Minimum Wage. Everyone seems to have an opinion during this election cycle. Bernie Sanders wants a $15 minimum wage. Hillary Clinton says raise it to $12. Cruz is completely against it. John Kasich says let the states decide. And Donald Trump has said both increase it and don’t increase it in the past.
At $15 per hour and a 40 hour work week (something I managed to do easily during High School and College during breaks), would equal $30,000 per year. I wondered what soldiers make and found this listing of Army pay. A private coming into the Army only makes $18,000-20,000 per year. Somehow I think that takes a little more commitment than the guy serving up your burger at a fast food restaurant.
So until the government pays a living wage to our military, they shouldn’t debate what the private sector is doing. And you want to manage the cost of education…mandate that public universities lower tuition to keep in line with inflation (but that is another cartoon)
Very good point. I think the states should control this one. It is more of a local economy thing. San Francisco CA. vs. Dayton OH – big difference in cost of living. When was the last time the military got a raise?
I don’t think $15 an hour is enough even in San Fran haha
It is not. No debate.
January of every year.
🙂
What about not taxing people who live below the poverty line?
Well they don’t pay taxes but I agree. If I am working a job at a salary that I can’t get above the minimum they shouldn’t take it out of their check just to give it back at the end of the year.
Here they take takes and certainly don’t give it all back, even if you’re below the poverty line.
The basic problem of raising the minimum wage to $15 is that most small businesses (the ones who really are the driving economic force nowadays) can’t afford such a huge spike to their labor costs. What the hysterical activists/union thugs/media purposely forget to mention is that when certain costs continue to go up, you can pass those certain costs on to the consumer for only so long, before excrement hits the fan.
To contain a fixed labor cost, some business owners will not hire more staff. Instead, they’ll force the current staff to work longer hours or worse, work more hours themselves. And if people think this a bunch of baloney, keep in mind the ObamaCare mandate that all businesses must offer health insurance if they have 50+ employees. Presto Changeo! Hiring froze so businesses wouldn’t have to offer expensive health insurance, thus forcing their employees to have the guv’ment pick up the tab.
There is a balance between increasing labor cost and managing inflation. More money, more spending, increased inflation which raises the cost to borrow money for things like mortgage. Putting people back in the same place.
That ing’hstis just what I’ve been looking for. Thanks!
That’s a very interesting point you bring up Bearman, well done! 😉
Thanks Bill
Very good point Bearman!
thx EJ
I think it would be funny if a candidate all of a sudden said they wanted $100 per hour minimum wage – just to see the response.
They want $100 but not for the rest of us. 🙂
In this day and age, it takes nearly $15 an hour just for the right to eat Ramen and struggle. I discovered that fact quickly upon moving to sunny Southern California.
My mind still reels from the differences in Virginia living versus being in the big city.
That’s what you get moving to your wife versus her moving to you
I agree w/ George,
S. Cali cost of living is comparable to New England and he is very right, $15 dollars an hour as a flat universal rate is the wrong approach in my honest opinion [agreement may vary], it’s all about cost of living. $15 may work in Oregon or Virginia, but it’s to much per hour in FL or TX, but way to low in places like the North East, or Cali.
The cost of living, or the purchasing power of that dollar should determine minimum pay scales, not a universal flat rate. I spend about 38-40% more for the goods and services, housing and energy needs than most other area’s of the country because of the overhead costs to reside here. I’d have to find the article, but to live in the greater Boston metro area [E. Ma, S. NH, RI], you need to make about $19-22 dollars an hour to live -at- or slightly above poverty. Thats not including things benefits/healthcare.
As for the military, they should be paid what our useless legislators get. It’s all upside and backwards.
That’s why I live in an area that isn’t Cali or the East so expenses aren’t as high. No one listens to me haha
Go, Bearman! Keep those thoughts provoked! Great statement, great toon!
Thanks Mark
Soldiers definitely deserve more. I remember when I was in the Navy our wages were so low that once I had a family to support I was entitled to the Government low income supplement payment. That payment is for working not unemployed families that are on or below the poverty line.
Looking at the US Army pay list I earn more than a Staff Sargent & all I do is pack containers of yogurt into boxes in a factory
mmmm yogurt.