Grafton, NH

Quote: Mission146

As you see, one of Geno's objections was that it doesn't drive up the wages of those who are already paying more than MW, but as you point out, they tend to also increase what they pay, relatively proportionately.

I agree that it can contribute to even more inflation, but my focus is on trying to prevent your everyday consumer from being held further and further underwater, year after year. I want the lowest paid amongst people to be able to, if nothing else, at least maintain the relative spending power of the money that they are earning. I am simply unwilling to sacrifice the masses that a few poorly-run small businesses might hold on just a little longer.

Why poorly run? I mean, they're either losing money or were never properly capitalized to begin with. They took a risk, as they have every right to do, and the risk didn't pay off. Maybe the market changed. Maybe there's simply insufficient demand for what they are offering. Maybe they can't move enough units at the price that they need to get in order to garner net profits; none of that is the fault of the low-earning masses who are just out there working.

If the casino workers were on strike, then one assumes that they're either in an official union or that they acted collectively; they have every right to do either of those things. I can tell you this: If I were a Union employee and I was paying dues and making less than minimum wage, I'd be pretty furious...though not necessarily with the employer.

Quote: Mission146

Quote: odiousgambit

You might think Geno would have liked your MW proposal, but I guess anything less than [god knows what]* is insufficient in his book

* actually you probably just need to tune in to CommieLa or Senator Warren to find out

I think this is why Geno doesn't like my proposal:

1.) I thought of it.

2.) Geno didn't think of it.

3.) It's a good proposal such that he can't even poke a hole in it.

4.) It would be more effective than what the Democrats have done since 2009, which is nothing.

5.) Obama's Congress should have passed it, and Geno knows it.

6.) I think Geno secretly suspects that I'm right about why they didn't.

I do think there's something to what you said in that Democrats might have been worried that, by not going 'far enough' or proposing something that goes, 'far enough' that they could upset some of their own people.

But, there hasn't been an increase to the Federal Minimum Wage since 2009. Anything is better than that.

People wonder why they can't get ahead...well, it's pretty damn simple:

A.) Stagnant Minimum Wage (Federal/lesser jurisdiction) creates no natural upward wage pressure, regardless of what inflation does.

B.) Inflation puts people behind. Interest rates go up, and generally speaking, prices to consumer also increase. When that happens, your paycheck doesn't have the same spending power that it did the year before. You always hear conservative investors (such as Index Funds) say, "Well, at least it keeps up with inflation," that's why.

In general terms, keeping up with inflation means that the amount of money you have will get you roughly the same value in goods and services that it would have prior to the inflationary periods.

So, that's the goal, right? Steady increase to wages, predictable inflation, people not getting buried in credit card debt and helplessly swimming against a never-ending current. Would it solve all consumer problems? No. People would still have to spend responsibly and take credit responsibly, but it would at least give people a better chance.

Quote: Mission146

Yeah, once in the last 63 years by not even half a percent. lol

Quote: GenoDRPh

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I dare you to point out where I stated an objection to your plan. Put up or you-know-what.

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So if inflation goes down, you'd allow employers to reduce wages of existing employees?

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So how would your system work differently than the current system, where employers have discretion to increase or decrease ages, provided the employer complies with the MW and other wage laws?

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You didn't answer the question. So, no, you didn't make it clear. Again, how would your policy change current practice for employers who already pay above MW?

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And I note that, aside from your conspiratorial rant, all opposite to increasing MW comes from the right side of the aisle.

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Exactly my point. By "indexing" to inflation, there's the possibility of a wage reduction to workers. That's a nonstarter. Or at least it should be.

Quote: GenoDRPh

Obama didn't have a filibuster proof majority after Ted Kennedy died and Scott Brown was elected to replace him.

Quote: GenoDRPh

Make up your mind already, Would you protect the MW against going down due to deflation, or would you not because deflation is historically rare?

Quote: Mission146

Do you really want to be the Republican who objects to MW increasing by 1-3% every year? It's an extremely moderate, though effective, proposal. I can't imagine a scenario where, as a stand-alone bill, they couldn't get a handful of moderate Republicans on board. I think it's actually more likely that it would have passed with overwhelming approval.

Quote: GenoDRPh

We are awaiting a moderate Republican to introduce a bill that increases the MW. But even the moderate GOP opposes increases to the min wage. And this includes any mod GOP in Obama's congress. during his tenure.

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...to ensure the wage increase only goes to legal workers. The bill would also index future minimum wage increases to inflation and includes a slower phase-in for small businesses. Romney and Cotton first introduced the bill in 2021. Text of the legislation can be found here and a one-pager on the bill can be found here.

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Gradually raises the federal minimum wage to $11 over four years, and then indexes it to inflation every two years moving forward.

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Creates a slower phase-in for small businesses with fewer than 20 employees.