Help me understand the impact of a $15 minimum wage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of you don’t support a living wage, the you must support a social safety net. And if you don’t, I don’t want to hear from you because you are morally bankrupt or possibly just really old and don’t understand how bad things are today if you’re born a nobody with no money to parents that have had no education and/or don’t speak English. 60 years ago, that person had a chance. They could take a low skilled job and get paid a fair wage, and go to school cheaply, while supporting a parent or sibling. I know it because that’s my family story. The minimum wage went a lot further back then, and it’s time to make it work today.

I went to college 50 years ago. Do you know what we didn't do? Spring break might be a drive to the beach, at best. It was not a flight to the islands. We lived in dorms--not apartments and we ate on the meal plans. We didn't have automobiles until Senior year, so, except for a walk to Hardee's, we rarely ate out. We didn't even order pizza. Phone calls? A trip down the hall ot the communal phone. Long distance was "collect." Entertainment? Maybe a concert at the field house--only occasionally. Other than that, sports events, get togethers in dorm rooms or fraternity parties.

College or university was selected on what you could afford-not prestige. I went to a state university. Guess what? There is a grad in the current cabinet. And, the CEO of a very top tech firm. It can be done.

Summers? Jobs, jobs, jobs. Most of us had some kind of job in high school, as well.

Europe? Forget it. Couldn't go to Europe in the summer and keep a summer job. I didn't know anyone who did a "semester abroad."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of you don’t support a living wage, the you must support a social safety net. And if you don’t, I don’t want to hear from you because you are morally bankrupt or possibly just really old and don’t understand how bad things are today if you’re born a nobody with no money to parents that have had no education and/or don’t speak English. 60 years ago, that person had a chance. They could take a low skilled job and get paid a fair wage, and go to school cheaply, while supporting a parent or sibling. I know it because that’s my family story. The minimum wage went a lot further back then, and it’s time to make it work today.

I went to college 50 years ago. Do you know what we didn't do? Spring break might be a drive to the beach, at best. It was not a flight to the islands. We lived in dorms--not apartments and we ate on the meal plans. We didn't have automobiles until Senior year, so, except for a walk to Hardee's, we rarely ate out. We didn't even order pizza. Phone calls? A trip down the hall ot the communal phone. Long distance was "collect." Entertainment? Maybe a concert at the field house--only occasionally. Other than that, sports events, get togethers in dorm rooms or fraternity parties.

College or university was selected on what you could afford-not prestige. I went to a state university. Guess what? There is a grad in the current cabinet. And, the CEO of a very top tech firm. It can be done.

Summers? Jobs, jobs, jobs. Most of us had some kind of job in high school, as well.

Europe? Forget it. Couldn't go to Europe in the summer and keep a summer job. I didn't know anyone who did a "semester abroad."

So your ideas about what kids from working class backgrounds do with their time are laughably wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of you don’t support a living wage, the you must support a social safety net. And if you don’t, I don’t want to hear from you because you are morally bankrupt or possibly just really old and don’t understand how bad things are today if you’re born a nobody with no money to parents that have had no education and/or don’t speak English. 60 years ago, that person had a chance. They could take a low skilled job and get paid a fair wage, and go to school cheaply, while supporting a parent or sibling. I know it because that’s my family story. The minimum wage went a lot further back then, and it’s time to make it work today.

I went to college 50 years ago. Do you know what we didn't do? Spring break might be a drive to the beach, at best. It was not a flight to the islands. We lived in dorms--not apartments and we ate on the meal plans. We didn't have automobiles until Senior year, so, except for a walk to Hardee's, we rarely ate out. We didn't even order pizza. Phone calls? A trip down the hall ot the communal phone. Long distance was "collect." Entertainment? Maybe a concert at the field house--only occasionally. Other than that, sports events, get togethers in dorm rooms or fraternity parties.

College or university was selected on what you could afford-not prestige. I went to a state university. Guess what? There is a grad in the current cabinet. And, the CEO of a very top tech firm. It can be done.

Summers? Jobs, jobs, jobs. Most of us had some kind of job in high school, as well.

Europe? Forget it. Couldn't go to Europe in the summer and keep a summer job. I didn't know anyone who did a "semester abroad."

So your ideas about what kids from working class backgrounds do with their time are laughably wrong.

Also, state school used to be cheap. Now it costs as much as my private school did in the 90s.

[Anonymous]

9:23 here. And , the value of minimum wage 50 years ago is not near the equivalent of $15 minimum wage. It was $1.60. Which is just about $10.00 in today's wages. And, few people make only minimum wage today. About half of those that do are teens. Many of the others are supplementing incomes for their families. Few are the sole wage earner in their families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9:23 here. And , the value of minimum wage 50 years ago is not near the equivalent of $15 minimum wage. It was $1.60. Which is just about $10.00 in today's wages. And, few people make only minimum wage today. About half of those that do are teens. Many of the others are supplementing incomes for their families. Few are the sole wage earner in their families.

Half are not teens. The numbers have been shared many times in this thread. Half of the workforce makes less than 15 an hour. 42 percent of that half, make the minimum. That’s not a small number of people. It’s a lot of adult women actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9:23 here. And , the value of minimum wage 50 years ago is not near the equivalent of $15 minimum wage. It was $1.60. Which is just about $10.00 in today's wages. And, few people make only minimum wage today. About half of those that do are teens. Many of the others are supplementing incomes for their families. Few are the sole wage earner in their families.

If you hadn’t noticed, MOST families aren’t supported by a sole wage earner.

[Anonymous]

My boomer dad must be posting in here I swear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9:23 here. And , the value of minimum wage 50 years ago is not near the equivalent of $15 minimum wage. It was $1.60. Which is just about $10.00 in today's wages. And, few people make only minimum wage today. About half of those that do are teens. Many of the others are supplementing incomes for their families. Few are the sole wage earner in their families.

Half are not teens. The numbers have been shared many times in this thread. Half of the workforce makes less than 15 an hour. 42 percent of that half, make the minimum. That’s not a small number of people. It’s a lot of adult women actually.

Incorrect. That is half of the hourly workers. Over 40% of workers are salaried.

And, please note, $15 in West Virginia is quite different from $15 in NYC. I'm guessing that most people in NYC make more than $15.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9:23 here. And , the value of minimum wage 50 years ago is not near the equivalent of $15 minimum wage. It was $1.60. Which is just about $10.00 in today's wages. And, few people make only minimum wage today. About half of those that do are teens. Many of the others are supplementing incomes for their families. Few are the sole wage earner in their families.

Half are not teens. The numbers have been shared many times in this thread. Half of the workforce makes less than 15 an hour. 42 percent of that half, make the minimum. That’s not a small number of people. It’s a lot of adult women actually.

Incorrect. That is half of the hourly workers. Over 40% of workers are salaried.

And, please note, $15 in West Virginia is quite different from $15 in NYC. I'm guessing that most people in NYC make more than $15.

Yes, half of the hourly workforce. Which is 60 percent of all employees. Still a lot of people.

And we want West Virginia to be less poor, raising the minimum would be a great start. I don’t know what percentage of employees make the minimum there but it’s something to look at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I often wonder if any of the people that say “flipping burgers” is easy work, have every worked any kind of food service or retail. It’s horrible thankless work. Count yourself lucky that you acquired the skills to move on or avoid it. Some people don’t, and that’s not their fault. They deserve to live off their work too, if they’re working full time.

You don't need any prior skills to get a McJob. You just need to be 14 years old with working papers (certificate to work for a minor). They are good jobs for kids, and aren't meant to be a career.

It's not that they're "easy" jobs, its that they're entry level jobs that you use to build skills to get other jobs. You learn to show up on time, put in your hours, build customer service skills, all things that are applicable to other careers. If you look at the demographics who who actually is earning minimum wage in these positions, they're still mostly younger people who live at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I often wonder if any of the people that say “flipping burgers” is easy work, have every worked any kind of food service or retail. It’s horrible thankless work. Count yourself lucky that you acquired the skills to move on or avoid it. Some people don’t, and that’s not their fault. They deserve to live off their work too, if they’re working full time.

You don't need any prior skills to get a McJob. You just need to be 14 years old with working papers (certificate to work for a minor). They are good jobs for kids, and aren't meant to be a career.

It's not that they're "easy" jobs, its that they're entry level jobs that you use to build skills to get other jobs. You learn to show up on time, put in your hours, build customer service skills, all things that are applicable to other careers. If you look at the demographics who who actually is earning minimum wage in these positions, they're still mostly younger people who live at home.

My god man just read! You are wrong about who works these jobs. What percentage of the workforce is in these jobs? About a third! A third! And 60% of those workers are over 25. Mostly minorities and women with low education or language barriers. Should they not eat? Should they not have a safe home to live in? In exchange for an honest days work?

[Anonymous]

Most teenagers don’t take minimum wage jobs, lol. Can barley hire them at 15 an hour to babysit or lifeguard in the summers. They live at home, yes. And if they don’t need the income, shouldn’t work those jobs. It’s not a good value for many who could be learning more useful skills or volunteering their time.

[Anonymous]

My god man just read! You are wrong about who works these jobs. What percentage of the workforce is in these jobs? About a third! A third! And 60% of those workers are over 25. Mostly minorities and women with low education or language barriers. Should they not eat? Should they not have a safe home to live in? In exchange for an honest days work?

And, many of those are 'wait staff" who also get tips and make more than that.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious if those who are against the increase feel there shouldn't be a minimum wage at all? And why or why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious if those who are against the increase feel there shouldn't be a minimum wage at all? And why or why not?

My personal opinion: it should be left to the states and local areas. WV and NYC are two very different economies and cost of living. What is necessary for survival in NYC is quite different than WV.

However, a few Senators have a proposal to raise it slowly--and, I don't think it is to $15.
It would not start until after the pandemic is over--which is very wise. You don't put people out of jobs when jobs are scarce.
It would be tied to inflation.