86 replies to this topic

[Comrade Kal]

Partly to find out your views, partly as i'm curious about something.

What's the minimum wage where you live, and what do you think it should be, if anything?

In Britain, it's £4.85 per hour, and it will be £5.05 in October. Far too low in my opinion. It should be something a lot higher, nearer £10 or £12 an hour... £20,000 per year working at 8 hours a day 5 days per week.

Your thoughts?

[MSpencer]

Something like $7/hour, depends on the state.

[Comrade Kal]

And your opinion? That is, if you have one? No offence, but i've never, ever seen you post your opinion on anything, ever.

[MSpencer]

I tend to take opinions later in a discussion, or skirt them and remain on the sidelines. My opinion is that it should be increased a little, perhaps to $8 or $9, but then again, that would just cause problems with inflation.

[Blodo]

824 PLN (US$243) per month. Insane since it can barely support one person, seeing that even old block apartments take up half of that as taxes (power, rent the like) and the other half has to be used for food. You cant save up with a wage like that etc. In my opinion it should be raised almost triple to about 2200 PLN (US$697), since one man has to be able to support his family, but its just goddamn impossible when everything out there pays minimum wage.

[chemical ali]

Kal its worse for us under 18's tthen its like 3 quid an hour, Im asking for a rise after a month of two now Ive got a job.

[Drewry]

I dont think a higher minimum wage is the answer. If you raise minimum wage most people in poverty will just spend it on more beer, or whatever small luxuries they go after.

If you want to try and end poverty keep the money from their hands, use it on social programs.

[Beowulf]

It's about $5.45 an hour here and I agree with Drewry, minimum wage is just that. It's a not a job to make a living off of... It's just for spending money and insurance money.

[Silent_Killa]

$6.75 per hour... I make $6.85

It's actually plenty to live off of so long as you don't have too many dependants, and aren't foolish in your spending.

I dont think a higher minimum wage is the answer. If you raise minimum wage most people in poverty will just spend it on more beer, or whatever small luxuries they go after.

If you want to try and end poverty keep the money from their hands, use it on social programs.

Yes, us lower classmen have no interest further than a tequila bottle, and the only way that the all mighty upper class can keep us from hurting ourselves with money is by spending it for us.

[Kazyumi]

Yes, us lower classmen have no interest further than a tequila bottle, and the only way that the all mighty upper class can keep us from hurting ourselves with money is by spending it for us.

Quoted for the truth.

Edited by Hooligan, 05 September 2005 - 08:35 AM.

[MSpencer]

Actually, minimum wage around here is basically small change. The area I live in has the second highest inflation rate around the entire country, so yeah, things get expensive, quickly.

[Comrade Kal]

Exactly - the minimum wage has become a triviality. All the more reason to increase it to something you can actually live on.

[Silent_Killa]

It's plenty so long as your willing to work full time... and I'm in california, the cost of living here isn't cheap, however most of the guys I work with actually live pretty well. Those without nine dependants anyways.

[Hostile]

The purpose of mininmum wage is not to raise a family off of, it's to make sure the least of the people don't get screwed. If the least of the people also have a family, than that is where the social programs come into play.

Defined - Least of the People
Those who are rising, have fallen, need to rebuild, am gaining ground. Not a negative conatation. We've all been there, and if we slip could go back to it.

By raising the minimum wage you actually put alot of poor people out of jobs. Cause even Mc'ds pay 20-30% above minimum wage. But small busniess owners will simply lay off people and doo more of the work themselves. Thus poor people will lose jobs by raising the minimum wage.

It's easy to say RAISE IT, but you have to understand who employs people who make minimum wage. Small businesses....By making them fold (go broke) there is no advantage to that.

Minimum wage works but not to a point where it destroyed small businesses. Unless the government subsidized it, than that would become a form of socialism/communism.

And we know that is totally not acceptible under any conditions or circumstances. If your're gonna subsidize than do it through rent, mortgages, and small businesses loans.

You can't GIVE it away, that promotes stagnation in the economy.

[chemical ali]

Exactly what I say to Kal on msn.

Im glad to see an adult agree with me.

Edited by chemical ali, 07 September 2005 - 07:29 AM.

[MSpencer]

A controlled economy is communism, not socialism.


You'd make Red Father proud!

[Hostile]

To go into alittle greater depth. If you raise the minimum wage, than small businesses pay the costs. But if we maintain a reasonable minimum wage, than use the government to subsidize housing and other costs of living, than the government bears the brunt.

By doing it that way, you have to "qualify" for those subsidies. And those levels can be adjusted up and down as needed. So much more flexible and can respond quicker than a national referendum on a minimal wage increase.

This would help the single mother working the same job more than the teenager working beside her. Both make the same wage but one gets more benefits, as it should be.

[Blodo]

Yes but the minimum wage is whored already, at least here most wages dont ever go higher unless youre a businessman or a govt official. Your idea is for the government to eliminate rent and that sort of stuff, and where will the govermnent owned things get money from then? Most houses would turn to ruin with no money from the rent to renovate.

Look the problem is not with small businesses paying, its rather with the big businesses not paying. All comes down to capitalism and making shit at the lowest possible price, therefore wages are the lowest possible. And what about workers? Paying for your apartment and for the electricity you use will not be changed probably so what are they supposed to live off the trash cans?

Edited by Blodo, 08 September 2005 - 07:41 PM.