$9.50- Page 2

[kelzama]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 2:44pm

Are these the same boards that rail against the giant corporation? Big corps will lay off employees to balance the books and not think twice. Raising the min wage to $9.50 will only hurt the little guy.

Most small businesses are working on a shoestring budget with a narrow profit margin.

You want to increase minimum wage salaries by 40% (not including the increased costs associated with ss, fica, et al) and expect businesses (particularly small businesses) to keep the same number of jobs and/or pricing structures?

Wanna adversely affect unemployment stats for the lower wage earners? Hillary's got the plan.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 3:09pm

So, how exactly do we improve the status of the minimum wage worker? How do we give them any sort of buying power, which would stimulate the economy, which may in turn stimulate your sales, which might improve your bottom line?

Posted: 2/13/08 at 3:12pm

Speaking of big corporations- WalMart claims their average wage is already $9.68 an hour- but let's say they are lying. If Walmart raised it's prices by ONE HALF percent across the board (i.e. an item that costs $2 now would cost $2.01) that would fund $1 an hour FOR EACH EMPLOYEE.
Updated On: 2/13/08 at 03:12 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 3:31pm

"So, how exactly do we improve the status of the minimum wage worker?"

Elect a Republican.

If we lower taxes, that puts more money in the worker's pocket.

The Democrats can't expect to raise taxes, raise wages and expect small businesses to grow. The cut has to come somewhere and businesses may turn to hiring part time workers at reduced hours.

[kelzama]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 3:33pm

For me, the small business owner, lower my tax burden.

Then I have more capital to reinvest in my business, and raise the salaries of employees who've earned it.

Mandate that I have to pay 40% more in wages, and I'll cut jobs. Or raise fees. Or both.

[javero]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 3:52pm

Thank you Kelzama for your candor.

For years, I've been pleading with the elected Democrats in my County and MD legislature to abandon the tired tax-and-spend model for one that takes into account more the interests of small business owners such as yourself.

I work full-time and operate a small press publishing company (only 1 title to date). Right now, it's a one-man operation (me) because there's no way I could absorb the costs of taking on employees, starting with unemployment insurance in MD.

Small businesses with less than 10 employees are getting by on razor thin margins across the nation. As a business owner, you are the one assuming the risk in launching and operating that business and are entitled to some reward (profit) in turn.

I wish you continued success and best of luck with your business.

Updated On: 2/13/08 at 03:52 PM

Posted: 2/13/08 at 3:54pm

Yes, lowering the tax burden always works- look at WalMart, which receives over $1 BILLION dollars in Tax breaks, subsidies and abatements and then passes that savings on to it's employees in the form of excellent wages and benefits-- oh wait, the DON'T. They just put it into the bottom line.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 3:57pm

"The Democrats can't expect to raise taxes, raise wages and expect small businesses to grow. The cut has to come somewhere and businesses may turn to hiring part time workers at reduced hours."

How do the Republicans, expect to lower taxes when the War in Iraq is draining the Treasury to the tune of $275 million a day? A DAY! And McCain has no problem staying in Iraq for 100 years? Doesn't sound to me, like there's much chance of lowering taxes unless the war/occupation is ended, or the government slashes domestic spending. You can't balance the budget when you have more money going out than coming in, and I don't picture a Republican or Democrat having their pet projects derailed by slashing the budget in order to lower taxes. How bout some nuts and bolts from the Republicans...telling us exactly what they're going to de-fund in order to lower taxes?

The US national Debt is now over 9 trillion dollars and is increasing at the rate of 1.5 billion dollars a day. Yup, those tax cuts are just around the corner if a Republican is elected. The question is for who?

Updated On: 2/13/08 at 03:57 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 4:08pm

"oh wait, the DON'T. They just put it into the bottom line."

But WalMart has really low prices. Many middle class people on tight budgets get bargains there.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 4:15pm

Perhaps it's time for Goth to leave that tiny overpriced studio apartment in NYC and go somewhere where a living wage is possible and he doesn't have to hope that he'll get an extra 10 bucks back per paycheck.

Do Republican tax cuts even benefit people living paycheck to paycheck?

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 4:17pm

"$100 a week rent"

And where exactly can I find that place?

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 4:26pm

Indiana. I pay %375 a month for a nice 288 sq ft studio. My junior year I shared a house with three other guys and rent was only $190 a month. It wasn't the greatest place, but it was livable.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 4:30pm

Wow. I'm beginning to believe I am OVERPAYING about 900$/per month in rent. Granted, all the apartment complexes around here are about the same.

[Craig]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 5:02pm

""So, how exactly do we improve the status of the minimum wage worker?"

Elect a Republican. "

Are you ignoring the past 7 years (plus one to go) that the country has had with the Republicans and how the economy is at an all time disaster point?

I don't know about you - but I don't think that if I had a housecleaning service that broke things in my home and stole things constantly and when I asked for advice, someone suggested I bring someone else in from that company instead if I would be able to keep a straight face.

Electing a Republican again is not the solution. At all.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 5:11pm

Raising the minimum wage by that much will just make inflation go way up, and the Dollar go way down. And seeing where the dollar is already, that really wouldn't help us.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 5:25pm

"Are you ignoring the past 7 years (plus one to go) that the country has had with the Republicans and how the economy is at an all time disaster point?"

I don't know what country you live in, but in the US the economy has been very good. Unemployment has remained very low, interest rates have remained low. Disaster point was during the Carter years. We are no where near his disaster economy.

Updated On: 2/13/08 at 05:25 PM

[javero]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 5:26pm

Raising the minimum wage if more tickering with the economy on the part of the feds.

When will a Ron Paul emerge from my Democratic party?

His related statement is linked below. Warning: it's not light reading.
Ron Paul on Monetary Policy

Posted: 2/13/08 at 5:56pm

Goth how can you post "It's not as bad as CARTER's" when Republicans have spent the last 28 years complaining Carter was the WORST?

This economy has been abysmal and is getting worse- Bankrupcies, savings rate, foreclosures, the dollar, job creation, the deficit- the only indicator that hasn't bottomed out is home ownership and look for that to tank long before Bush heads to Paraguay.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 6:12pm

How abysmal has it been when up until recently the Stock market was going great guns?

Countries in Europe like France & England would kill for the unemployment rate we have now.

Everybody wants the government to do everything for them., Let's put a tax on all those making over $ 100,000 so we can give it to minimum pay workers. This will really stifle growth. Make more & the government will take it from you for, in Hillary's words' "The Common Good".

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 6:16pm

Updated On: 1/27/09 at 06:16 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 6:20pm

It costs jobs but those advocating it will not be the ones to get hurt.

The housing crisis is Greed personnified. In addition to greedy bankers, the people borrowing the money should take some of the blame.Many knew they could not afford it. A great many were buying only to sell years later at a higher price so they were speculating. Anyone with an ounce of sense knew it could not continue indefinitely. It was a big ponzi scheme.

The blame for the sub mortgage fiasco is spread all around.

[javero]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 6:30pm

Mr Roxy,

There were some non-speculating buyers that were simply trying to drink champagne on a beer budget. We all must live within our means.

I've got friends that bought homes that were way too expensive for them during the height of the bubble. Though they can still make their mortgage payments they are house poor and running up massive credit card debts to meet routine household expenses including quality child care.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 6:33pm

If government, state/local & Federal, lived within their means we would all be better off.

To buy votes, governments promise everything to everyone to stay in power. Both parties are equally guilty. The chickens are coming home to roost.

[javero]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 6:38pm

"To buy votes, governments promise everything to everyone to stay in power. Both parties are equally guilty. The chickens are coming home to roost."

Right on skipper!

That's why I prefer a candidate give me a shell or a vision to trying to sell me pie in the sky while on the campaign trail in the form of a miracle cure that has a snowball's chance in hell of getting out of committee in either chamber of Congress. Worst still is some rehased pie from 15 friggin' yrs ago that was d.o.a. then and now too.

[kelzama]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 6:59pm

Small cheese, have you ever taken an econ class in your life? Ever managed a business? Ever owned one?

You call my desire to have a profitable business and enjoy the fruits of MY labor, MY sacrifice, MY sweat and tears greed?

The minimum wage employees were NOT there when I put in 100 hours a week and more trying to get the thing started, living off credit card debt, ramen noodles, and hoping I could make it though the next week.

The minimum wage employees played no part in paying for my education (while working several minimum wage jobs, btw) nor in risking literally everything to start up the business.

The minimum wage employees took no hit when a major client went bankrupt, and after all the legal proceedings, paid me 3 cents on the dollar. They owed us $100,000. You do the math. Small businesses have small margins, and that nearly killed us. We took no salary for 6 months.

If you're worth more, you'll make more. If your contributions to my company are significant, you'll be rewarded financially. If you're irreplaceable, I'll find a way to keep you. You don't think your compensation's fair, fine. Go work somewhere else. Unemployment's at a healthy 4% or so.

But you are not entitled to any of my success simply because you think it's not fair. Life isn't fair. Anyone who tells you different is selling something.