global minimum wages

[ensho]

a caller on Wash. Journal this morning asked about this to one of the guests at the table.

guest didn't think it was a good idea. I do.

like road signs. most countries of the world have similar road signs. which is a good thing.

having a not mandated global minimum wage would be good too. the negative would mean some poor countries couldn't do it so would have to wait until their country got less poor.

what do you all think?

[slackmaster]

1. Because the cost of living varies widely from place to place

The idea has no merit whatsoever.

[Junkdrawer]

2. Dick Gephardt made this the centerpiece of his 2004 Presidential Run...

The Global Minimum Wage

I applaud Ronald Brownstein for extolling the virtues of the global minimum wage. I applaud even more Rep. Dick Gephardt for introducting the idea of the global minimum wage into his campaign for president. This idea is brilliant. It will do many things to improve the lives of American as well as foreign workers, to make trade among nations fairer and to produce a more stable and peaceful world. A global minimum wage will do more to reduce terrorism than many of the military activities of the Bush administration.

Gephardt's idea: Every nation that wants to be a member of the World Trade Organization, must adopt a minimum wage. The level would vary with different nations, of course, but it should be high enough

"to allow someone to live like a human being."

I love this idea because it tackles the globalization problem from a world-community or common-good point of view. And this is the viewpoint we must adopt in order to decrease the level of terrorism in the world.

If we are cooperative and helpful to other nations they are more likely to act the same way toward us. Anti-American propaganda will decrease. Nothing will make this vicious propaganda die. But there will be a lot less resentment and belligerence toward the U.S. This will lead to fewer terrorists.

....

http://www.learningfountain.com/blog/archives/00000169.htm

[madokie]

3. Yes every country should have a mimimun livable wage

nothing less. The operative word being livable

[ben_meyers]

4. A "Global Minimum Wage" mandated and enforced by whom?

Kind of like Miss Universe wishing for "world peace" isn't it?

[ensho]

5. read it again - UNMANDATED - not mandated

nt

[Junkdrawer]

6. By tariffs on goods made by slave labor n/t

[ben_meyers]

8. Tariffs imposed by and collected by what international authority?

If you want to solve a global problem you're going have to implement a global government. Or maybe Klaatu and Gort will make a comeback.

[Junkdrawer]

9. So, the US Government can no longer impose tariffs on imports?

:shrug:

[Cleita]

7. Minimum wage isn't what's needed but a

basic living wage and that varies according to the cost of living. What is really needed besides that is going the next step to level the P/L field. There should be universal health care in all countries. That eliminates a big burden on business. And we need tariff laws to protect our industries. It would discourage manufacturers from making products overseas and then importing them here for a cheaper price. If the price is the same because of added tariffs, then the manufacturer will be less tempted to outsource the jobs and keep the manufacturing domestic.

[KharmaTrain]

10. Impossible To Enforce...

Too many factors here to play with, but trying to get a uniform international monetary standard or standard of living is far more adventurous than the human condition could handle. It means creating some international body that would oversee this plan and have some enforcement power for nation's that don't comply. Do you think the U.S. should give control of its labor markets to an international body? I don't see many too excited with that prospect.

Next you have different cultures and economic conditions...developed vs. un-developed...do you demand the same rates in both or do you adjust for their status? Or how about countries that don't want to join altogether? Do we boycott these countries? Invade?

Lastly, you have multi-national corporations who will always find the weakest link...cheapest labor, best money shelters, easiest to bribe officials...the establishment of regulations always opens opportunities for those to cheat...why give them another reason?

Economically, each company seeks its own level. The goal is to cooperate with the various systems...and work toward a situation of fair trade among developed countries and investment in un-developed ones...if there's propserity, it spreads around.

Cheers...

[onenote]

11. who is going to set this global unmandated rate?

[Edweird]

12. Pointless. The countries that SHOULD follow it will simply ignore it.

Voluntary compliance by the non-compliers? Dream on.