It's odd that people feel personally insulted by an increased minimum wage. Like, they want low-wage workers to suffer in order to buttress their sense of self-worth.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And now they won't have jobs at all.

That's not true. Especially not in this area.

You're kidding right? Are you telling me that my MoCo Giant and Safeway and Home Depot and Lowes and Panera and McDonalds are all replacing all their cashiers with computers and ipads, but secretly keeping all the same number of employees hiding somewhere in the back? And still keeping their prices the same even if cost of labor goes up 30 to 50%?

Wow, fairy tales really do come true!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Idiots.

Next time you go into Giant or Home Depot and you notice that half of the checkout lanes have been replaced with self-serve stations, you will see what a $15 minimum wage looks like in action.

Next time you walk into McDonalds or Starbucks and place your order on an ipad, you will see what a $15 minimum wage looks like in action.

Are people really this stupid?

Why are those bad things? We need more careers and less starter jobs.

Not everyone has the ability, discipline, or interest to get through college. We need working class jobs for high school graduates, and a $15 minimum will kill them.

How will it "kill them"? If companies require human employees, they need to pay them living wages.

It will kill the jobs, not the people. The reality is that companies will find ways to work around the need for employees....hence the ordering kiosks at McDonalds and Panera. Raise the minimum, and you'll see even more of that.

It may kill certain types of jobs, but people still need nannies and home health aides. No way to automate that--and those jobs deserve a living wage. (I have a nanny and pay her well above this newly announced minimum wage, but have colleagues who pay their nannies just 10$/hr.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's insane!

http://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-co-council-votes-to-approve-15-minimum-wage

No, it's reasonable. When's the last time you worked a service job, OP? Think you could live in MoCo on less?

Minimum wage jobs are meant to be the entrance into the sales force, not a lifetime profession. Anyone trying to raise a family on minimum wage has made many poor choices in their life.

That's what upper class, educated people think, but that was not the impetus of the federal law in the first place. It was to create a minimum standard of living for all people. And the truth is, many, MANY people live on nothing but minimum wage forever.

If want more than minimum wage, you need more than minimum skills.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's insane!

http://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-co-council-votes-to-approve-15-minimum-wage

No, it's reasonable. When's the last time you worked a service job, OP? Think you could live in MoCo on less?

Minimum wage jobs are meant to be the entrance into the sales force, not a lifetime profession. Anyone trying to raise a family on minimum wage has made many poor choices in their life.

That's what upper class, educated people think, but that was not the impetus of the federal law in the first place. It was to create a minimum standard of living for all people. And the truth is, many, MANY people live on nothing but minimum wage forever.

And now they won't have jobs at all.

That's not true. Especially not in this area.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. First off I'm not an economist. Secondly of course I want people to make a living in Montgomery county. I worked in minimum wage for many many years but I put myself through college and have a well-paying job now. I'm certainly not as well off as many of you on this board but I make a decent living and I'm proud of my work. I think this is a pat your self in the back type of bill, a feel-good bill but long-term I think it's going to have negative impact on our local economy. I think many people will lose their jobs or have cut benefits.

The County did a lot of research into this before passing it the first time. There are mixed results. There is some data that shows that when the minimum wage goes higher, people spend more. People are actually buying more burgers, etc. at the places you think would feel the strain of having to pay that.

The people it "will" hurt are nonprofits like Red Wiggler Farm, which hires adults with developmental disabilities, but doesn't work to make a big profit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's insane!

http://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-co-council-votes-to-approve-15-minimum-wage

No, it's reasonable. When's the last time you worked a service job, OP? Think you could live in MoCo on less?

Minimum wage jobs are meant to be the entrance into the sales force, not a lifetime profession. Anyone trying to raise a family on minimum wage has made many poor choices in their life.

That's what upper class, educated people think, but that was not the impetus of the federal law in the first place. It was to create a minimum standard of living for all people. And the truth is, many, MANY people live on nothing but minimum wage forever.

And now they won't have jobs at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's insane!

http://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-co-council-votes-to-approve-15-minimum-wage

No, it's reasonable. When's the last time you worked a service job, OP? Think you could live in MoCo on less?

Minimum wage jobs are meant to be the entrance into the sales force, not a lifetime profession. Anyone trying to raise a family on minimum wage has made many poor choices in their life.

That's what upper class, educated people think, but that was not the impetus of the federal law in the first place. It was to create a minimum standard of living for all people. And the truth is, many, MANY people live on nothing but minimum wage forever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Idiots.

Next time you go into Giant or Home Depot and you notice that half of the checkout lanes have been replaced with self-serve stations, you will see what a $15 minimum wage looks like in action.

Next time you walk into McDonalds or Starbucks and place your order on an ipad, you will see what a $15 minimum wage looks like in action.

Are people really this stupid?

Why are those bad things? We need more careers and less starter jobs.

Not everyone has the ability, discipline, or interest to get through college. We need working class jobs for high school graduates, and a $15 minimum will kill them.

How will it "kill them"? If companies require human employees, they need to pay them living wages.

It will kill the jobs, not the people. The reality is that companies will find ways to work around the need for employees....hence the ordering kiosks at McDonalds and Panera. Raise the minimum, and you'll see even more of that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's insane? Have you tried living on a $15 per hour job?

No, that's why I finished high school and went to college. You aren't supposed to live on minimum wage. It's supposed to be a stepping stone.

"Supposed to"? Do you really imagine that all those middle-aged faces working at Walmart or McD's said, "Fuck high school and college, I'd rather sling fries"?

People take these jobs because they have no other choice.

Jesus, don't you ever choke on all your superior privilege?

According the BLS numbers, the majority of people earning minimum wage are young and the job is NOT the sole source of income for the household. It's teenagers earning pocket money and people working second jobs.

It makes sense too - anyone who works at a McDonald's who shows a slight amount of dedication to the job is going to get promoted quickly.

I get the idea -- ensure a basic income for people supporting their family. But there's a much better way to do it -- raise the Earned Income Tax Credit. It's already implemented on MD taxes, so just raise the amount for those in MoCo. This takes into account total household income, as well as household size (number of children) while minimum wage does not.

Op here. First off I'm not an economist. Secondly of course I want people to make a living in Montgomery county. I worked in minimum wage for many many years but I put myself through college and have a well-paying job now. I'm certainly not as well off as many of you on this board but I make a decent living and I'm proud of my work. I think this is a pat your self in the back type of bill, a feel-good bill but long-term I think it's going to have negative impact on our local economy. I think many people will lose their jobs or have cut benefits.

Op here. First off I'm not an economist. Secondly of course I want people to make a living in Montgomery county. I worked in minimum wage for many many years but I put myself through college and have a well-paying job now. I'm certainly not as well off as many of you on this board but I make a decent living and I'm proud of my work. I think this is a pat your self in the back type of bill, a feel-good bill but long-term I think it's going to have negative impact on our local economy. I think many people will lose their jobs or have cut benefits.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's insane? Have you tried living on a $15 per hour job?

No, that's why I finished high school and went to college. You aren't supposed to live on minimum wage. It's supposed to be a stepping stone.

Take care, wouldn't want you falling off your high horse.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Idiots.

Next time you go into Giant or Home Depot and you notice that half of the checkout lanes have been replaced with self-serve stations, you will see what a $15 minimum wage looks like in action.

Next time you walk into McDonalds or Starbucks and place your order on an ipad, you will see what a $15 minimum wage looks like in action.

Are people really this stupid?

Why are those bad things? We need more careers and less starter jobs.

Not everyone has the ability, discipline, or interest to get through college. We need working class jobs for high school graduates, and a $15 minimum will kill them.

How will it "kill them"? If companies require human employees, they need to pay them living wages.