Thursday, February 20, 2014

What $10.10 would mean for you?

This is the title of an email I received from the White House today. Interesting because yesterday while having teeth cleaned the hygienist started telling me about how while the increase to $10.10 per hours would not apply to her she though that all people should be able to earn a "living wage" no matter what the task at hand.  Here is the text of the email.....
President Obama is calling on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10. And the President has taken the first step by signing an Executive Order raising the minimum wage for federal contractors.
Raising the federal minimum wage will give millions of Americans a raise, and it's long overdue -- because no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty.
Last week, we asked what raising the minimum wage meant to you.
The stories you shared are a strong argument for exactly how important it is that we get this done. Raising the minimum wage helps Americans young and old. It helps provide relief for those who are just scraping by, and it helps those saving for a rainy day. It's the right thing to do, but don't take our word for it.
Read these stories from folks like you -- then forward them on, and submit your own.
Raising the minimum wage will allow me and my family to live comfortably, not worry about living from paycheck to paycheck. Vennatte E., Huntsville, TX
It would give me a chance to save something for the future of my kids and grandchildren. Malissa M., Bloxom, VA
This would help out single parents like me to help finish raising their kids alone on one income. Idrissa S., Oglethorpe, GA
It will help me save money to go to the college of my dreams and help me lift the burden off my mother. Shelby S., Long Beach, CA
The stories you share make a difference. Share your story and help spread the message: We need to raise the minimum wage.
Stay Connected
To carry on the conversation with the hygienist, a very nice woman by the way, I responded that not all jobs are worth $10.10 per and if they are not a necessity, for the service, the requirement will be reassessed. Resultants will include inflated prices to cover the cost, less service offered, or less positions available. 
Minimum wage was not created with the intent of being a baseline for the poverty line. 
My personal belief on this topic is more complicated, there are employers out there that play recession markets as a manner of placing a ceiling on wage expansion and I have little doubt that some people work extremely hard for minimum wage. These are results of many circumstances, including significant ones which reflect life choices. Taking the libertarian position on the subject, I think there should be no minimum wage.  Working people should have the the right to negotiate work for pay in the manner that suits each party's needs.  Artificial constraints are friction to the capitalist system. 
Raising the minimum wage does two things. 

  1. Inflates prices, which the government always seeks to do.
  2. Reduces, at least temporarily, total employment, which the government, at the moment, favors.

The longer range effect is that we will have reduced the breadth of what constitutes the middle class wage range, raising the poverty line while not increasing entire class wage. It squeezes the middle class.  And believe you me, they unfortunate and dumb bastards that earn these wages will still be the darlings of liberal class warfare always holding out their hands with that dumb blank look in their eyes.   

No comments:

Post a Comment

Show me the love. Serious, even disagreeable comments are not moderated.