Miami archbishop: raise the minimum wage [CC]

[Mickey_Finn]

Thank you for pointing this out, Ender.

I think many people are trying to look at the minimum wage in the context of economics/common sense and balancing it with morals.

The reason why wages are so low in some jobs has many variables, and simply saying we must mandate a “Living Wage” must be looked at in a greater context.

They are lower because the owners want to keep more for themselves.

 

[Silvio_Dante]

Who says 40 hours is the appropriate amount of time to work in a week? Why not 60 hours?

The ‘Social’ part of Social Justice plays its part here. For too long many people who live on poverty line wages have become slaves to work. Denying themselves quality time for themselves and their families.

The capitalist Greed is Good mantra has condemned millions of people t despair working every hour God sends to keep their heads above water.

I think you’ll find there’s a Jesuit in the Vatican who agree with me…

 

[Orogeny]

Any wage that after working 40 hours a week does not provide for the worker’s basic needs and those of his/her family…

Why only 40 hours a week? I frequently work more than that and I am salaried, not hourly.

Peace

Tim

 

[shockerfan]

This is just the tip of the iceberg. We, as a society, rightly or wrongly, have decided you cannot discriminate based on age or family status.

Agreed. The term “living wage” is nebulous. Living wage for who? what family structure? location?

It also does not take into account the business. Contrary to the belief of many on the left, not every business owner is a millionaire, and many are struggling to make ends meet, especially in light of the the burdensome costs that Obama’s policies impose on them.

There needs to be a balanced approach to the whole topic of wages, and what the real impacts are of raising them. There will always be consequences of raising costs on business, whether its healthcare, wages, taxes, regulatory, etc.

 

[Silvio_Dante]

This is an excellent question. Many times I see language used by those on the left to describe “working American”, as an hourly worker putting in 40 hours per week, which seems to imply that perhaps an accountant putting in 70 hours a week, or a company president traveling 80% of the time…working 80 hours per week is not really working.

There are some who have disorders and are obsessed with work, others who work crazy hours to stay away from the nagging spouse. That’s sad. but whats tragic is those who are forced to become slaves to capitalism because the system has deemed they are not worthy of a decent wage…

 

[Orogeny]

The ‘Social’ part of Social Justice plays its part here. For too long many people who live on poverty line wages have become slaves to work. Denying themselves quality time for themselves and their families.

The capitalist Greed is Good mantra has condemned millions of people t despair working every hour God sends to keep their heads above water.

I think you’ll find there’s a Jesuit in the Vatican who agree with me…

The Pope thinks that no one should have to work more than 40 hours in a week? Can you give me the source of that insight?

Peace

Tim

 

[Silvio_Dante]

The Pope thinks that no one should have to work more than 40 hours in a week? Can you give me the source of that insight?

Peace

Tim

Read that particular post again that I say he agrees with. Nowhere is 40 hours mentioned.

Peace.

Sil…

 

[J_Peterson]

Are people in the same position to be paid different wages based on their family situation?

Example: A restaurant has 2 people who prepare food, one is 17 and lives at home, one is 35 and has a house, wife, 3 kids, 2 cars, and and elderly mother he cares for.

Do you pay them different for same work?

Of course they would be paid the same. We are talking about $9 an hour (proposed increased federal minimum wage), more for states that pass their own laws. Even then I’d be surprised if any went above $10-$11. These amounts are all very reasonable.

 

[shockerfan]

There are some who have disorders and are obsessed with work, others who work crazy hours to stay away from the nagging spouse. That’s sad. but whats tragic is those who are forced to become slaves to capitalism because the system has deemed they are not worthy of a decent wage…

What is your definition of “a decent wage”? Please be specific.

 

[Orogeny]

Read that particular post again that I say he agrees with. Nowhere is 40 hours mentioned.

Peace.

Sil…

You were defending your 40 hour/week limit. Read the post I was responding to.

Peace

Tim

 

[shockerfan]

Of course they would be paid the same. We are talking about $9 an hour (proposed increased federal minimum wage), more for states that pass their own laws. Even then I’d be surprised if any went above $10-$11. These amounts are all very reasonable.

$9 is a living wage?

 

[shockerfan]

They are lower because the owners want to keep more for themselves.

I can assume from this comment that you have not owned or run a business, correct?

I know of one former business owner, an electrical engineer who owned his own company that made electrical control panels, who was clearing $35K at the end of the year. Not exactly a millionaire, huh?

 

[stinkcat_14]

I can assume from this comment that you have not owned or run a business, correct?

I know of one former business owner, an electrical engineer who owned his own company that made electrical control panels, who was clearing $35K at the end of the year. Not exactly a millionaire, huh?

Not exactly one who understands economics either. He should find another line of work.

 

[J_Peterson]

$9 is a living wage?

Not in most cases but it’s a step in the right direction. From there they can put something in place that ensures it will increase by at least a fraction of the rate of inflation.

What are the alternatives? Get rid of the minimum wage all together and hope capitalism grows a conscience, raise it very high and cause the problems many here are worried about, or do nothing.

 

[Orogeny]

$9 is a living wage?

I think that it should be at least $25/hr. That way we would have no poverty at all and everyone could work just 40 hours/week, own their own house and car and pay income taxes.

Peace

Tim

 

[shockerfan]

Not exactly one who understands economics either. He should find another line of work.

He did. But he made what the market could bear. The point is this: some people seem to view business owners is this ultra-rich, ultra-greedy group of people who are heartless to not pay people $15-20 per hour for low value work. Some are, some are not. Its getting harder and harder in the US for new businesses because of all the costs government expects them to bear. Like I said before, we need a balanced approach, and to realize you can’t raise labor costs in a vacuum, and not expect it to impact other variables.

 

[Silvio_Dante]

What is your definition of “a decent wage”? Please be specific.

I have already. A weekly wage after 40 hours work that provides for the basic needs of the employee and his/her family. The hourly rate will vary from economy to economy…

 

[Silvio_Dante]

You were defending your 40 hour/week limit. Read the post I was responding to.

Peace

Tim

And I said the Pope agrees with what I said in another particular post. the one you quoted that didn’t refer to the 40 hour week…

 

[shockerfan]

I have already. A weekly wage after 40 hours work that provides for the basic needs of the employee and his/her family. The hourly rate will vary from economy to economy…

that is still pretty nebulous. Let me help you: family of 4 in “average town” USA. What is the hourly wage?

 

[Silvio_Dante]

-]/-]

that is still pretty nebulous. Let me help you: family of 4 in “average town” USA. What is the hourly wage?

I live in Ireland and am just about happy with our minimum wage which equates to $12…