$15 Minimum Wage in Seattle Approved

GimpSpack

GimpSpack

Hairless Neckbeard.
Aug 8, 2011
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Seattle might raise its minimum wage to $15. This is not a good idea.

But while the fight for $15 has made for great politics—in Seattle, both mayoral candidates only adopted the idea last year after it was popularized by a socialist city council candidate, Kshama Sawant, who ultimately won her race—it’s built on dubious economics. The truth is, nobody has any idea what would happen if the minimum wage jumped that high. But there are good reasons to worry that results would be ugly.
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I'm not the most astute economist on the block, but I can't see this going well.

Thoughts?
 


I think minimum wages can be devastating for overall prosperity, but this is the proper way to test these ideas. Let them be adopted by cities and towns to see how it impacts their economy. If Seattle goes to shit in twenty years because of high minimum wages, it'll be a warning for the rest of the country. My guess is, if nothing happens immediately, the national parties (Dems) will clamor to bring this change nationally before we could truly see its effects.
 
We've had the highest minimum wage in the country for years...well over the federal minimum.

We also have had the highest gas tax in the nation for a long time, yet people still drive cars.

Wages here are high because cost of living is high. What else is new(besides weed being legal :)?
 
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Seattle and other cities in the area is a little unique though, or at least that's what I read. Due to the tech boom there, property prices have skyrockted, and folks like teachers and minimum wage workers simply can't afford to live there anymore, so are slowly leaving. And like it or not, you need things like teachers and minimum wage workers for a society to function.
 
Kiopa_Matt said:
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Seattle and other cities in the area is a little unique though, or at least that's what I read. Due to the tech boom there, property prices have skyrockted, and folks like teachers and minimum wage workers simply can't afford to live there anymore, so are slowly leaving. And like it or not, you need things like teachers and minimum wage workers for a society to function.
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If that's true, wouldn't the businesses and schools just raise their wages so they have people to work for them? Why is government meddling required?
 
There's tons of other opportunities that pay better.....but also the rest of the state is cheap, making $9 out of the city will go further than $15 in the city.

Some dog walkers make 6 figures. When we have to board our 2 dogs it costs $70/night.

Individuals doing landscaping/mowing charge $40/hr

Unskilled laborers start at $18/hr

We have entire bakeries that sell only dog treats and birthday cakes for dogs....

Grocery store checkers make $18+/hr to start.

Fresh from academy Cops start at $80k+/yr

It costs more than $20 to park your car downtown in many places.

etc...
 
This is definitely a good thing.

A living wage is a great boost to the economy. The .0001% have proven over the last few decades that they don't give a shit about anyone except themselves and will do all they can to pocket money at a level of extreme that comes at the cost of the workers who actually produce the product.

Laws like this will help undo some of the damage that the greedy execs and companies have done to the American middle class over the last few decades.

People don't get paid $8 an hour because "that's what they're worth," They get paid crap wages because they have virtually no bargaining power, especially in a country where the economic-political powers have done all they can to attack the working class and unions. CEOs know how to bargain and have their buddies seated on the boards. Your average blue collar guy has no idea how to negotiate - and when he tries to, the companies bring in the union-busting firms. The average worker shouldn't get punished for his lack of negotiating skill, especially when he is the one creating the wealth that is funneled to the fat cats.
 
Seattle doesn't have taxes so they can make the minimum wage high. I think it's great.
 
knownerror said:
1. Raise minimum wage
2. Jobs lost and product prices raised.
3. Attempt to get more votes: Success... before this data is let out.
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Minimum wage has never been intended to increase employment, but to decrease poverty.
 
jerry55 said:
This is definitely a good thing.

A living wage is a great boost to the economy. The .0001% have proven over the last few decades that they don't give a shit about anyone except themselves and will do all they can to pocket money at a level of extreme that comes at the cost of the workers who actually produce the product.

Laws like this will help undo some of the damage that the greedy execs and companies have done to the American middle class over the last few decades.

People don't get paid $8 an hour because "that's what they're worth," They get paid crap wages because they have virtually no bargaining power, especially in a country where the economic-political powers have done all they can to attack the working class and unions. CEOs know how to bargain and have their buddies seated on the boards. Your average blue collar guy has no idea how to negotiate - and when he tries to, the companies bring in the union-busting firms. The average worker shouldn't get punished for his lack of negotiating skill, especially when he is the one creating the wealth that is funneled to the fat cats.
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cassius said:
Minimum wage has never been intended to increase employment, but to decrease poverty.
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Raising the minimum wage just moves everything up one level thus creating no movement at all.
 
jerry55 said:
This is definitely a good thing.

A living wage is a great boost to the economy. The .0001% have proven over the last few decades that they don't give a shit about anyone except themselves and will do all they can to pocket money at a level of extreme that comes at the cost of the workers who actually produce the product.

Laws like this will help undo some of the damage that the greedy execs and companies have done to the American middle class over the last few decades.

People don't get paid $8 an hour because "that's what they're worth," They get paid crap wages because they have virtually no bargaining power, especially in a country where the economic-political powers have done all they can to attack the working class and unions. CEOs know how to bargain and have their buddies seated on the boards. Your average blue collar guy has no idea how to negotiate - and when he tries to, the companies bring in the union-busting firms. The average worker shouldn't get punished for his lack of negotiating skill, especially when he is the one creating the wealth that is funneled to the fat cats.
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This is retarded.

If your theory were accurate, why wouldn't the greedy bastards just raise all of their prices to protect their profits?

Now follow this through to the logical conclusion and the light bulb should go off.
 
I've personally seen people get laid off due to an increase in the minimum wage. It's really unfortunate, but hey, what are u gonna do.

And like it or not, you need things like teachers and minimum wage workers for a society to function.
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lol that is so true, case in point: Canada has to pretty much import poor people.
 
Unarmed Gunman said:
This is retarded.

If your theory were accurate, why wouldn't the greedy bastards just raise all of their prices to protect their profits?

Now follow this through to the logical conclusion and the light bulb should go off.
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It's not theory you dolt. It's empirical evidence. Get up to speed on minimum wage studies and scholarship before posting. This isn't Econ 101 where you read a chapter of Adam Smith or look at a labor supply curve and think you have any clue what is really going on in the world.
 
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