Liberals in la-la land: High wages, 32-hour workweeks sound great, but there's a steep price

[fivecardstud14]

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That’s two apps today

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

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Seems relevant

Classy.

I’m sure all the evangelicals applaud.

 

[HawkeyeHitman]

Minimum wage wouldn’t be a issue if liberals wouldn’t try and destroy the value of the dollar.

 

[Scruddy]

Classy.

I’m sure all the evangelicals applaud.

Probably, they do love the gays afterall despite st louis's claims that they want them all dead.

 

[fivecardstud14]

Probably, they do love the gays afterall despite st louis's claims that they want them all dead.

St. Louis as in St. Louis Cardinals. As in…El Hombre?

 

[Here_4_a_Day]

I thought Minneapolis had fallen. Airport is still open?

It's a very vibrant city filled with wonderful people!

 

[KFsdisciple]

In 1992 I was making $4.25 sacking groceries at Publix. Nice to see that huge $3 increase after 32 years.

I was making $4.50 an hour in high school back in the mid 90's at Taco Bell... Of course at that time you could get Taco's for like .59 each

 

[alaskanseminole]

I was making $4.50 an hour in high school back in the mid 90's at Taco Bell... Of course at that time you could get Taco's for like .59 each

I'm not sure part-time jobs are worth the time for some of these kids. I was able to buy crap from the mall, pay for gas and insurance, and hit the town on the weekends. These days, a single date at Alamo Drafthouse (dine-in movie theater) would cost a kid and his date $70-$80.

 

[cohawk]

Irecently had a layover at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport on my way to visit my parents in Oregon, so I stopped at McDonald’s for a quick bite. Rather than being greeted by a human cashier, I was met with a hall of self-serve kiosks, where I placed my order and paid for it.

Expect to see a lot more machines and far fewer human workers in states and cities that are artificially driving up the cost of employees through higher minimum wages.

“The government seems stuck on this way of fixing something that doesn't need to be fixed,” Brian Wesbury, chief economist at First Trust Advisors, told me. “It messes up the marketplace, and businesses attempt to find a way around it because these are not market-based wages – and today with robotics and computers they can. So it ends up hurting people.”

While efficient, automation like those ordering screens at the Minneapolis airport is emblematic of what happens when the government distorts the marketplace with a heavy-handed regulatory approach.

Minneapolis has mandated a $15.57 hourly minimum wage – more than twice the federal minimum wage of $7.25 – for large employers, but that wage will apply to all businesses starting this summer. While the airport isn’t technically part of any city, its employers are no doubt forced to offer comparable wages to attract workers.

High wages are having other effects, too. Minneapolis residents will soon be out of luck if they want to call an Uber or a Lyft. Both companies are leaving town in May after the ultra-liberal city council (several of the 13 are declared socialists) applied the minimum wage to drivers, overriding the mayor’s veto. The companies said the mandate makes operations in the city unsustainable.

So in the effort to increase pay for drivers, the city council effectively will strip thousands of jobs and leave many people without transportation.

As Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey said in an interview, “Getting a raise doesn’t do a whole lot of good if you lose your job.”

Nice work, Minneapolis.

California hikes minimum wage, employers lay people off​

Then there’s California. In what should have been an April Fools’ joke, a law requiring fast-food workers at large chains to earn $20 a hour took effect April 1.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, signed the law last year. Obviously, businesses aren’t happy because it's bad for their bottom lines.

Biden's new rule may take your job: Biden claims to stand for women, but his new regulation will kill jobs that women want

Newsom admitted as much when he tried to give his buddy Greg Flynn, who runs Panera Bread franchises in California, a loophole from the law. Flynn is a big Newsom donor, and Newsom had demanded a curious exemption to the law for restaurants “making in-house bread.”

After the justified uproar that Flynn was getting special favors, he has said he’ll abide by the higher wage.

It’s no surprise that even before the new minimum wage became reality, restaurants started planning layoffs. For instance, Pizza Hut has said it will cut more than 1,000 delivery jobs. Many more are following suit.

As any economist could have predicted, these businesses are having to downsize their workforce, reduce hours and raise prices. That’s what happens when the government meddles in the private market.

It’s hard to see how this benefits anyone in the long run. Minimum wage jobs have traditionally existed to give people an entry point into the work world, but government-driven inflated wages will take those opportunities away from inexperienced workers.

And this government intervention ignores that workers have more choices than ever.

“It’s such a competitive marketplace and unemployment is so low that if you’re disappointed in the job in either the culture or the wage or the working conditions, you can move,” Wesbury said.

Less work for same pay? Welcome to Bernie’s world.​

You can always count on Congress’ resident socialist, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, to come up with truly wild (and costly) ideas. He’s a constant pusher of “free” college, student debt forgiveness and high minimum wages.

Sanders also says Americans deserve a 32-hour work week. Employers would be forced to continue paying workers the same pay and benefits as they get for working 40 hours. And he’s not just thinking about it – he’s introduced a bill.

Sounds pretty darn good, I have to say.

Unfortunately, in the real world, companies would have to make adjustments to afford this cushy new employee benefit. Employers would either have to hire more workers or lose out on productivity, and consumers would face higher prices as a result. Other unintended consequences would surely follow.


Bottom line: The private sector works best when the government gets out of the way. It’s a lesson liberals never seem to learn.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/mar...S&cvid=2366a6102c6343ea9ac0883bed5ba039&ei=29

So you favor the business owner gotcha. If they can't pay a livable wage they have a bad business. We shouldn't have to subsidize low wages with taxpayer money. For example, Walmart teaches their employees how to receive welfare.

 

[cohawk]

Imagine how lazy you have to be to not move if your salary doubled.

Cost of living in some Iowa small towns is very low and Casey’s is paying $14-$15 an hour.

If people are unwilling to help themselves it’s not the governments responsibility to simulate initiative via mandates.

Can’t show up to work, can’t pass a drug test, can’t be depended on. Those are things that get you $7 an hour. The truth isn’t controversial.

You clearly don't understand the intent of minimum wage. It sounds like you shame people for being poor.

 

[Finance85]

Minimum wage wouldn’t be a issue if liberals wouldn’t try and destroy the value of the dollar.

I disagree. Liberals equate minimum wage to a living wage. Minimum wage shouldn't be for that purpose. It's a starter wage for people with no skills or limited skills. People need skills if they want upward mobility. People shouldn't be expecting to live a comfortable lifestyle if they have no skills and a minimum wage job.

 

[KFsdisciple]

I disagree. Liberals equate minimum wage to a living wage. Minimum wage shouldn't be for that purpose. It's a starter wage for people with no skills or limited skills. People need skills if they want upward mobility. People shouldn't be expecting to live a comfortable lifestyle if they have no skills and a minimum wage job.

DING DING DING!!!!

 

[FAUlty Gator]

Based on what the R party stands fo and against what being gay actually is, it's strange to have a gay person want to be a part of that but that if course is their choice.

I get that. But there’s a lot of them out there and I’d say the number is growing rather than shrinking.

 

[jneffer]

I disagree. Liberals equate minimum wage to a living wage. Minimum wage shouldn't be for that purpose. It's a starter wage for people with no skills or limited skills. People need skills if they want upward mobility. People shouldn't be expecting to live a comfortable lifestyle if they have no skills and a minimum wage job.

i consider myself fairly liberal and i don't expect minimum wage earners to live a comfortable lifestyle

i expect anyone who works full time to not need additional govt assistance to be able to afford essentials

and considering minimum wage hasn't been adjusted in 15 years (and wasn't exactly 'great' at that time either)...maybe its time to reexamine

 

[KFsdisciple]

i consider myself fairly liberal and i don't expect minimum wage earners to live a comfortable lifestyle

i expect anyone who works full time to not need additional govt assistance to be able to afford essentials

and considering minimum wage hasn't been adjusted in 15 years (and wasn't exactly 'great' at that time either)...maybe its time to reexamine

Perhaps it's even time to have a minimum wage, and a living wage. Minimum wage should be for < 18 workers who work 25 hours or less per week and are in school. They should also get OT after 25 hours and I think that wage should be $10.00 per hour.

Living wage should be determined by the state and the cost of living. The cost of living should be based on the median apartment rental in the state and be equal to 2.5 times that number. If the median apartment rental is 1600 per month a living wage should equal $4000 per month.

 

[1inamillion]

Surprise, surprise, surprise
I stopped at a McDonalds, about 4 years ago, when my granddaughter wanted a cheeseburger and to play on their little playground. They had kiosks then, and this was in maga land Iowa. I assume OP is worried about BK using robots to make their fries.

As usual, you skirt the issue. Yes kiosks are starting. Government mandate is putting gasoline on the fire. Can we agree on this?

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

As usual, you skirt the issue. Yes kiosks are starting. Government mandate is putting gasoline on the fire. Can we agree on this?

Pay decent wages so the government doesn't step in. It's really not hard to think about considering McDonald's bottom line.

 

[CaboKP]

One key takeaway from your post. People took their job seriously and largely took pride in their work. Robots exist because people are unreliable and lazy now days. My last 3 fast food experienced have been awful due to employees giving little to no shits. I'd much rather order from a kiosk than an employee that is barely paying attention and Tik Toking while entering my order, yes that actually happened and my order was incorrect.

This is largely why I order online and pick up food instead of dining out compared to the past. You typically have less errors with a kiosk.
Some places continually have great people and those are the places I frequent.

 

[ericram]

I get that. But there’s a lot of them out there and I’d say the number is growing rather than shrinking.

Would be an interesting demographic to ask some questions.

 

[onlyTheObvious]

Fast food is beyond annoying now. Use to just walk up to counter and family would all order one at a time and be done.

Now it’s multiple phones on multiple kiosks to get deals and get the order in. And the kiosks have to confirm every button pushed it seams. Takes forever.

I utilize Kwik Star for food more now. Just grab something ready in the bin and be done. Also can get fruit at Kwik Star.

 

[BioHawk]

LOL at anyone that thinks increases in minimum wages has anything to do with this. Grocery stores have been switching to self checkout for decades now. As soon as a fast food restaurant figures out a cheap way to have customers actually put their order together they will get rid of the people cooking and putting the bags of food together as well. The bottom line is $0 /per hour will always be cheaper than the minimum wage no matter what it is set at. The only people who will work there will be people to maintain the supply of materials for whatever machines do the rest of the work. And a manager to make sure everything is working properly.

 

[BioHawk]

I disagree. Liberals equate minimum wage to a living wage. Minimum wage shouldn't be for that purpose. It's a starter wage for people with no skills or limited skills. People need skills if they want upward mobility. People shouldn't be expecting to live a comfortable lifestyle if they have no skills and a minimum wage job.

WTF is a "starter job"? A job is a job is a job. Any full time job should pay for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. "Starter job" is a term invented by corporations who want to justify why they don't have to pay their employees enough to live on.

 

[SIXERS24]

Age group	% of total minimum wage workers
16-24	44.3%
24-34	24.6%
35-44	10.7%
45-54	8.9%
55-64	8.3%
65+	3.1%

 

[Ree4]

Minimum wage wouldn’t be a issue if liberals wouldn’t try and destroy the value of the dollar.

Is Abby your alt account?

 

[Finance85]

WTF is a "starter job"? A job is a job is a job. Any full time job should pay for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. "Starter job" is a term invented by corporations who want to justify why they don't have to pay their employees enough to live on.

No, all jobs aren't the same. That's pretty basic. Would you want to ride in an airplane, even a Cessna 172, with someone who just did their first solo flight yesterday?

 

[HawkeyeHitman]

Is Abby your alt account?

Have you ever had a job? Other than being a useless activist.

 

[Ree4]

Have you ever had a job? Other than being a useless activist.

Ouch man, that hurts. Activist how?

 

[onlyTheObvious]

I rarely showed up for class in high school. My attendance record is awful and my GPA is just above 1.

But I am entitled to a job that pays me enough money to live wherever I want and have most things I want.

 

[sober_teacher]

Perhaps it's even time to have a minimum wage, and a living wage. Minimum wage should be for < 18 workers who work 25 hours or less per week and are in school. They should also get OT after 25 hours and I think that wage should be $10.00 per hour.

Living wage should be determined by the state and the cost of living. The cost of living should be based on the median apartment rental in the state and be equal to 2.5 times that number. If the median apartment rental is 1600 per month a living wage should equal $4000 per month.

I could get behind this.

 

[fivecardstud14]

I rarely showed up for class in high school. My attendance record is awful and my GPA is just above 1.

But I am entitled to a job that pays me enough money to live wherever I want and have most things I want.

Always funny watching you trying to make a point, RunLBlade. On any subject.

 

[onlyTheObvious]

I could get behind this.

Median apartment in San Francisco is $3195 so minimum wage would be $95,850 a year working at McDonald’s.

 

[Jerome Silberman]

Humans need to stop listening to the rambling of conservatives. They don't make any sense about anything.

 

[KFsdisciple]

I could get behind this.

I think this maybe the 2nd time we have come to an agreement on something.

 

[FAUlty Gator]

 

[KFsdisciple]

Median apartment in San Francisco is $3195 so minimum wage would be $95,850 a year working at McDonald’s.

Well, then enjoy the $36 big mac under the golden gate Bridge

 

[sober_teacher]

Median apartment in San Francisco is $3195 so minimum wage would be $95,850 a year working at McDonald’s.

Devil as always would be in the details, but what do you think about the basic concept?

I speak from experience on this. Living in Des Moines area, I got hired on full time for an entry level position with Wells Fargo 10 years ago.

Was initially living and paying rent with a friend, after a year or so he asked me to move out as he was looking to sell the property. Had i not been working lots of OT at the time, I wouldn’t have been able to afford rent on a 1 bedroom apartment at a low-income apartment building. And that’s just me as a single guy, no family or dependents.

Holding a full time job, it’s not unreasonable imo to argue that I should be earning enough to afford my own place.

 

[onlyTheObvious]

Devil as always would be in the details, but what do you think about the basic concept?

I speak from experience on this. Living in Des Moines area, I got hired on full time for an entry level position with Wells Fargo 10 years ago.

Was initially living and paying rent with a friend, after a year or so he asked me to move out as he was looking to sell the property. Had i not been working lots of OT at the time, I wouldn’t have been able to afford rent on a 1 bedroom apartment at a low-income apartment building. And that’s just me as a single guy, no family or dependents.

Holding a full time job, it’s not unreasonable imo to argue that I should be earning enough to afford my own place.

Problem is places will hire more kids than adults to save money.

You might get a law passed that says kids can’t work during school hours which would likely help wages for adults. But so many loopholes in that it likely wouldn’t help much.

Robots are eventually going to take over fast food. Every mandated wage increase speeds up the process.

You can’t be high on drugs or not show up for work for factories to run well. Which from everybody I talk to is the biggest problem in manufacturing.

who is paying minimum wage in Iowa? I haven’t seen even fast food advertising anything under $12 in Iowa. For a high school kid living at home that’s some damn good spending money.

 

[KFsdisciple]

Devil as always would be in the details, but what do you think about the basic concept?

I speak from experience on this. Living in Des Moines area, I got hired on full time for an entry level position with Wells Fargo 10 years ago.

Was initially living and paying rent with a friend, after a year or so he asked me to move out as he was looking to sell the property. Had i not been working lots of OT at the time, I wouldn’t have been able to afford rent on a 1 bedroom apartment at a low-income apartment building. And that’s just me as a single guy, no family or dependents.

Holding a full time job, it’s not unreasonable imo to argue that I should be earning enough to afford my own place.

To that point minimum wage jobs would also be tax free from state and federal taxes. Old enough to work and gain some experience and life skills, but not needed to pay or file taxes until you're 18.

Maybe we change the poverty threshold for anyone working a full time job that doesn't make the living wage qualifies for housing assistance through HUD

 

[KFsdisciple]

Problem is places will hire more kids than adults to save money.

Robots are eventually going to take over fast food. Every mandated wage increase speeds up the process.

You can’t be high on drugs or not show up for work for factories to run well. Which from everybody I talk to is the biggest problem in manufacturing.

who is paying minimum wage in Iowa? I haven’t seen even fast food advertising anything under $12 in Iowa.

Well in my example the minimum wage earners have to be under 18 and in school. Hard to run a McDonald's on only kids

 

[KFsdisciple]

Median apartment in San Francisco is $3195 so minimum wage would be $95,850 a year working at McDonald’s.

If the median cost of an apartment in SF is over 3k per month then my advice would be to go full Sam Kenison MOVE WHERE THE FOOD IS