If only Democrats had the stones to do this.

  • goferking (he/him)@lemmy.sdf.org
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    3 days ago

    I’d argue you’re the one who needs more courses on economics but considering how varied the courses and reasoning in economics can be that’s slightly pointless. Then again wonder which you took if arguing we should be racing to bottom with wages. MIT puts it best by saying min wage should be a living wage not just poverty level:

    https://livingwage.mit.edu/

    Then there’s the fact it would be in 20 dollars rage by simply being tied to inflation:

    https://cepr.net/publications/correction-this-is-what-minimum-wage-would-be-if-it-kept-pace-with-productivity/

    Finally increasing it would actually help marginalized groups

    https://www.americanprogress.org/article/raising-the-minimum-wage-would-be-an-investment-in-growing-the-middle-class/

    • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      It should be a living wage…in each state. Why is it so hard for everyone to understand the difference between state and federal minimum wages?

      • goferking (he/him)@lemmy.sdf.org
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        3 days ago

        Because federal is the floor all the states need to be at or above. Or because states are just arbitrary boundaries in the nation.

        Why are you so against anything other than it should barely be above the worst state(s)?

        And if for a living wage you wouldn’t be saying 17 since that’s still too low in your example of Arkansas

        https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/05

        • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          Yes. Federal minimum wage was designed to be set at a livable wage for the poorest states. States with higher costs of living are supposed to raise their minimum wage above the poverty line for their state.

          I’m in NY. A higher federal minimum wage would actually benefit me, because we would see less of a hike in essential goods and services. An increase to $17/hr is only $0.50 more than the current state minimum wage. It’s the poor states and older people that suffer when the minimum wage is too high.

          The increased price of goods drives people to corporations over private businesses. The private businesses can’t afford the higher payroll, resulting in layoffs. Those businesses fold, and the previous employees go to the corporations for minimum wage jobs. They inevitability end up on SNAP or other federal assistance while working full time once inflation sets in.

          Older people nearing retirement may be forced to work for longer, because their target retirement savings is no longer sufficient. Social Security payments are adjusted for inflation at 2.5%, which is dwarfed by sizable increases in the minimum wage.

          Again, as I said above, I’m all for a livable wage across our nation. I’m saying that adjusting the minimum wage is not the only lever that needs to be pulled to make that happen, and brining it up too high too quickly can actually be worse for poor areas than better.

          • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            It’s the poor states and older people that suffer when the minimum wage is too high.

            Us hayseeds just wouldn’t know what to do with human levels of money.

                • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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                  3 days ago

                  That depends on the position and location. I believe it should be enough to satisfy the cost of living in your area, provided you work full-time, if that’s what you’re getting at.

                  • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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                    3 days ago

                    That depends on the position and location. I believe it should be enough to satisfy the cost of living in your area, provided you work full-time, if that’s what you’re getting at.

                    And I live in a red state, so getting there won’t happen without an increase in the national minimum wage.

                    Until then, I would like to know how little per hour you think my life is worth. And if that is a positive number.

          • goferking (he/him)@lemmy.sdf.org
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            3 days ago

            I wish I could live in your world where the corporate jobs paid more to keep people off snap or other assistances.

            But again just shows how much our nation is failing us when that is used to prevent helping get people out of poverty.

            • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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              3 days ago

              I’ve survived the last 25 years by living in shit poor neighborhoods and commuting to work in wealthy areas of the city. It’s far from ideal, and I’ve barely saved 1/10 of what I’d need to retire.

              I’m in complete agreement that our system is fucked.