A one-two punch for labor: 1) Raise the minimum wage and 2) Establish a minimum guaranteed income

[reformist2]

I think there's a growing realization that raising the minimum wage alone isn't going to solve the growing cheap-labor/working-poor/poverty problem. While the big mega-corporations could certainly afford to cough up a few more dollars per hour for their workers, there are too many struggling small businesses out there who simply cannot afford to pay anyone more than say $12 an hour. So we end up with the unprecedented situation of an economy that seemingly is fully functional, but that doesn't provide enough jobs to go around. That's why we also need to establish a guaranteed minimum income for those who can't find work - something that will keep them out of poverty - probably on the order of a couple hundred dollars a week. Given the millions of people out there looking for work, there still would be many people willing to work for the new minimum wage, so small businesses need not worry. Actually, providing everyone with a basic level of income ought to be a welcome boost to the economy.

Sorry my thoughts are not that well organized, but surprise, surprise I don't have the time - I have to go to work.

[hobbit709]

1. you have better odds of winning the Powerball than Congress doing that.

Our Congresscritters are pretty much owned by the corporations.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Is it thinking like that which allows Texas to keep such low minimum wages?

Here in Oregon the minimum is 8.95 and that rises with inflation, automatically. Washington is even higher at $9.19 an hour. Texas, 7.25.
I'd hazzard a guess that our Statehouses have better 'critters' than yous does. Why is that? Are they born in their seats?

[hobbit709]

5. You've never been to TX have you?

Outside of the major cities, the average voter is ignorant, conservative and proud of it. And the Rs take every advantage they can of it. Like a supermajority in the Lege to ramrod bills through no matter what, The redistricting that carved out perpetual fiefdoms for the bastards.

I live in what the conservatives used to call the People's Republic of Austin. TX was a lot more liberal when I first came here in 1974 but the Koch brother whores have turned it into something else. After Idiot son got elected, it went downhill fast.

[Dawgs]

2. Just raise the minimum wage to $10.25 and ALL BUSINESSES will be able to afford it.

Even struggling small businesses.

What makes raising the minimum wage so great is that every business will see improved profits. Mainly because every employee that makes minimum wage will get a pay increase. And, of course, all of that new income will be spent at some other business.

Minimum guaranteed income we already have, and passing a new bill would never fly anyways.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. That's not much of a raise for earners in WA where it is already $9.19 an hour

Or in Oregon which is 8.95
And no we do not have a 'minimum guaranteed income' already, nothing like it at all.

[Dawgs]

8. Uh, those are state minimum wages.

Nothing I suggested says they can't raise them higher than a national minimum wage; which is what I'm suggesting, of course.

You're right. We don't have a minimum guaranteed income. Regardless, it's a dumb idea.

[area51]

6. We do need a guaranteed minimum income. I believe Krugman brought this up recently.

You brought up a great point about how we don't have enough jobs to go around for everyone.

[liberal_at_heart]

7. wages is definitely one of the issues the democrats are not fully addressing.

You are right. Just raising the minimum wage is not enough. But given that both parties have been bought by the 1% I doubt you will ever see democrats fighting for a minimum guarnteed income.

[gopbegone]

9. In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of MLK jr's March on Washington

In his final book Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (1967) Martin Luther King Jr. wrote[5]

"I am now convinced that the simplest approach will prove to be the most effective — the solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now widely discussed measure: the guaranteed income."

[demwing]

10. Welcome to DU, gopbegone! /nt