Why do they call it minimum wage....?

[MindMover]

Can we start calling it a livable wage instead.....?


http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/nader_to_occupy_help_raise_the_minimum_wage_20120227/?ln

[spanone]

1. doesn't matter what you call it, republicans will always be opposed to it

[mac56]

2. Jerry Seinfeld's line:

"Minimum wage is an employer's way of saying, 'I'd pay you less if I could.'"

[Vincardog]

3. We can call it a livable wage. It will never be one until it is indexed to the cost of living

[lunatica]

4. The minimum wage law was actually passed to protect women and children workers in the 1930s

It forced employers to pay them what was considered more of a living wage. Imagine that. Now it's used to keep people dirt poor.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

5. David Cross said it best.

"Can somebody explain to me again why I shouldn't be selling drugs?"

[handmade34]

6. no.

We should start demanding that people be paid a livable wage... but "it" is a different thing altogether...

http://www.livingwage.geog.psu.edu/

http://universallivingwage.org/

[TheMastersNemesis]

7. Floor Level New Deal Initiative

Before the New Deal there was NO minimum wage. Wages were largely set by the market or by demand.

And when the minimum wage was passed back then it was more realistic compared to expenses at the time. Now the minimum wage is very low compared to buying power. If it had kept up with inflation the wage would be over $10 an hour for sure and most likely even more than that.

The GOP wants to end the minimum wage altogether. They believe the free market should dictate. And what they actually most likely mean is that that free market be the "global market". In India wages are as low as $1 a day. In Africa wages might be as low as 10 cents a day if that. So be careful about the rhetoric. Free for all falling wages is what free market might mean today.

At this time there are laws proposed in two states by GOP reps to lower the minimum wage for teenagers to $4.65 and hour.

So the idea of "living wage" which is more like $15.00 and hour gives the GOP a heart attack. Then again.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

8. Most republicans will feed you the same tired response.

"It will raise the price of everything" "it will cost jobs"

Australia's minimum wage? 15.50 an hour. (about 16.70 in US dollars)

Australia's unemployment rate? 5.1%

[HopeHoops]

9. Because they want to pay the minimum they can.