WASHINGTON — Religious leaders and advocates, not satisfied with the 70-cent rise in the federal minimum wage that went into effect on Friday, are calling on congressional leaders to hike it up to $10 by 2010.
Even after the increase to $7.25 an hour, more than 600 interfaith leaders across the nation have signed a letter sponsored by a non-profit coalition whose aim is to raise the federal and state minimum wage to a "living wage."
Even an unashamed antichristian has enough sense to understand the problem. And the reason he hates Christ is because what he sees is the whore, not the true church.
"and he [Cain] buildeth a city..."
"Endgame - The Problem of Civilization" by Derrick Jenson
Just to clarify I think labor unions should be abolished. One of the quickest ways to ruin a buisness is to introduce organized labor. The labor unions want the minimum wage up because it brings their base salary up. They couldn't care any less about the average worker except when it comes to collecting their dues. When I say the wage increase "helps" the union worker (their bosses must pay them many times over the minimum), it does so only at the expense of everyone else and eventually may end up with the union guy unemployed as well. I used to talk to a union employee who worked on a GM line in GA. He said the union did him right because he WAS making $30.00 an hr at the time when the plant shut down. He didn't understand that he was now making $0 dollars an hr along with his fellow unemployed. I'll also point out the reason why American cars have such a bad rep is because the companies have spent so much money paying employees that the product actually suffers in quality. The corporations comment I was trying to make is that they can at least survive an across the board wage icrease while the little guy goes under. In the aftermath the large corporation or chain store may come out ahead because their competition is gone. Without competiton prices go up and we all suffer.
Mark M. wrote: An increased minimum wage only "helps" union workers and larger corporations.
Raising the Minimum Wage does not help any corporations. It actually stops people from getting raises because businesses will just wait until the government steps in. There are no wining businesses ever when the government tries to regulate anything. I did not quite get your point about raising minimum wage helping labor unions. Labor unions are outdated and should be gotten rid of to help this failing economy. Ronald Reagan saw the damage they did and got rid of a few of them. Labor unions are the reason that GM went bankrupt not the CEOs. Millions more go into the salaries, benefits, and retirement than any other area for GM. In addition, just one more comment about CEOs, compare how much one of them makes to Tiger Woods. Also raising the minimum wage in a failing economy hinders high schoolers and new entry workers, for retirees are returning to work. Wouldn’t you rather hire a reliable worker with experience? You are completely right raising the minimum wage hurts the "little guy" more than the jumbo corporations.
Ochlocrat wrote: This is a great idea! I just hope India and China don't find out about this easy way to put everyone above the poverty level - all those jobs they've been taking from us will come back, and then who will support Obamacare?
Why dribble up the minimum wage? I think we should raise it to $150 an hour. Then the working poor would be earning over $300000 a year, and they could pay for Obama's healthcare plan.
This is a great idea! I just hope India and China don't find out about this easy way to put everyone above the poverty level - all those jobs they've been taking from us will come back, and then who will support Obamacare?
An increased minimum wage only "helps" union workers and larger corporations. Unions often negotiate contracts for salaries with a minimum wage base times x amount. For example $7.25 x 3 now looks a lot better than the $5.85 x 3 they were getting just three or so years back. Larger corporations can afford the "loss" due to wage increase, but a local small buisness will have to do a combination of: hiring freezes, cuts in hours, increases in duties for retained employees,and increased prices to the customers. In some cases it can be enough to drive the "little guy" out of buisness and decrease competetion, and raise unemployment accross the board. In addition, most people who work for minimum wage are either: new hires, high school kids, or incompetent workers. Any one who is good at their job won't stay at minimum wage for long. They will either get a raise or move on to a better employer. One more thing, no employer is required to raise the salary if you make over the minimum. So if you worked three years to make $7.50 the new hire now makes only a quarter less than you do! Many will find that the $7.25 they make today won't buy as much as the $5.85 was buying three years back.
It is not good for the economy to raise the minimum raise. Raising the minimum wage hurts small businesses who cannot afford to pay employees that great of an amount of money and therefore increases unemployment. It is also socialistic to increase minimum wage for it hinders the free market. Those Christians should read Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations.
No freely-negotiated wage can be unjust - this is implied in the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, Matt. 20. Industrialized countries price young & unskilled folks out of work, yet complain about unemployment & exported jobs. No person is competent to judge for another what constitutes a "living wage." The real minimum wage is $0, for the worker never hired.
By now I am unsurprised at the stupidity & Biblical ignorance of organized churches & clerics.
Dr. David P Murray | 6/10/2009
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