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Originally Posted by stevo
The reality is there has always been poverty and there always will be. the minimum wage will not fix it. moving the minimum wage up from $5.15 to $7.50 won't do a thing to fight poverty. because $15,000 a year is not a "livable wage" If you want to dictate that people get paid a livable wage they need at least ten grand more than that. and closer to $30k+ with a family. so you can have the government dictate what business should pay or you can have the government redistribute wealth to the poor.
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Minimum wage isn't about fixing poverty, it's about taking an active role in trying to prevent poverty. Not a fix, more of a piace of tape that prevents the back bumper from falling off. It's better than nothing. "...there has always been poverty and there always will be." is an excellent cop out and a great way to ignore your social responsibility. Stevo, there has always been murder and there always will be. Maybe we should stop taking steps to prevent it?
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Originally Posted by stevo
There's the mentality that business owners aren't also "just trying to make it" but already have made it. And thats not true. Take restaruant owners. Many mom&pop restaurants are "just trying to make it" the owner of that business isn't some rich meanie with a fat cigar. he's a working stiff. he has a business to run and employees to pay. Where is the extra money going to come from? should he have the same standard of living as the dishwasher in the back? After all, this guy put his sweat and tears into his business to get it going and keep it open. He can get another dishwasher anywhere. If you mandate the minimum wage be some livable wage - where is the money going to come from?
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Some business owners are greedy, and no one can argue with that. Someone who makes over $50 million a year is no longer able to call him or herself a working stiff, and is living so far above the poverty line that it's not even visable. I put my sweat and tears in to my business, but I make damn well sure that my workers get fair compensation.
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Originally Posted by stevo
Any business owner knows you get what you pay for and if he's satisfied with what he's got then why should he have to pay more? Its his business. If the low wage employee isn't happy they are more than free to find another job or start a business of their own.
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As much as the libertarian in me agrees with the previous statement, it's just not logical. Have you ever tried to start your own busniess? Do you know the capitol it takes to do that?
Some people, like myself, are stuck in the job that they have because either they have no other options, or the other options are even worse than the job you currently have. I'd love to start my own business or change jobs right now, but I have a responsibility to my family to do waht it takes to put food on the table and a roof over our heads.
Stevo, have you ever worked for minumum wage?