Obama, what should Minimum Wage be set at?

I really don't like any of the 2008 candidate. To me politicians are just that politicians. In my opinion, this statement is to lure low income voters into voting for him. He makes a true statement, No one who works should be poor", however, he does not offer any solution to that. As for raising the minimum wage, that is not the solution either, as in order to raise the minimum wage, business owners will have to raise prices in order to offset the increase in wages. What good will that do? People will just have to pay more for the same things and in the end will be back at square one.

The minimum wage was originally intended to support a single person not a family and that is part of the problem why we have poverty because employers don't want to pay a decent LIVING wage to workers and YES most of them CAN afford to and get a huge profit line. Especially burger chains and store chains. They just are greedy and don't want to pay workers anything. The minimum wage should be at least $12.50 an hour and go up from there and yes our economy could support it because people would have buying power. Instead employers sell jobs overseas under NAFTA which should NEVER have been allowed and or bring in illegals to work at below minimum wage or at it. It is not that Americans don't want to work it is they cannot afford to LIVE in America at minimum wage because rent, or housing, utilities, food, transportation and everything else is higher. You can live like a king in Mexico on minimum wage.

Well first and foremost, how dare you try to bring logic and reasoning into a campaign of a liberal. Remember all liberal arguments must be based on emotions and the issue of the day. Secondly, the politicians aren't taking into account two different actions. Action 1) Those who are "poor" are those not wanting to work in order to take advantage of the welfare system. Action 2) Those not wanting to work because the jobs "are below them." The truth is, the poverty line is easily crossed by any American who strives to have a job and is wise with their money.

As of right now they only thing I've read is that Obama is for raising minimum wage to $7.25. While that's much better then it is right now I still think it needs to be higher then that. I guess we've got to start somewhere though. And I could see Obama asking for another increase in minimum wage after we reach the $7.25 mark.

Maybe the issue should be re-evaluating the poverty line. What is considered poor?

How is min. wage only 6.55? I live in Ohio and we get the shaft on everything in this state, but yet we still have a min. wage of $7.00.

No matter how one looks at it, a federally mandated minimum wage establishes a perceived value for an hours worth of work. There is no way that this perceived value can take into account variables, like the differences between committed and uncommitted employees. Where: (Committed worker = good worker, prepared worker, honest worker, etc...) And (Uncommitted worker = lazy worker, tardy worker, dishonest worker, etc...) This is what socialists ALWAYS fail to consider. If you are telling both the committed worker and the uncommitted worker that each of their hours worth of work is identically valued at 'X', then why would the committed worker do any more work than the uncommitted worker? A minimum wage is a Marxist/Communist initiative. Before you lambast me, please do your homework. My International Relations specialization was in US/Soviet Relations. So, I know a little about the Soviet Socialist/Communist Government, and how it functioned. If the origin of the broad application of a minimum wage as being traceable to the Soviet Union isn't enough to make you shun it as unsound (Let's remember that there has never been a single successful example of a communist government), then the historical, repetitive result it has on the worker should be. These communist initiatives quite naturally lowered the work ethic of hourly employees! No if's, and's, or but's, about it! This is not conjecture or an opinion, it is a historical fact! Ask yourself this one question: If you and your work-mate both do the same job, and you both earn the same wage. But, he or she is always 10 minutes late for work, aren't going to being to entertain the notion that it would be OK for you to be late as well? Maybe at first you wouldn't. After a bit of time passes, you will most likely rationalize the first one or two times that you are late. After enough time has passed you will most likely find yourself always justifying your tardiness with the observation that "Well, so-and-so is late everyday. Why should I have to work 10 minutes longer than him or her, and not get paid any more for it?" This is simple Human Nature! When Government tries to function in a contrary state to Human Nature, trouble will soon follow!

Obama seems to be a lot of pretty talk with no real substance. Anyone who really wants a job paying more than minimum wage should have no real problem finding it, and anyone who can't find it is just not trying. Minimum wage is designed as an entry level wage for those just starting in the job market, and was never intended to make anyone rich. What is needed is some personal responsibility and the desire to do whatever it takes to improve your personal circumstances, instead of waiting for the government to do it for you. Given the figures provided, I guess that puts me at below the poverty line, but we are getting by just fine...even though the state is pulling close to $200 right off of the top due to back child support on a 25 year who didn't legally qualify in the first place. Anyway, I know that someone can live at that income level, because I am doing it. When I was working I was pulling in almost double what I get on SSA, and even then I was doing VERY well. The problem is that too many people have no concept of money management, and that is a big reason they claim they can't make ends meet. Minimum wage isn't the problem, the problem lies with the failure of people to take the responsibility for their own welfare.... but they don't want to hear that.

So, are you expecting the kids to make the same hourly wage? I'm confused. It seems to me if you are two adults working for minimum wage your income wouldn't increase when you had kids. Admittedly I'm not a math person. But I just didn't understand how you were figuring that.

You mean politicians are expected to have one?

First, I think we can all agree those poverty figures are full of it. I'd love to see anyone live on those annual salaries! I agree that no one who works full time should be poor, which to me they should be able to afford a roof over their heads, food enough so they don't go to bed hungry (I mean that within reason), health care, a vehicle to get them to work if they live where public transportation isn't available and even a few - GASP - little extras. Every time anyone has ever suggested raising the minimum wage we hear all these horror stories of how people will be put out of business, prices will skyrocket out of sight as will unemployment - guess what? It's never happened yet! I agree completely with Obama's proposal that the minimum wage increases should be tied in with inflation. Annie

What some people fail accept or understand is that it is up to each individual to work not to be poor. Everyone has the same opportunities than everyone else. However, some people choose not to exercise those opportunities.

this is an excelent discussion. i have again the perfect example to why this would not work. here in south africa, people wanted instant wealth. so dear government practically doubled minimum wage. now most employers overload their current workers and no one new gets appointed. now poverty has trippled. another point is that some people would have gotten more but minimum wage is all they get. how will poverty be gone with such stupidity?

What he might be saying is that everyone should earn a living wage, not a minimum wage, there is a difference and I don't know what the cost of living is like in America but the figures quoted look pretty low to me. If it is anything like britain, the minimum wage here is pathetic and should be higher so that it becomes a living wage.

I think the real point is...how many people are banging down the door for minimum wage jobs? We, atleast in my area, have had many high paying automotive jobs leaving and everyone is sitting around waiting for more to show up (I think they will be waiting for awhile!). On the other extreme you have the people who have no intentions of getting a job because it will interfer with their government handouts. The idea of a solid work ethic is gone in this country. What ever happened to a parent thinking outside the box for the advancement of their children...making the next generation have it better than us?

I think minimum wage should be for the teenage students with after school jobs. They should have another set amount for adults as a "minimum wage", if you know what I mean. This problem could be better solved if High School students had to take a course in money management. That way, they will (hopefully) make better money spending decisions in their life after school.

I think his point is even people who are above poverty are still "poor"...my hubby works 70 hrs a week...we barely make it each month...we don't live extravagantly...having to take the kids to the doctors or get our only car fixed or being sick & missing a day can really throw us of for a month. anyone who works his tail off should not be wondering if he has enough money in his bank account to buy groceries... i'd like to add my hubby has 2 bachelor's degrees...so it is not like he is uneducated & working at mcdonalds...he did everything people are "supposed" to do to have a good job - it is just too hard for people to ever get ahead... the average monthly mortgage payment is $1200...working minimum wage 40 hrs a week would only give you a little over $800 - don't forget you have to pay taxes...if you want insurance that's another $150 deducted... Even at $10/hour it is impossible to get by - I barely supported myself & a kid on $12/hr in the crappiest $425/month apartment I could find - I made "too much" money for assistance or insurance... I think $7 should be the minimum for dependants (teens under 18 working at places) and $9 for college students and $15 for anyone who has a college degree I couldn't even fathom hiring someone for less than $10 an hour - that's why I don't work because I'd have to pay the baby sitter just as much as I earned. so maybe obama is "technically" off by 66 cents an hour for minimum wage...That $105.60 extra a month doesn't make much difference at all - unless maybe you're trying to get assistance and they tell you earn too much to qualify or they start taking that much if not more out of your paycheck for taxes...we spent $120 at the grocery store for 2 weeks of groceries buying just the necessities