An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right
Minimum Wage…Important Fall Issue or Cynical Ploy?
John Boehner is describing the Dems calls for raising the minimum wage a cynical ploy to drum up support for the fall elections.
I’m sorry…a Republican politician describing a non-wedge issue as cynical?
I share my thoughts here.
11 Responses to “Minimum Wage…Important Fall Issue or Cynical Ploy?”
There should never be any doubt that republicans are, and, have always been, against broad prosperity in the United States.
They give attention to those whom have enough money to buy their legislative votes on an individual basis, either directly, or by giving them well paid figure head jobs after they leave office. They ignore everybody else except during election campaigns.
To many prosperous people levels out the playing field. Republicans believe Americans are spoiled and unappreciative of the minimum wage jobs they have created by eliminating over-sight of corporations. Indeed this is also the opinion of corporations. Corporations and Republican politicians are one in the same. The rest of America, are not “true� Americans under republican economic dogma.
Well, I don’t know if I’d go that far-but I do know that many conservative Republicans (and today almost all Republicans seem very conservative) would do away with the minimum wage altogether. They see it as one more unwanted restriction for business.
The rationale is that people should pull themselves up beyond entry-level jobs-that these types of jobs are not intended to be used to support a family. Some, however, don’t have the education or training to get beyond entry level, and so are doomed to a life of poverty-even if they work two or three jobs. The same people who oppose the minimum wage also oppose having the government pay for job training programs to help those at the bottom escape poverty.
If you raise the minimum wage, however, most of the increase will go back into the economy as it is spent by workers, and there will be less reliance on social services that are costly to taxpayers. Conservatives, however, see this as a form of socialism.
It is my opinion that we must protect ourselves from social Darwinist ideologies that are designed to maintain wealth for a greedy uncreative few by oppressing the many.
There is no excuse for the “richest” nation in the world to have merely the 6th standard of living. EVERY American deserves a basic standard of living whether or not they have further ambitions. If all people cannot benefit with basic fairness the collective wealth of our nation, then why be part of it? We cannot even provide healthcare for nearly half our nation. Most nations of the world can at least do that!
The illegal alien problem is a prime example of disregard for the American citizen by the Corporate Republicans. I say who cares if Mexicans are willing to do jobs for a fraction the pay of an American citizen? The point is they are AMERICAN citizens and the so-called “Magic of the Market Place” is suppossed to work for them as well as the businessman. If you cannot get employees for the pay you offer, raise the damn pay or get out of business! Otherwise we are just institutionalizing poverty.
Republican economics is NOT economics. Its just a rip-off for the rich, that are at a loss for creativity, to continue being rich as the economy stagnates, (at best).
That’s interesting. I’ve never worked for minimum wage, even during my stint as a dishwasher and a janitor.
I fail to see how raising the minimum wage is supposed to help the ‘little guy’. The only asshole bosses I know that would pay people the bare minimum despite good work and such, seem the sort to cut hours and have you work harder when there, rather than pay you more.
And, Salmineo, I’m fairly certain that the Repubs are supposed to be for getting rid of the whole “illegal immigrants flooding the market”.
gattsuru
You are wrong. The republicans WANT the illegal aliens here for cheap labor. There is no other reason to have them.
Its making them legal so they can receive legal pay that the republicans are against! Otherwise there would be no “guest worker” program offered in their legislation proposal. Actually the Democrats are somewhat guilty also.
It has NEVER been that Americans won’t do the work, but it has always been that Americans will not do the work for the crappy pay!
Don’t forget that the unemployment rate in Mexico is much lower the United States.
I’m torn on the concept of Minimum Wage. On one hand, employers should be allowed to decide what they want to pay their employees, on the other, the gap is widening between the classes and the Middle Class is shrinking. I’ve seen proof from states that raising the minimum wage has been successful, but I’m also not sure if you can really point to that as proof of concept when there’s so many factors in an economy.
I’m also not sure if this should be a federal issue instead of a state. I’m wary of how much power the feds have these days.
As far as the subject goes, I’m always suspect of why any politician brings something up in an election year. It’s easy to overlook intent when it’s an issue you support.
Isn’t refusing to raise the minimum wage along the same lines as allowing unregulated capitalism? Just 100 years ago robber barons reigned, monopolies remained unchallenged, and work-place conditions were dangerous and inherently unfair. There were no child labor laws, and the 40-hour work week was unheard of.
The business community which contributes so heavily to Republican campaigns, wants no regulation, but as we see from history-that is disasterous for workers. They need certain protections which must be mandated by law. We’ve seen inequality increase greatly with this administration.
I believe some intervention on behalf of entry-level workers is necessary, especially with the influx of cheap labor from Mexico. Do we want to be a society of haves and have nots, where executives make 1000 times+ more than workers regardless of performance? Those are hallmarks of third world countries like Mexico. There’s a delicate balance in an ownership society and it must be maintained.
When are we going to realize that our government doesn’t give a F*** about us unless we’re rich.
Minimum Wage…Important Fall Issue or Cynical Ploy?
Both.
Yes both, but a helluva lot less cynical than banning gay marriage, or making flag burning illegal.
Those GOP’ers crack me up when they accuse anyone of anything.
Yeah- it makes you really cynical if you look beneath the surface. Remember when gas hit $3 a gallon and Frist wanted anti-gouging legislation passed to hold the oil companies who put him in office held accountable? Or what about when the Repub leaders drove around DC in that hydrogen fuel cell vehicle after doing almost nothing to promote alternative energy sources? Had to laugh.