Raising the U.S. Federal Minimum Wage Watch
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mastermind
Rest In Power Kobe
The most obvious problem with Ocasio-Cortez’s contention is that Denmark, like other Scandinavian nations, doesn’t have a statutory minimum wage. Industries and workers engage in sector-by-sector salary negotiations, which might well undermine intra-industry competition, but which is a much better idea than the flat national-wage floor being peddled by Democrats. So, this popular progressive talking point about Denmark’s miracle middle-class fast-food worker doesn’t make much sense to begin with.
Especially when one considers that the per-capita income in the United States is virtually the same as in Denmark — quite a feat given that we’re a pluralistic nation of around 330 million people that naturalizes another 900,000 people every year, many from poor nations, and that Denmark is a homogeneous country of fewer than 6 million citizens that, in recent years, has effectively shut down its borders to poor immigrants.
She should talk about the glory days of post-WW2 America, where average Americans had high wages. Progressives don't talk about the New Deal enough
That's what I hate. There's no deeper thought to the consequences of some of these policies.
"Businesses exist to make profit" isn't in many people's thinking behind this.
Insensitive
Superstar
Making a profit shouldn't come at the expense of your employees.
It should already be a factor in how you run your business.
If you can't afford to pay your people a living wage and you're pulling
in half a trillion dollars in revenue like Wal-Mart, then SOMETHING IS WRONG.
It should already be a factor in how you run your business.
If you can't afford to pay your people a living wage and you're pulling
in half a trillion dollars in revenue like Wal-Mart, then SOMETHING IS WRONG.
That’s one opinion.
The most obvious problem with Ocasio-Cortez’s contention is that Denmark, like other Scandinavian nations, doesn’t have a statutory minimum wage. Industries and workers engage in sector-by-sector salary negotiations, which might well undermine intra-industry competition, but which is a much better idea than the flat national-wage floor being peddled by Democrats. So, this popular progressive talking point about Denmark’s miracle middle-class fast-food worker doesn’t make much sense to begin with.
Especially when one considers that the per-capita income in the United States is virtually the same as in Denmark — quite a feat given that we’re a pluralistic nation of around 330 million people that naturalizes another 900,000 people every year, many from poor nations, and that Denmark is a homogeneous country of fewer than 6 million citizens that, in recent years, has effectively shut down its borders to poor immigrants.
Over 70% percent of Denmark's workforce is unionized so there's no need for minimum wage. Unless you're saying that it's easier to bring back unions across the country than raising minimum wage?
Any data on those wide reaching negative consequences?
Insensitive
Superstar
That’s one opinion.
All I'm saying is, is a business really ethical if all decisions are made from the "outside"
vs the "inside" ?
This isn't to say Walmart isn't doing ANYHING at all, they've got some cool initiatives to skill
up their workforce like complete company paid college tuition (which is dope) but I also
feel that paying wages that'll allow employees to not only potentially live off of their salary,
but could be incentive to stay with your company long term.
Look at In-N-Out or Costco, you have companies which not only pay a wage where the employee
can consider living off of it, they also have opportunities for mentorship which could lead to
that "burger flipper" eventually running their own In-N-Out helping to secure the company more profits
in the long term. (Who wouldn't want someone who likes/loves the work they do and likely would know it, inside and out?)
But instead we're seeing massive, massive companies in various sectors pulling in phenomenal
year-over-year profits and their first instinct is still to sacrifice or undercut the people who use their
bodies/minds to enrich them.
I think this problem is multi-faceted and it shouldn't be looked at with half-baked hot takes because
whatever is decided will literally decide the course of this country and the many lives within it.
mastermind
Rest In Power Kobe
TBF, a lot of posters on here don't consider themselves working class and are okay with those beneath them suffering, then take from those at the top. It's capitalism, even if it doesn't work for black people.
My data is common sense and personal experience running a business.
A graduated rise(as Bernie has championed) would allow small businesses, most of which run small profit margins and who's cost structures are built around certain payroll expenses, to adjust their business model to adapt to $15/hr minimum wage. In some places, an immediate hike isn't a large issue because they were already in that range. Across the south, that's a big deal because you've effectively doubled the minimum wage without any time to adapt.
This thought that the majority of businesses can just "afford" things isn't based in reality. Most of them are just mom and pop outfits that allow people to pay their bills. Larger businesses with cash reserves, high profit margins, and a healthy bottom line will be much more willing to go the new wage immediately. They'd like for it to happen because they know the businesses that can't afford it will either:
1. Go out of business
2. Reduce staffing
3. Receive bad publicity
All leading to more revenue for them.
I'm not against going to $15/hr. I'm against this thought that all businesses will just cope with the increase and keep people employed through if they were hit with something like that right now.
Then I hear people say "Only the businesses that can afford to pay $15/hr right now should be allowed to stay in business". You don't want that. At all.
Compared to what?
We should target those profits instead of increasing cost at the bottom.All I'm saying is, is a business really ethical if all decisions are made from the "outside"
vs the "inside" ?
This isn't to say Walmart isn't doing ANYHING at all, they've got some cool initiatives to skill
up their workforce like complete company paid college tuition (which is dope) but I also
feel that paying wages that'll allow employees to not only potentially live off of their salary,
but could be incentive to stay with your company long term.
Look at In-N-Out or Costco, you have companies which not only pay a wage where the employee
can consider living off of it, they also have opportunities for mentorship which could lead to
that "burger flipper" eventually running their own In-N-Out helping to secure the company more profits
in the long term. (Who wouldn't want someone who likes/loves the work they do and likely would know it, inside and out?)
But instead we're seeing massive, massive companies in various sectors pulling in phenomenal
year-over-year profits and their first instinct is still to sacrifice or undercut the people who use their
bodies/minds to enrich them.
I think this problem is multi-faceted and it shouldn't be looked at with half-baked hot takes because
whatever is decided will literally decide the course of this country and the many lives within it.
...we can’t compete with China, or India if we are going to continuously increase the cost of labor.
Proper taxation is the answer.
Business owners in America should have looked out for unions and factory workers not getting outsourced for this not to happen
In a service economy, this is what people gotta do: pay higher wages to live off on. For people to say "get a real job" when they been outsourced and deregulated, have no clue how a service-only economy will end any 1st world power. America included.
mastermind
Rest In Power Kobe
Party for crumbs, brehs
The most obvious problem with Ocasio-Cortez’s contention is that Denmark, like other Scandinavian nations, doesn’t have a statutory minimum wage. Industries and workers engage in sector-by-sector salary negotiations, which might well undermine intra-industry competition, but which is a much better idea than the flat national-wage floor being peddled by Democrats. So, this popular progressive talking point about Denmark’s miracle middle-class fast-food worker doesn’t make much sense to begin with.
Especially when one considers that the per-capita income in the United States is virtually the same as in Denmark — quite a feat given that we’re a pluralistic nation of around 330 million people that naturalizes another 900,000 people every year, many from poor nations, and that Denmark is a homogeneous country of fewer than 6 million citizens that, in recent years, has effectively shut down its borders to poor immigrants.
You actually think AOC wouldn’t be down for sectoral bargaining? She’s arguing based on the realities or America and you know that.
Insensitive
Superstar
True. Proper taxation is an answer but I'd also argue that restoring worker's rights and presenting
controls for price gouging is another answer and/or nationalizing certain services which aren't
objectively better once privatized.
Can anyone present a realistic argument for why someone whose making a miserable salary should also
be dealing with 1000% increases to their basic utilities during a crisis like the good folks in Texas ?
There's been no special innovation or drastic change in the performance of the infrastructure so it
seems to me that this was blatant unbound exploitation at it's core.
Just to ensure that my point is getting across: In my eyes the Human Cost > cost of labor.