If the minimum wage was lowered to $3.50 per hour

[OKdon]

There would still be people arguing that it is too much. Why? Because they can only see wages and prices determined by capitalistic markets. I wouldn't bother them if we had millions of folks starving as long as capitalist principles are upheld.

The truth is capitalism in itself doesn't serve all of humanity well. It leaves far too many behind and business is not really blessed with a conscience.  Not considering the well being of the employee while their main concern is how much less can I pay. If you could hire a good machine operator for $5 per hour would you insist he take more or would you live well with your bargain?

Tough question for all of us that are always on the look out for a bargain. However, if government recognizes the abject poverty that many of it's people cope with they just may decide that an adjustment is in order. Why? Because business may fail to recognise what is good for the community at large.

The point being that the best situation for business and the economy at whole is a customer base with money in their pocket. That was the purpose for the Fed printing presses to put more cash in the economy. Of course trickle down doesn't ever work as advertised.

Question for you: How low would the minimum wage be if the capitalist market did the deciding?

[BA Deere]

I don`t think it would matter, Winnebago is hiring at $12.50/hr...or if you`re a woman, they`re only paying $10/hr....pardon me Don ...somebody just said something....what was that?   huh-huh   huh-huh

Yeah Don, I`m back...I guess Winnebago starting wage is $12.50/hr for BOTH men and women.

[OKdon]

A case where demand exceeds supply but what do we do where supply exceeds demand? 

[BA Deere]

That is so simple Don, I'm glad you asked. Get rid of some "supply", deport Mexicans and don't let anymore in. Slap tariffs on goods coming in that undercut our workers. And I'll do you one better, raise the minimum wage to at least $15/hr because that is a bare living wage amount, that would eliminate the need from the government to subsidize below living wage American workers.

[wehav]

Actually get rid of Democrat control and wages and jobs would both increase.  

Build  pipelines.

Burn coal for lower cost energy.

Quit adding stuff to cars making them cost more.

Get rid of insane building codes,  (note insane not all building codes)

Curb the EPA power.

Put back the Bush tax rates so low income people don't pay 15% but only 10%.  So little is mentioned or said about the 50%rise in tax on the poor by Obama and the Democrats.

Repair our roads and bridges as well as the grid.  That would be a massive amount of good and it would create a lot of jobs.

[OKdon]

Wehav  low wage people don't earn enought to pay taxes, so your tax proposal would do nothing. 50% increase in taxes on the poor. Think again

Repubs have opposed any effort to rebuild infrastructure.

EPA power is what is keeping our air and water clean.

[schnurrbart]

Would you care to elaborate on all those taxes that have risen on the poor?

[wehav]

Some people are challenged mathmatically and others are challenged in other ways.  But it appears that many of the left are only challenged as to how to spin the truth.

Poor people do pay taxes.  There was a 10% bracket under George Bush.  Obama and his Democrat controlled congress eliminated that bracket and raised it 50% to 15%.  So somebody who may have had a taxable income of $5000 paid $500 under George Bush but under Obama they have to pay $750.  That's $250 more or a 50% increase and it hits those to whom $250 is significant. 

[OKdon]

You can google about three different sites and they have charts that show you are wrong. I would advise you do do that before you makemore of a fool of yourself.

[weedman]

Did you actually think before you asked the question? What would you do if you were in charge of the widget company and you found yourself with about a years inventory? Keep on producing? Up your wage scale to keep on producing with even higher costs?