The verdict is in: Higher minimum wages DO NOT kill jobs

[Union Thug]

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This was published back in April. I hope it's not a dupe.
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The verdict is in: Higher minimum wages DO NOT kill jobs

by Rick S. Bender, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO

http://www.wslc.org/columns/06apr.htm

President Ford once said, “The American wage earner and the American housewife are a lot better economists than most economists care to admit.”

That might explain why, despite the sky-is-falling cries of “neo-conomists” who predict unemployment, Americans consistently support raising the minimum wage. Why? They don’t believe these hired Chicken Littles -- with good reason.

It’s never been clearer than today that higher minimum wages do not increase unemployment. Ironically, we have the Bush administration and this Republican Congress to thank for that. Their shamefully historic neglect of the federal minimum wage -- mired at $5.15 an hour for eight years and counting -- has led many states to pick up their slack. The result is a national patchwork of minimum wages, which have repeatedly demonstrated no negative economic impact of raising the lowest legal wage...

[lovuian]

1. Its Only been Good for America

never Bad

Republican Congress were cruel to Workers

[Rosemary2205]

2. Me and my broken record -- wages aren't the REAL issue

the real issue is the ability of all Americans to access affordable housing, food, medical care, education etc. My grandpa was able to buy and house and support a family of 5 on the low wages of a grave digger. My auntie was widow and raised her 3 kids on waitress income. They had a decent place to live, medicare care when they really needed it, enough food, and all the kids have college degrees.

I agree raising the minimum wage is necessary but that is only a band-aid. The real issue is being able to MAKE A LIVING. Which is MUCH more complicated than simply throwing a few cents more an hour at the lowest paid workers.

[Union Thug]

4. I don't think anyone would disagree that there are other components...

but wages are certainly a significant part of the issue, along with med care, pensions, credit laws, bankruptcy laws, lifetime access to free education, etc.

[NaturalHigh]

3. Now it's up to the Democrats...

to raise the minimum wage. They have all the votes they need. They have the leadership of both chambers of Congress. There will be Republicans who vote with them. This time around, there will be no valid excuses not to stand up for working people.

[Warpy]

5. No, they CREATE jobs

As more people have more money to spend, they increase demand for goods and services. That increases employment, and it becomes a positive cycle until inflation wipes out those gains.

Inflation isn't from the higher wages, kiddies. Back in the 70s, it was from the doubling of oil prices but it was blamed on high wages. Wages have never recovered to their 1969 purchasing power, which is why Momma has to go out and work. The inflation we are about to see is due to the falling dollar, thanks to this administration. As soon as China allows its currency to float, we'll see just how expensive those Walmart T-shirts really are.

It will undoubtedly be blamed on the increase in the minimum wage, so hold onto your hats and turn on your bullshit meters.

The only way a hike in the minimum wage is inflationary is if it is increased to a ridiculous level. If it were increased to, say, twenty five bucks an hour, you'd see a lot of inflation as all employers scrambled to raise prices to compensate for it. A modest rise usually doesn't equate to hiked prices, as small employers are still trying to undercut each other and get as much business as they can.