Seven Minimum Wage Facts That Have Democrats Worried

Stephanie

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
70,230
10,864
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Democrats don't care..it's time to manipulate their base again because they HAVE nothing else but class warfare and take the heat off OSCAMCARE...
a lot of links in article at site


SNIP:


by Wynton Hall 5 Jan 2014 940 post a comment



With the midterm elections just over 300 days away, nervous Democrats reeling from the Obamacare debacle are hoping a big push to raise the minimum wage will be the silver bullet that will spare them from the historic losses they suffered in 2010.

Democrats and unions are busy working to get minimum wage initiatives on state ballots in the hopes of creating an electoral “minimum wage magnet” to attract low-income, minority, and union voters to the polls.

Seven minimum wage facts, however, may diminish Democrats' high hopes.

1. Just 2.8% of American workers earn at or below the minimum wage.

The U.S. Department of Labor says 1.6 million people make the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Another 2 million earn below that rate, such as restaurant servers who make tips in addition to a lower base hourly wage which, according to U.S. News and World Report, "in many cases actually puts them significantly above the minimum wage in reality, if not officially." That means in a nation of 317 million people, just 3.6 million (1.1%) make at or below the minimum wage. As a share of the U.S. workforce, just 2.8% of people working make minimum wage.

2. Half of all minimum wage workers are 16 to 24 years old.

According to the Department of Labor, "minimum wage workers tend to be young," and "about half of those paid the Federal minimum wage or less" are below age 25. Many of these are students working while in school or teenagers with part-time or summer jobs. That means half of the people most affected by a minimum wage hike are among those least likely to show up at the polls to vote, especially in a midterm election year. Indeed, minimum wage workers who are 16 and 17 years old are not even legally eligible to vote.

3. Labor workers already make well above the minimum wage.

Democrats and unions hoping labor workers will be energized by a minimum wage bump will be sad to know that laborers in every single sector of what the government calls "production and nonsupervisory employees"—like manufacturing, construction, mining, retail, transportation, etc.—already earn well above the minimum wage. In fact, in November 2013, the government reported that the average hourly labor wage across all industries was $20.31—a figure nearly three times the federal minimum wage. And as the unions themselves boast, a union member's annual salary is already $10,400 higher than a non-union worker.

4. Even those who support minimum wage hikes concede it could kill jobs.

Many economists and conservatives point to the body of economic literature that shows minimum wage increases kill jobs and simply encourage companies to pass along the added cost in the form of higher prices. But even ardent supporters like socialist Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant, who recently helped pass a $15 minimum wage in the SeaTac, Washington, concede the move could spawn job losses. "There may be a few jobs lost here and there, but the fact is, if we don't fight for this, then the race to the bottom will continue," said Sawant.

5. Minorities and the poor are hit hardest by the minimum wage. Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman famously noted that "the most anti-black law on the books of this land is the minimum wage law." Higher wages mean employers seek higher, more skilled workers. That, said Friedman, puts those with disproportionately less education and experience at a significant disadvantage when looking to put their foot on the first rung of the employment ladder.

ALL of it here
Seven Minimum Wage Facts That Have Democrats Worried
 
So I guess I'm having a hard time understanding the logic, Staph.

If only 2.8% of workers make the minimum, raising it wouldn't have that much of an effect, would it?

Just don't understand why conservatives hate working people so much.

Yes it would. But you're not smart enough to understand it.
 
Half of all minimum wage workers are 16 to 24 years old.

Its the old "minimum wage is a starter salary"

Minimum wage won't pay those kids college tuition, won't buy a car, won't pay the rent on an apartment

It used to
 
Labor workers already make well above the minimum wage.


Yet they still see their standard of living eroding
 
Minorities and the poor are hit hardest by the minimum wage

They also benefit the most from a minimum wage hike
 
So I guess I'm having a hard time understanding the logic, Staph.

If only 2.8% of workers make the minimum, raising it wouldn't have that much of an effect, would it?

Just don't understand why conservatives hate working people so much.

Yes it would. But you're not smart enough to understand it.


Joe and I are BOTH a lot smarter than you or Staph.

So why don't you give it a try? How does a small increase in wages for a very small amount of workers (2.8%) bring about the Armageddon you right wingers claim it will?

Won't you be able to afford fries with your burger if the MacDonald s worker was getting 8 bucks minimum? That is where the minimum wage workers are most concentrated, fast food. Right? And cheap retail stores. Would the cheap Chinese shit you buy at Walmarts cost a little more? Probably not.


It will be ok if poor working people make a little bit more. Really.
 
So I guess I'm having a hard time understanding the logic, Staph.

If only 2.8% of workers make the minimum, raising it wouldn't have that much of an effect, would it?

Just don't understand why conservatives hate working people so much.

Yes it would. But you're not smart enough to understand it.

I guess my problem is, every time the Minimum Wage has been raised, we get all the Business Republicans (you know, the Asshole Wing of the party) insisting it was going to be a "job killer".

In fact, the minimum wage was increased in the 1990's over 20%, but the 1990's were a boom time for jobs to the point where the minimum almost became irrelevent.
 
So I guess I'm having a hard time understanding the logic, Staph.

If only 2.8% of workers make the minimum, raising it wouldn't have that much of an effect, would it?

Just don't understand why conservatives hate working people so much.

Yes it would. But you're not smart enough to understand it.

I guess my problem is, every time the Minimum Wage has been raised, we get all the Business Republicans (you know, the Asshole Wing of the party) insisting it was going to be a "job killer".

In fact, the minimum wage was increased in the 1990's over 20%, but the 1990's were a boom time for jobs to the point where the minimum almost became irrelevent.

Yeah welcome to the obama economy. Tell me joe if raising the minimum wage doesn't effect buisness why not raise it to $20.00 an hour?
 
Half of all minimum wage workers are 16 to 24 years old.

Its the old "minimum wage is a starter salary"

Minimum wage won't pay those kids college tuition, won't buy a car, won't pay the rent on an apartment

It used to


It is possible to live on minimum wage. For most people, however, it's not likely to be very much fun. Whether you're forced to live in this situation, or you want to know that it's an option, this article will show you how it can be done, assuming you bring home $1000 USD a month after taxes.
 
Yes it would. But you're not smart enough to understand it.

I guess my problem is, every time the Minimum Wage has been raised, we get all the Business Republicans (you know, the Asshole Wing of the party) insisting it was going to be a "job killer".

In fact, the minimum wage was increased in the 1990's over 20%, but the 1990's were a boom time for jobs to the point where the minimum almost became irrelevent.

Yeah welcome to the obama economy. Tell me joe if raising the minimum wage doesn't effect buisness why not raise it to $20.00 an hour?

How about arguing the point at hand instead of throwing out crap.

If the Minimum Wage had kept up with inflation, it would be about 17.95 today.
 
So I guess I'm having a hard time understanding the logic, Staph.

If only 2.8% of workers make the minimum, raising it wouldn't have that much of an effect, would it?

Just don't understand why conservatives hate working people so much.

Yes it would. But you're not smart enough to understand it.


Joe and I are BOTH a lot smarter than you or Staph.

So why don't you give it a try? How does a small increase in wages for a very small amount of workers (2.8%) bring about the Armageddon you right wingers claim it will?

Won't you be able to afford fries with your burger if the MacDonald s worker was getting 8 bucks minimum? That is where the minimum wage workers are most concentrated, fast food. Right? And cheap retail stores. Would the cheap Chinese shit you buy at Walmarts cost a little more? Probably not.


It will be ok if poor working people make a little bit more. Really.

Don't flatter yourself.

Who mentioned Armageddon?

Consider a community based pizza parlor selling 100 pies a day for 360 days at $10 each. Total revenue is $360,000. It employs 10 minimum wage workers earning $7 per hour, working 2000 hours a year, making labor costs $140,000. Assume rent, utilities, equipment, depreciation, insurance, supplies, licenses, and food costs come to $170,000 per year, leaving a profit of $50,000 for the owner and his/her family. Raising the minimum wage $1 would raise labor costs by $20,000 (paying more for the same amount of labor) and reduce profit to $30,000. The owner must either move into a smaller house or raise prices, which reduces the demand for pizza, resulting in the loss of a worker. So, the full increase in the wage cost of an increase in the minimum wage comes out of the pockets of customers or the owner’s family, and the one person who loses a job.

Why Raising The Minimum Wage Kills Jobs
 
Yes it would. But you're not smart enough to understand it.


Joe and I are BOTH a lot smarter than you or Staph.

So why don't you give it a try? How does a small increase in wages for a very small amount of workers (2.8%) bring about the Armageddon you right wingers claim it will?

Won't you be able to afford fries with your burger if the MacDonald s worker was getting 8 bucks minimum? That is where the minimum wage workers are most concentrated, fast food. Right? And cheap retail stores. Would the cheap Chinese shit you buy at Walmarts cost a little more? Probably not.


It will be ok if poor working people make a little bit more. Really.

Don't flatter yourself.

Who mentioned Armageddon?

Consider a community based pizza parlor selling 100 pies a day for 360 days at $10 each. Total revenue is $360,000. It employs 10 minimum wage workers earning $7 per hour, working 2000 hours a year, making labor costs $140,000. Assume rent, utilities, equipment, depreciation, insurance, supplies, licenses, and food costs come to $170,000 per year, leaving a profit of $50,000 for the owner and his/her family. Raising the minimum wage $1 would raise labor costs by $20,000 (paying more for the same amount of labor) and reduce profit to $30,000. The owner must either move into a smaller house or raise prices, which reduces the demand for pizza, resulting in the loss of a worker. So, the full increase in the wage cost of an increase in the minimum wage comes out of the pockets of customers or the owner’s family, and the one person who loses a job.

Why Raising The Minimum Wage Kills Jobs

Wait! Don't you know that profit is evil, and people shouldnt make any money off thier risk, and toil, and sweat?

/sarcasm.
 
I guess my problem is, every time the Minimum Wage has been raised, we get all the Business Republicans (you know, the Asshole Wing of the party) insisting it was going to be a "job killer".

In fact, the minimum wage was increased in the 1990's over 20%, but the 1990's were a boom time for jobs to the point where the minimum almost became irrelevent.

Yeah welcome to the obama economy. Tell me joe if raising the minimum wage doesn't effect buisness why not raise it to $20.00 an hour?

How about arguing the point at hand instead of throwing out crap.

If the Minimum Wage had kept up with inflation, it would be about 17.95 today.

Raising the minimum wage is the subject, and i asked you a question. If obama would actually do his job food prices wouldn't have doubled under his watch. Instead he is worried about free birth control, gay marrige, and when his next tee time is.
 
Half of all minimum wage workers are 16 to 24 years old.

Its the old "minimum wage is a starter salary"

Minimum wage won't pay those kids college tuition, won't buy a car, won't pay the rent on an apartment

It used to

When?????
 
Half of all minimum wage workers are 16 to 24 years old.

Its the old "minimum wage is a starter salary"

Minimum wage won't pay those kids college tuition, won't buy a car, won't pay the rent on an apartment

It used to

When?????

I paid my college tuition working $2.10 an hour minimum wage jobs in the mid 1970s

Can't do that now
 
Yes it would. But you're not smart enough to understand it.


Joe and I are BOTH a lot smarter than you or Staph.

So why don't you give it a try? How does a small increase in wages for a very small amount of workers (2.8%) bring about the Armageddon you right wingers claim it will?

Won't you be able to afford fries with your burger if the MacDonald s worker was getting 8 bucks minimum? That is where the minimum wage workers are most concentrated, fast food. Right? And cheap retail stores. Would the cheap Chinese shit you buy at Walmarts cost a little more? Probably not.


It will be ok if poor working people make a little bit more. Really.

Don't flatter yourself.

Who mentioned Armageddon?

Consider a community based pizza parlor selling 100 pies a day for 360 days at $10 each. Total revenue is $360,000. It employs 10 minimum wage workers earning $7 per hour, working 2000 hours a year, making labor costs $140,000. Assume rent, utilities, equipment, depreciation, insurance, supplies, licenses, and food costs come to $170,000 per year, leaving a profit of $50,000 for the owner and his/her family. Raising the minimum wage $1 would raise labor costs by $20,000 (paying more for the same amount of labor) and reduce profit to $30,000. The owner must either move into a smaller house or raise prices, which reduces the demand for pizza, resulting in the loss of a worker. So, the full increase in the wage cost of an increase in the minimum wage comes out of the pockets of customers or the owner’s family, and the one person who loses a job.

Why Raising The Minimum Wage Kills Jobs

Using simpleton math.....

He will have to increase the price of a pie by less than 6 cents to maintain his income.
 
Half of all minimum wage workers are 16 to 24 years old.

Its the old "minimum wage is a starter salary"

Minimum wage won't pay those kids college tuition, won't buy a car, won't pay the rent on an apartment

It used to

When?????

When I went to college I got both the GI bill from serving and I had a minimum wage job in a factory. The company also paid 1,200 a year if you got a grade of B or above.

You can't do that today. College is simply too expensive.
 
Joe and I are BOTH a lot smarter than you or Staph.

So why don't you give it a try? How does a small increase in wages for a very small amount of workers (2.8%) bring about the Armageddon you right wingers claim it will?

Won't you be able to afford fries with your burger if the MacDonald s worker was getting 8 bucks minimum? That is where the minimum wage workers are most concentrated, fast food. Right? And cheap retail stores. Would the cheap Chinese shit you buy at Walmarts cost a little more? Probably not.


It will be ok if poor working people make a little bit more. Really.

Don't flatter yourself.

Who mentioned Armageddon?

Consider a community based pizza parlor selling 100 pies a day for 360 days at $10 each. Total revenue is $360,000. It employs 10 minimum wage workers earning $7 per hour, working 2000 hours a year, making labor costs $140,000. Assume rent, utilities, equipment, depreciation, insurance, supplies, licenses, and food costs come to $170,000 per year, leaving a profit of $50,000 for the owner and his/her family. Raising the minimum wage $1 would raise labor costs by $20,000 (paying more for the same amount of labor) and reduce profit to $30,000. The owner must either move into a smaller house or raise prices, which reduces the demand for pizza, resulting in the loss of a worker. So, the full increase in the wage cost of an increase in the minimum wage comes out of the pockets of customers or the owner’s family, and the one person who loses a job.

Why Raising The Minimum Wage Kills Jobs

Wait! Don't you know that profit is evil, and people shouldnt make any money off thier risk, and toil, and sweat?

/sarcasm.

How about this pizza store owner. He has some really good minimum wage workers and in an effort to retain them he decides to pay them another dollar an hour.

He sells 100 pizza's a day. His labor of 10 people times 1 dollar times 5.55 average hours (2000 by 360) worked, his labor increased 55 dollars a day. He raises his pizza from 10 dollars to 10.50 ( a modest increase) and gets 50 dollars more a day covering his increased payroll and not hurting his competitive pricing.

The workers are more happy, more productive and cause an increase in business just by doing a better job for the customer. Who could care less that their 10 dollar pizza went to 10.50. Because they are buying the best damn pizza in town.

The pizza shop starts selling 105 pizza's a day, making up the loss the owner took in payroll by the increase in business.

I know, fantasy island stuff. That why the government gets involved to help low wage workers get more money for their labor.

Cause if they (government) don't do it ain't nobody else will.
 
Don't flatter yourself.

Who mentioned Armageddon?

Consider a community based pizza parlor selling 100 pies a day for 360 days at $10 each. Total revenue is $360,000. It employs 10 minimum wage workers earning $7 per hour, working 2000 hours a year, making labor costs $140,000. Assume rent, utilities, equipment, depreciation, insurance, supplies, licenses, and food costs come to $170,000 per year, leaving a profit of $50,000 for the owner and his/her family. Raising the minimum wage $1 would raise labor costs by $20,000 (paying more for the same amount of labor) and reduce profit to $30,000. The owner must either move into a smaller house or raise prices, which reduces the demand for pizza, resulting in the loss of a worker. So, the full increase in the wage cost of an increase in the minimum wage comes out of the pockets of customers or the owner’s family, and the one person who loses a job.

Why Raising The Minimum Wage Kills Jobs

Wait! Don't you know that profit is evil, and people shouldnt make any money off thier risk, and toil, and sweat?

/sarcasm.

How about this pizza store owner. He has some really good minimum wage workers and in an effort to retain them he decides to pay them another dollar an hour.

He sells 100 pizza's a day. His labor of 10 people times 1 dollar times 5.55 average hours (2000 by 360) worked, his labor increased 55 dollars a day. He raises his pizza from 10 dollars to 10.50 ( a modest increase) and gets 50 dollars more a day covering his increased payroll and not hurting his competitive pricing.

The workers are more happy, more productive and cause an increase in business just by doing a better job for the customer. Who could care less that their 10 dollar pizza went to 10.50. Because they are buying the best damn pizza in town.

The pizza shop starts selling 105 pizza's a day, making up the loss the owner took in payroll by the increase in business.

I know, fantasy island stuff. That why the government gets involved to help low wage workers get more money for their labor.

Cause if they (government) don't do it ain't nobody else will.

What does a Pizza Parlor do if their rent goes up? How about if taxes go up or electricity or food costs or advertisement?

They make do or close up.

Yet it is only the cost of labor that conservatives bemoan. That 50 cents an hour will bring small business to its knees.
 

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