04-09-2010, 03:22 PM
<!--quoteo(post=87469:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:49 PM:name=jstraw)-->QUOTE (jstraw @ Apr 9 2010, 01:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The minimum wage has never off-shored a fry cook, hospital orderly or hotel housekeeper.
I realize that all the economic consequences of a minimum wage are not cause for celebration but you can't re-distrubute wealth without it costing the rest of us <i>something</i>. I just don't feel entitled to cheap this or that at the cost of having the people that provide it to me living in poverty...or getting used up only to retire into poverty. Whatever it is, I'll pay a nickel more for it gladly, if it means someone sweeping the warehouse gets health benefits. I'd be delighted if the tax system provided incentives to management to kick in a nickel from their side of the equation too.
Entrusting social equity to the apostles of the free market has never increased the likelihood of a non-sharehlder (be that a worker, a customer, a resident near a factory...) getting a square deal.
I don't consider my view radical as much as I consider it enlightened self-interest. I don't want to live in fear of a desperate underclass.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not going to further this argument, but all that I was saying is that I <b>do</b> believe in a minimum wage, just that the way in which it is determined is more about politics than economics. Re-read what I posted. I didn't blame off-shoring all on the minimum wage, but to believe that it doesn't contribute to it, even in the slightest would be wrong as well.
I realize that all the economic consequences of a minimum wage are not cause for celebration but you can't re-distrubute wealth without it costing the rest of us <i>something</i>. I just don't feel entitled to cheap this or that at the cost of having the people that provide it to me living in poverty...or getting used up only to retire into poverty. Whatever it is, I'll pay a nickel more for it gladly, if it means someone sweeping the warehouse gets health benefits. I'd be delighted if the tax system provided incentives to management to kick in a nickel from their side of the equation too.
Entrusting social equity to the apostles of the free market has never increased the likelihood of a non-sharehlder (be that a worker, a customer, a resident near a factory...) getting a square deal.
I don't consider my view radical as much as I consider it enlightened self-interest. I don't want to live in fear of a desperate underclass.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not going to further this argument, but all that I was saying is that I <b>do</b> believe in a minimum wage, just that the way in which it is determined is more about politics than economics. Re-read what I posted. I didn't blame off-shoring all on the minimum wage, but to believe that it doesn't contribute to it, even in the slightest would be wrong as well.