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What do you think the Minimum Wage (U.S.) should be and why?

It's $5.15 right?



I've never come across a place that pays less than $6 starting pay.



I say it's fine where it is.

Increasing the Minimum Wage would only be a temporary solution to a problem caused by different factors. If the Minimum Wage was raised to $17.00 per hour it would push wages above that level even higher, and the $17.00 would still be the bottom of the wage scale and not purchase anymore than what $7.50 per hour would today. Education and skill levels are the long term answer. Increasing minimum wage is like wetting the bed, the relief is only temporary and eventually you must get up and change the sheets.

I thought Virginia was more than 5.15...my son is still in high school and gets $8.00 an hour to wait tables at the Country Club. He loves it...dresses in a tux...

I saw where there are some states where minimum is higher, but of course they were states that the cost of living is really high, well at least I would think so for Vermont....don't remember the others....

Minimum wage should be 12.50 per hour. It is the least amount of money that anyone can have any kind of a decent life on. And that is here in Virginia, or in places where the cost of living is low. I earned 15.50 an hour 15 years ago, at my second supplementary job in New York. Everyone deserves the possibility of a nice night out for dinner, or a few items of clothing, or the ability to save for a vacation. Those things should not be available to only a few. Not to mention the peace of mind created by not having to worry about paying your rent 24/7. People who are barely surviving become depressed, hopeless, and physically ill.

Education and skill, fine, but that leaves out an entire lot of people who for various reasons, some their fault, some not, are lesser educated and/or lesser skilled. Do they not deserve a living wage? Someone's got to stay behind and work the factories, mills and shops that keep America running. Someone's got to be at the store to take your money and ring you up. Someone's got to watch your kids when you have to work your second job to make ends meet. These people aren't necessarily lesser than the rest for what they do and they need to eat too. I don't know how much the minimum should come out to. I do know what we have in AZ is not acceptable.

RedGlitter;591468 wrote: Education and skill, fine, but that leaves out an entire lot of people who for various reasons, some their fault, some not, are lesser educated and/or lesser skilled. Do they not deserve a living wage? Someone's got to stay behind and work the factories, mills and shops that keep America running. Someone's got to be at the store to take your money and ring you up. Someone's got to watch your kids when you have to work your second job to make ends meet. These people aren't necessarily lesser than the rest for what they do and they need to eat too. I don't know how much the minimum should come out to. I do know what we have in AZ is not acceptable.


When I mentioned education and skills as being the answer, I am talking about those in presentl minimum wage jobs upgrading their skills/education to obtain better paying jobs. Even people at the top of the wage scale can and do improve their skills/education to move on to even better paying jobs. There is no reason for anyone to stay in a minimum paying job indefinitely. This is where labor unions have missed the boat by not helping their members to upgrade their skills, rather than just push for eve increasing wages and benefits. Automation has pretty well taken over many of the old assembly line work.

weeder;591426 wrote: Minimum wage should be 12.50 per hour. It is the least amount of money that anyone can have any kind of a decent life on. And that is here in Virginia, or in places where the cost of living is low. I earned 15.50 an hour 15 years ago, at my second supplementary job in New York. Everyone deserves the possibility of a nice night out for dinner, or a few items of clothing, or the ability to save for a vacation. Those things should not be available to only a few. Not to mention the peace of mind created by not having to worry about paying your rent 24/7. People who are barely surviving become depressed, hopeless, and physically ill.


Hasn't your rate of pay gone up since 15 years ago Weeder? Have you aquired new skills/education enabling you to earn more?

I mentioned the rate of pay at a part time job 15 years ago, as an example of how much time has gone by and how people are still being paid half that, now. Many people are so busy earning a living ( often 2 jobs) that they wouldnt even have time to go to school, to gain skills, to increase their earnings. I fortunately, do not rely on employers to determine my rate of pay.

I am self employed, have 30 years experience in my field, and determine my own fees. I am out of the ordinary, in the respect that I have always been fearless facing the prospect of existing without a safety net. I would bottle that courage, and give it away for free if it would help others to break free of the corporate bondage so many experience. I wish that every single Walmart employee in the US would get up one morning... walk off the job.. and slay this one very big monster.. who pay their people next to nothing. Which enables this corporation to make billions, while turning people into almost slaves.

weeder;591533 wrote: I mentioned the rate of pay at a part time job 15 years ago, as an example of how much time has gone by and how people are still being paid half that, now. Many people are so busy earning a living ( often 2 jobs) that they wouldnt even have time to go to school, to gain skills, to increase their earnings. I fortunately, do not rely on employers to determine my rate of pay.

I am self employed, have 30 years experience in my field, and determine my own fees. I am out of the ordinary, in the respect that I have always been fearless facing the prospect of existing without a safety net. I would bottle that courage, and give it away for free if it would help others to break free of the corporate bondage so many experience. I wish that every single Walmart employee in the US would get up one morning... walk off the job.. and slay this one very big monster.. who pay their people next to nothing. Which enables this corporation to make billions, while turning people into almost slaves.


You of all people Weeder, should appreciate the dilemma of Minimum Wage.

IF--you needed to hire a person in your business, I am assuming that you would pay them a minimum of $12,50 per hour plus benefits.

I hate to see Walmart or any big corporation take the rap for what is not really their problem. Under our economic system, they are free to offer jobs at a particular pay scale, individuals are free to accept or reject those positions. No one holds a gun to their head. Just because Walmart may be the only employer in a particular town doesn't make it Walmart's problem. What if there was no Walmart at all? We would be going to ole Mom & Pop's

store and paying 50% more for merchandise, and oh, Mom & Pop would probably be paying their employees minimum wage as well, WITH NO BENEFITS.

Lon;592024 wrote: You of all people Weeder, should appreciate the dilemma of Minimum Wage.

IF--you needed to hire a person in your business, I am assuming that you would pay them a minimum of $12,50 per hour plus benefits.

I hate to see Walmart or any big corporation take the rap for what is not really their problem. Under our economic system, they are free to offer jobs at a particular pay scale, individuals are free to accept or reject those positions. No one holds a gun to their head. Just because Walmart may be the only employer in a particular town doesn't make it Walmart's problem. What if there was no Walmart at all? We would be going to ole Mom & Pop's

store and paying 50% more for merchandise, and oh, Mom & Pop would probably be paying their employees minimum wage as well, WITH NO BENEFITS.I do pay people who work for me 12.50 an hour, or more depending on the work they are doing. I do not pay their benefits. They are independant contractors, responsible for their own insurance etc... However, at 12.00 or 15.00 or 20.00 per hour, these people have the income required to purchase benefits. In regard to Walmart... our government is allowing Walmart and other huge corporations to come into neighborhoods and PUT mom and pop operations out of business. Our country was founded on the principle of free enterprise and originally encouraged the entrapenureal spirit.

I want people to shop in mom and pop stores, and if they did, those owners would be able to pay employees a living and respectable wage.

weeder;592134 wrote: I do pay people who work for me 12.50 an hour, or more depending on the work they are doing. I do not pay their benefits. They are independant contractors, responsible for their own insurance etc... However, at 12.00 or 15.00 or 20.00 per hour, these people have the income required to purchase benefits. In regard to Walmart... our government is allowing Walmart and other huge corporations to come into neighborhoods and PUT mom and pop operations out of business. Our country was founded on the principle of free enterprise and originally encouraged the entrapenureal spirit.

I want people to shop in mom and pop stores, and if they did, those owners would be able to pay employees a living and respectable wage.


The fact is though, that mom and pop never did pay a living wage, and the Free Enterprise that is the foundation of this country is the same Free Enterprise system that allowed the Walton family to start Wal Mart.

My thought on minimum wage is that it is meant for teens and college students. I could go further and say illegals deserve minimum wage - another place.

I feel for people who do not have the ambition to attend college..........but not very much.

I have seen so many smart people who have chosen not to aspire beyond McDonald's manager. You get what you want out of this life.

I do not think this country can thrive without a minimum wage..............crap...when I entered the workforce the minimum was $2.75 an hour and apartments were $120.00 a month. You can't get a decent apartment for less than $750.00 now..............so where does the minimum wage need to be in order not to live in the slums of your city?

nvalleyvee;592162 wrote: My thought on minimum wage is that it is meant for teens and college students. I could go further and say illegals deserve minimum wage - another place.

I feel for people who do not have the ambition to attend college..........but not very much.

I have seen so many smart people who have chosen not to aspire beyond McDonald's manager. You get what you want out of this life.

I do not think this country can thrive without a minimum wage..............crap...when I entered the workforce the minimum was $2.75 an hour and apartments were $120.00 a month. You can't get a decent apartment for less than $750.00 now..............so where does the minimum wage need to be in order not to live in the slums of your city?


Easy maths - two sharing, both in full time work on the MW and spending 2/3 of there income on housing need a take home of $1125 pcm or 560 each. assume 40 hour weeks gives $14 / hour after deductions.

The social equasion is nowhere near so easy.

The problem, is greed. When is enough wealth enough? Why should a few have so much? And so many have nothing. Huge corporations have the support of our government. The struggling masses often have nothing.

weeder;592299 wrote: The problem, is greed. When is enough wealth enough? Why should a few have so much? And so many have nothing. Huge corporations have the support of our government. The struggling masses often have nothing.


Who is it that pays the government - not the taxes that they use to run the country but the funds they use to run the party and keep themselves in government?

Is it any wonder that the government does the bidding of the big corporations - they could not exist without that money

Minimum wage recently went from $5.15 to $6.85 an hour here in Ohio. While at first I thought it was a great thing, I have seen the ripple effect it's had on small business. One was forced to close its doors after 30+ years in business, most had to pass the wage increase onto the customer. The thing that really annoys me is that one business used the excuse of the minimum wage increase to increase their prices. In reality, their workers did not get a pay raise because they make tips. It had dramatically damaged their business, so the workers are still underpaid and receiving less tips.

weeder;592299 wrote: The problem, is greed. When is enough wealth enough? Why should a few have so much? And so many have nothing. Huge corporations have the support of our government. The struggling masses often have nothing.


The struggling masses have Social Welfare Programs, of which there are many.

Lon;592614 wrote: The struggling masses have Social Welfare Programs, of which there are many.


Here in our province we boast the lowest min wage $7.00 canadian. The kicker is it's dam near impossible to hire anyone as we have this horrific labor shortage, so kids are being offered anywhere from $9.00 to $10.40 and these wages are at fast food places like Dairy Queen and Burger King and what it's doing to our youth, is they are dropping out of school so they can go make the almighty big buck. Nobody is going to work for min wage at this rate right now.

What many members of the struggling masses do have is pride, and they are not interested in welfare programs, or hand outs. What they are interested in, is receiving fair pay for hard work. It would also be a wonderful thing if all employers understood that employees agree to contribute TIME in exchange for money, and not have the attitude that paychecks are a gift handed over grudgingly.

weeder;592832 wrote: What many members of the struggling masses do have is pride, and they are not interested in welfare programs, or hand outs. What they are interested in, is receiving fair pay for hard work. It would also be a wonderful thing if all employers understood that employees agree to contribute TIME in exchange for money, and not have the attitude that paychecks are a gift handed over grudgingly.


What Weeder said.

weeder;592832 wrote: What many members of the struggling masses do have is pride, and they are not interested in welfare programs, or hand outs. What they are interested in, is receiving fair pay for hard work. It would also be a wonderful thing if all employers understood that employees agree to contribute TIME in exchange for money, and not have the attitude that paychecks are a gift handed over grudgingly.


Just curious Weeder, but what source of information do you have that says the STRUGGLING MASSES have pride and are not interested in welfare programs. And, are you saying that employers think that the paychecks they hand out are gifts? What's your source for this piece of wisdom. I don't mean to be contrary or pick on you, but you have made some blanket statements that I am sure are just your assumptions and not verifiable by any source. Wouldn't it be safer to say that SOME are not interested in welfare programs?

Lon;592895 wrote: Just curious Weeder, but what source of information do you have that says the STRUGGLING MASSES have pride and are not interested in welfare programs. And, are you saying that employers think that the paychecks they hand out are gifts? What's your source for this piece of wisdom. I don't mean to be contrary or pick on you, but you have made some blanket statements that I am sure are just your assumptions and not verifiable by any source. Wouldn't it be safer to say that SOME are not interested in welfare programs?


Lon, I said many, not all. I am very aware of the fact that there are members of society who would, if they could, take anything and everything they could get without doing anything themselves. My comments and observations come from having worked with people from many different walks of life. I never base conclusions on statistics, or information provided by the media, or anything government sources tell us. I know that Ive worked with men on landscape crews who put in a ten hour day, working like animals for 6.00 per hour. Ive worked in department stores with women earning 6.50 an hour. Ive worked with floral designers earning 7.00 an hour.

All of these workers have had to leave one job, and go to a second, just to pay their rent and heat bills. You might be amazed at the number of women I know who do not visit doctors, ever. The reason is because they would not ever consider welfare, and they do not have the money to go. I would venture to say that conclusions we come to on any subject, are influenced by the lives we have led, the people we have come in contact with, the places we have lived, and in the case of this topic, the fields we have worked in.

weeder;593042 wrote: Lon, I said many, not all. I am very aware of the fact that there are members of society who would, if they could, take anything and everything they could get without doing anything themselves. My comments and observations come from having worked with people from many different walks of life. I never base conclusions on statistics, or information provided by the media, or anything government sources tell us. I know that Ive worked with men on landscape crews who put in a ten hour day, working like animals for 6.00 per hour. Ive worked in department stores with women earning 6.50 an hour. Ive worked with floral designers earning 7.00 an hour.

All of these workers have had to leave one job, and go to a second, just to pay their rent and heat bills. You might be amazed at the number of women I know who do not visit doctors, ever. The reason is because they would not ever consider welfare, and they do not have the money to go. I would venture to say that conclusions we come to on any subject, are influenced by the lives we have led, the people we have come in contact with, the places we have lived, and in the case of this topic, the fields we have worked in.


OK-----------Well said