Seattle agrees to raise minimum wage to $15

[Ed MOTHEREFFING G]

Him supporting a $10 minimum wage and opposing a $15 one is neither here nor there. I took him to task because of how he framedand tried to support his claim.

He said he supports a $10 minimum wage, but anything above $10 shows an inability to be taken seriously. He essentially said $10 is good, but $10.01 is laughable. So I asked him what data he could point to that would support not the premise that minmum wage hikes have a negative effect on prices and employment, but specifically why $10 is the cutoff and anything above $10 is so absurd it's not worth addressing. He came up empty because that wasn't a good argument to begin with...it was just an arbitrary judgment call on his part. And that's fine, but when you use condescending language like "it shows an inability to be taken seriously" you need more than that.

And I like Napoleon, but I see him doing that often. For someone who is so quick to shyt on religious folks for not being able to support their claims with empirical evidence, he's been making some rather specious claims on economics and government recently. I'm trying to keep him honest.

I hear you.

With that said, let me restate what I feel because it was lost in the conversation.

Personally I'm forming my opinion on my daily work with businesses from < 1MM-20MM...their balance sheets...their P&L...and how incremental change in staffing (like...hiring one person) effects them...the wave of salary increase that would follow a $15 minimum...in just seattle...would cause businesses to readress how they make money...and they will most likely do this by terminations or price increases because thats the most controllable thing for a business owner.

The end result is higher prices...business paying themselves less...and terminations...I fail to see how this helps the city...let alone the nation.

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

If people have more money in their pocket, they will spend more.

and businesses with slim margins will raise prices.

Whats funny is that we're talking about MINIMUM wage.

If you're scraping by, no amount of doing the absolute least is really giong to help you.

 

[Regular_P]

and businesses with slim margins will raise prices.

Whats funny is that we're talking about MINIMUM wage.

If you're scraping by, no amount of doing the absolute least is really giong to help you.

That people would then be able to afford.

 

[CrimsonTider]

Asking @Napoleon to show data for something that hasnt happened isnt reasonable. Common sense says that an increase of nearly 100% in some states for minimum wage...at absolute least...is cause for concern.

In addition...you all are constantly forgetting that it isnt just a minimum...its the floor...and will drive all wages up. Businesses dont just create money. How do you all suppose they [small business] pay for the increase?

If they can't pay the cost of doong business they shouldn't be in business

Same rules go for small business providing healthcare

The small business argument is just a crutch to stop something that is progressive to the working citizen

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

That's all I asked him like 10 times last night. I got rehashed arguments about why raising minimum wage is bad, links to a Slate piece cautioning about Seattle's $15 minimum wage, links to articles from The Economist, rants about Paul Krugman, requests for me to produce data on minimum wage and inflation even though I made no claim one way or the other, but no answer.

I don't know why some people can be so resistant to just saying they overstated something, or didn't really think it through before they typed it. I never had a problem doing that. @DEAD7 doesn't...I respect that about him even though I vastly disagree with him on econ. Dudes will tie themselves in knots trying to avoid copping to the dreaded message board "L."

I read a lot of economic blogs with folks who span the political spectrum as well as a little hobby reading I do on the topic as well.

BUT MOST of the liberal ones were even called out by their liberal peers for wildly trying to connect their liberalism to their economic policy.

You gotta remember.

This isn't science. Its like weather forecasting.

Economists only know so much. Lets stop giving them more credit than they have.

ALL WE HAVE is a specific set of data, the goal is design policy leading to it.

You can't tell me that a 100%+ increase in minimum wage NATION WIDE is a good idea.

Thats like hitting the fukking reset button on the country.

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

That people would then be able to afford.

are you slow?

1. they're already poor. minimum wage ain't gonna put THAT much in your pocket
2. don't talk to me about affording anything...WHEN PRICES GO UP.

Did you think they were just gonna be opened up to a whole new world of stuff to purchase?

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

If they can't pay the cost of doong business they shouldn't be in business

Same rules go for small business providing healthcare

The small business argument is just a crutch to stop something that is progressive to the working citizen

And then ya'll wonder where the jobs are

 

[Regular_P]

are you slow?

1. they're already poor. minimum wage ain't gonna put THAT much in your pocket
2. don't talk to me about affording anything...WHEN PRICES GO UP.

Did you think they were just gonna be opened up to a whole new world of stuff to purchase?

The price of a gallon of milk isn't gonna double because minimum wage goes up. A loaf of bread isn't gonna cost $5 as a result of minimum wage increasing. This gives people extra money to afford "luxuries."

 

[GetInTheTruck]

If they can't pay the cost of doong business they shouldn't be in business

Same rules go for small business providing healthcare

The small business argument is just a crutch to stop something that is progressive to the working citizen

Lol at this bullshyt. It's the working citizen that is dependent on the employer for work not the other way around. They will cut corners if they have to and remain in business while you sit around wondering why companies ain't hiring.

 

[CrimsonTider]

And then ya'll wonder where the jobs are

I don't wonder this

 

[CrimsonTider]

Lol at this bullshyt. It's the working citizen that is dependent on the employer for work not the other way around. They will cut corners if they have to and remain in business while you sit around wondering why companies ain't hiring.

This stuff happens a without wage increases

 

[Broke Wave]

All I know is that people better not start crying about corporate evil and/or racism when these businesses start closely considering who they hire and fire. They asked for this.

This is the most disgusting thing I've read in a while

So the only reason corporations hire minorities is because they're cheap? That's exactly what you're insinuating dog... cmon.

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

You gotta remember.

This isn't science. Its like weather forecasting.

Economists only know so much. Lets stop giving them more credit than they have.

ALL WE HAVE is a specific set of data, the goal is design policy leading to it.

You are right. That is exactly why it is folly to make loaded ass statements like "anybody who suggests a minimum wage above $10 shows an inability to be taken seriously."

 

[tmonster]

This is the most disgusting thing I've read in a while

So the only reason corporations hire minorities is because they're cheap? That's exactly what you're insinuating dog... cmon.

srsly

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

You are right. That is exactly why it is folly to make loaded ass statements like "anybody who suggests a minimum wage above $10 shows an inability to be taken seriously."

Beacuse a 10 to 15 jump is not fukking pennies dude.