Is the Current 'Minimum-Wage' High Enough?

[honeyflower93]

No and the only people who think so are too privileged to have to worry about it. No one is advocating for minimum wage jobs to be considered prestigious careers. People are not asking to be paid enough to fly around the world and buy designer clothes. People seriously just want to be able to SURVIVE. You'd need 2 or 3 jobs just to make it. I get the concern about inflation what people don't understand is that wages have not increased in proportion to inflation. Look at the numbers.

[hitch0403]

OHHH but the American Dream im sure will fix it..................

Yeah right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pardon my sarcasm...just like the nose on our face?So obvious!!

[hawkeye3210]

I get the concern about inflation what people don't understand is that wages have not increased in proportion to inflation. Look at the numbers.

If the minimum wage was adjusted for inflation since it was introduced in 1938, the minimum wage would be $4.19.

[ricdsm]

I think no.  IF the government is going to set a minimum wage for adults, it should be a wage that will allow someone to live with the basic necessities met. I thin the minimum wage for adults should be higher than for kids 18 and under.

[kristalie]

This is a tough subject. I feel like everyone should be able to live off of miminum wage but at the same time, there are ways to ensure that you better yourself and get a better job.

[nobenjo]

The going wage, like most things, would be much higher IF, American
workers were not competing with illegal workers.

It is a matter of supply and demand.

Remove 6, 8, 10 million or even more illegals from the market place AND
watch the wage sky rocket.

Enforce our immigration laws, as our prez is sworn to do.

Jail any and all employers who hire illegals.......especially if they pretend
to check obvious false work papers.

Do NOT give in to the cry for immigration reform.....enforce the laws we have now!

[acurtsinger2]

the cost of living fluctuates week to week and month to month..but it is only figured once a fiscal year.  2 weeks ago gas was 349 and now it is 3.99.  last month i was paying 1.29 for eggs and today i paid 2.19...it is hard to make it on minimum wage unless there are 2 incomes

[reneeclay28]

what is the minimum wage  now?

[froggylover227]

Hell no! At the current rate, working one hour only gets you enough for 2 gallons of milk. If the cost of produce and other life neccesaties go up, then so should the minimum wage!

[sarabtrayior]

I think the politicians should have to live on minimum wage to show them that is is not enough...

[stretch1967]

Yes . If you keep raising it everything is going to become ridiculous in price. If you want more money go to college

[lvstephanie]

It's unfortunate how few people know about economics and history...

The latest buzz words on this topic is having a "living wage" instead of a "minimum wage". A living wage is a wage at which a person not only can survive, but also includes the cost other "necessities" that aren't entirely needed to live like transportation, insurance, retirement funding, education, etc. In essence, those supporting this want everyone to be paid according to what they need. In exchange, that person will work to their fullest ability to perform their work. In other words:

From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs.

Which is the slogan that a famous economist used to describe his theory.... Several countries later tried to adopt Karl Marx's economic theory. In order to effect such a social change, they needed to set up a strict police state in order to govern such things as placing what sector each person was to work in (so as to ensure that each person's abilities are utilized to their fullest potential), what goods and services are produced, how much money each person was paid, how hard each person worked, etc.

Years later, these countries have been shown to be much weak economically speaking than countries that hold freedom and capitalism in higher esteem, and was one of the major driving forces that caused the collapse of the Soviet Union. Such a system tends to stifle innovation, risk-taking, personal betterment, and general motivation. If the person working next to you gets paid the same amount as you regardless of how efficient you are or whether you create a new process that allows you to create more product, you aren't incentivized to do better. In fact you would probably not even risk trying out that new process you think might increase your production, for if that innovation failed you will be penalized for not meeting production expectations which may include possible jail time.

[bowrunner]

In the first place there should be no minimum wage as employees should be paid what their employer believes they are worth.  The higher the minimum wage the fewer people there will be working as they will be replaced by technology.

[mh874892]

This is an issue that is debated even in the economic theory world. I don't think there is one right answer. Too many factors like price ceilings/floors, inflation, taxes, etc. are in play. Basically, our economy is in a disastrous state and raising or lowering the minimum wage alone will not fix it. The rate is there to keep employers from cheating employees out of fair pay. It is not meant to be enough to survive on in the long term (in my opinion). The important thing to remember is some pay is better than no pay!

[InfuseMe1]

Heck No!  $15 would be so much more fair...