live in Boston.

Not that I'm against it, but the problem with raising the minimum wage is that companies paying just the minimum wage will then charge more for their products and services. Which just makes living more expensive and doesn't help those who end up earning minimum wage at all, since they now have to pay more as well to continue living.

While in theory it's a good thing, in practice it seems self-defeating.

Instead of increasing the minimum wage, how about decreasing the wage of some people, like the contracts for some US Major league professional athletes. Some of their contracts are outrageous and the cost of those contracts is passed on to the people who watch the games (whether in the stadium or on TV).

In a few years a single individual will have to make 28/hr just to live in a dirty hole in the wall and barely make ends meet.

I say the same thing to everyone who says athelets make too much money. Stop paying for stuff. Don't go to games. Don't buy jerseys. Don't buy the consessions. Don't watch.

As for minimum wage, many people can't afford the gasoline to get to their minimum wage jobs. It's a crock. Salaries go up, people may lose jobs too. I think the overall effect of raising the minimum wage is a positive. Most people making minimum wage are probably teenagers.

You know what it means when someone pays you minimum wage? It means they don't give a shit about you. They'd pay you less but it's against the law.

Here, here!

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