It’s not just the right thing to do, it is the smart thing. How can we expect someone to live on a wage that has not kept up with the cost of living? A higher minimum wage will also help some to avoid the underground economy and the crime it fosters.

Raising minimum wage has a great potential to hurt the economy way more than help it. This is a ridiculous pole anyway because it’s basically asking people if they would like more money. The actual issue has strong points on both sides, however. Although, if we were to raise the minimum wage I think it would be better to make it a gradual increase as to not cause a sudden spike in the cost of materials, food, etc. I mean, we already have to outsource a lot of jobs and companies as it is because of the high cost of wages. It’s not a cut and dry issue.

Having better pay isn’t the only issue in raising minimum wage. While it’s a good idea, we still need to find a way for job availability to remain steady or even increase. Raising minimum wage will only decrease the amount of jobs available because employers won’t want to pay for more expensive labor. If there are available solutions to that problem that have fewer negative consequences, then by all means, pay more!

Yea, that makes sense. We give hugh tax breaks to the wealthy (who usually pay those miniscule salaries) but dont give breaks, or raises to the poor. I understand the give and take difficulties of the issue, however to keep widening the gap between rich and poor is greedy and unacceptable.

The American Corporatocracy has become as bad or worse than the “peerage” that was the catalyst for the American Revolution. We should heed the philosophy of Benjamin Franklin who told us to never let the “business man” have a hand in government because he’s too greedy and is never satisfied- always wanting more, regardless of the consequences.

Hallzee

You’re the biggest crap-peddler around here. If the minimum wage rises, of course businesses will increase prices. However, the cost of this is bourne by everyone, not just the minimum wage earners. Therefore for these people, their wages increase by more than their costs.

Offering courses in Econ 101 after the drivel you spouted achieves the impressive feat of making you seem yet more stupid.

Hallzee:
Im curious. Is it that 17 of 20 Americans dont understand anything or is it that 3 of 20 Americans are Republicans. Thats a pretty hefty underestimation of the American public.

To Mr. Jack D,
Well, I know that in Georgia (where I’m from) that if ANY highschooler maintains a 3.0 GPA, they are then eligable for the HOPE scholarship. All you have to do is keep a B average in high school,and maintain it in the post-secondary institution of your choice, be enrolled as a “full-time student (thats 12 semester hours per semester, approx. 4 classes per semester) and the state of Georgia will award you with an all-tuition paid scholarship to any university or technical college in the state. And that’s whether you choose to live on campus or off campus. If you choose to live on campus, the HOPE scholarship also helps offset the dorm. costs. Plus $500.00 each semseter to help pay for books for students enrolled the university system, and $200.00 each semester for students enrolled in the technical college system. This program is funded solely by the Georgia lottery. That’s the only thing the lottery funds in our state, it is a re-investment in the future of our state: our students. This program has been going on since then-Democrat Governor Zell Miller (yeah, you dems. really hate him, and he is a Democrat!?!?!?) signed the bill into law in the mid 1990s. It’s not a 4.0 GPA, it’s a 3.0. That’s a ‘B’ average. So the GA govt. doesn’t even expect you to be a perfect genius to help someone go to school. However, you have to show initiative. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS STUDY, GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASS, TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF, INVEST IN YOUR OWN FUTURE, AND DON’T EXPECT A HANDOUT FROM THE TAXPAYERS OR THE GOVERNMENT! ! ! It’s easy: keep the ‘B’, keep the scholarship, drop the ‘B’, they take away the scholarship. After losing the shcolarship, you can re-apply for it, once your GPA has returned to the minimum of 3.0.
IF YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN EDUCATION, YOU WON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE. DEVELOP A CAREER IN AN OCCUPATION THAT DOESN’T REVOLVE AROUOND A MINIMUM WAGE-BASED SALARY. AMERICAN SOCIETY IS BASED ON SELF-IMPROVEMENT. DAMN PEOPLE, SET A GOAL FOR YOURSELVES.
How can you say that educational opportunities aren’t easily and readily available? Any student should be able to maintain a ‘B’ average. That’s not too much pressure, at least it wasn’t for me. I attended both a state university and a state technical college, both thanks to GA’s generous HOPE scholarship. If one state can do this with the state lottery generating 100% of the funds, then any state with a lottery system should be able to do the same. Remember, it’s not funded by the taxpayers, and it’s not a government hand-out (liberals like to call them “subsidies”, it sound prettier than “hand-out”). So Mr. D, where I live, the sky is blue, and yes, it is also the limit.

That sounds like a great program, Con. Rep. It’s great for you peachies, but what about the other few hundred million in this country? I am truly envious of that opportunity. I, on the other hand, have $56,ooo in school loans to pay back.

Education is the answer to the minimum wage debate. The opportunities are there. Due to our state sponsored HOPE program, I was fortunate enough to recieve an excellent education for next to nothing, and I am thankful that enough lawmakers in GA cared enough to establish such a program to re-invest in the future. Several neighboring states have looked into this program, and I know that Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama are trying to establish something similar in their states. ALL STATES SHOULD HAVE A SIMILAR SHCOLARSHIP. Call or email your representatives and senators and let them know that you would like to know the feasibility of a similar program as the Georgia HOPE scholarship. Everytime we have re-elections at the state level, several people who have a history of looking out for the best interests of the HOPE scholarship generally win (whether they are dem. or rep., because they also know how important it is to have educational opportunities available to everyone). But their are drawbacks to the program. When the HOPE scholarship was first implemented, a student could pursue as many majors as they desired. What happened was we had several students who found it profitable to become “career students”, and that’s not what the system was set up for. It was designed to educated students, and then get them into the workforce A.S.A.P., to contribute something back to the state that sent them to school. As a result, there were several people like me, who wanted to pursue more, but were cut off because of others abusing the system. Also, people quickly figured out that if they didn’t spend their HOPE allotment on books, at the end of the semsester they could get their book voucher back in the form of a difference check. But I still, and always will believe that education is the key to solving the minimum wage dillema.

Actually, no Halzee, I was just the first in my family to ever go to college and didnt know shit about shit when it came to choosing a school and the finances it took to get through it and inexplicably chose an out of state school that wasn’t worth the fortune it cost. I wasn’t whinning, just making a statement about the differences.
Yeah, those sweat shop owners of the 1920’s and ’30’s had it rough, having to shut down because of bad quality due to paying people a quarter for an 18 hour day. Oh, and the last time I went to a Wendy’s or McD’s they were offering $7 – $10/ hr for cooks and cashiers, long before this irrelevant debate.

Con Rep,
I agree 100% with your last post. I wish ALL states had that type of program.

One more thing Halzee;
WE are all immigrants. EVERY fucking one of us, unless you’re 100% Native American. So, how can you say one group should have those min. wage jobs over the other? I think most immigrants know how the system works. They’re just trying to work hard (usually 2, 3 jobs) and raise THEIR family. I’m sorry you think it impeads on what you think YOUR family is entitled to. As you said, that’s the American system. Employers will hire a dedicated, hard working immigrant for whatever min. wage is before they hire an attitude filled, calling in sick, short timer in High school. Obviously that is a generalization, but, I think its a pretty fair assessment.

Ask yourself this: “Who honestly makes minimum wage?” High school kids, the guy saying “Welcome to Wal-Mart,” people who have only been at a job for a short while. Most jobs currently start out above the minimum wage and receive raises throughout employment, like Wal-Mart, McDonalds, Burger King for ex. It is statistically proven that the US has a fluid poverty rate, meaning that people move in and out of poverty. There are few who remain permanently poor. And with unemployment rates as low as 4.6%, people have jobs. Does someone who flips burgers really deserve $8 an hour? ….Socialism never works. It’s been proven time and time again. Personal responsibility and education are the answer.

Raising minimum wage is a band-aid. Education, ambition, and responsibility are the cure. We do live in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, by far the most prosperous nation in the world and home of the American Dream. There is no “soup-line” America. If you want to see soup-lines, go to Russia, India, North Korea, Indonesia, and most of Africa and you’ll see TRUE poverty, not what we consider poverty (only two tv’s, 2 cars, internet, campbell’s soup and hamburger helper).

HALF WAY THROUGH THE POSTS I STOPPED READING. WHY ARE WE ARGUING WITH EACH OTHER. THE ISSUE AT HAND IS MINIMUM WAGE IS TOO LOW. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT START COMPANIES AT $7.OO AND DON’T GET RAISES. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT FAMILIES MAKING $7 PER HOUR. NOT EVEN TO MENTION SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS. YES EDUCATION IS PART OF THE SOLUTION BUT WHAT DO WE DO RIGHT NOW. RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM OF PEOPLE LIVING ON $5 PER HOUR.

I get paied 4.00$ and hour and I want more money

I will not support Hillary Clinton for president
I will not support Hillary Clinton for president

I will not support Hillary Clinton for president
I will not support Hillary Clinton for president