Speaking of the minimun wage going up to 15 bucks an hour...

[Sleipnir]

I think it's a good thing to increase to $15 and have teenagers work the wage because they are probably the number one consumer out there and will definitely boost the economy.  It would definitely take a load off me if my daughter made that much when she starts working.  She can then save for college and spend on all the clothes she wants.

I think a rise in wages is needed at the very bottom, but I wouldn't say it needs to rise to $15 now for low skill jobs.  I think that would hurt the job market and economy more than actually help it.

As far as college goes, aren't you helping your daughter through college and are you and your spouse making plans/saving to help them?  Or are they on their own and pulling out huge amounts of student loans that are unforgivable?

[lexicon]

The one misperception that we have to think carefully about is who is getting paid minimally and for what job are they being compensated for;

1. Food Prep
2. Dishwashers
3. Cashiers
4. Hosts and Hostesses
5. Amusement Park Attendant
6. Ushers
7. Personal Home Care Aid
8. Farm Workers
9. Airport Workers
10. Casino Workers
11. Lifeguards 

My point being this affects more than just Debbie at your local McDonalds. Don't be led by the who you see marching in the streets. The minimum wage should increase. But by how much is still debatable.

[zena]

I think a rise in wages is needed at the very bottom, but I wouldn't say it needs to rise to $15 now for low skill jobs.  I think that would hurt the job market and economy more than actually help it.

As far as college goes, aren't you helping your daughter through college and are you and your spouse making plans/saving to help them?  Or are they on their own and pulling out huge amounts of student loans that are unforgivable?

Well, I kind of mentioned earlier that if the bottom jobs are raised to $15 then everything else should raise a little too for the middle class workers.  No one can live on $8.75 an hour in this day and age.  I realize that there will be adults who will likely live off the minimum wage for the rest of their lives.  Not everyone has the mind capacity for academics or to create their own business or to even pickup a completely new skill.  If the min wage is not changed/increased to a reasonable level, our society will definitely have a shift and a rift in wealth and status. 

As for the kids, we will do what husband's parent's did for them, which is pay for their undergraduate.  If they choose to go further, they would have to find ways to pay for it and we'd help a little too (there is no way we can afford to pay for Harvard Med school...that's where daughter wants to do her residency and fellowship...I know, she dreams big).  Now if they can get full scholarships for undergrad, we'd help a little more with graduate.  Initially, I wasn't going to have the kids work while in school but I think it's a good way to get work experience and have them grow tough skin which I feel is essential for their future.

[zena]

The one misperception that we have to think carefully about is who is getting paid minimally and for what job are they being compensated for;

1. Food Prep
2. Dishwashers
3. Cashiers
4. Hosts and Hostesses
5. Amusement Park Attendant
6. Ushers
7. Personal Home Care Aid
8. Farm Workers
9. Airport Workers
10. Casino Workers
11. Lifeguards 

My point being this affects more than just Debbie at your local McDonalds. Don't be led by the who you see marching in the streets. The minimum wage should increase. But by how much is still debatable.

Around $15 sounds good.  A lot of those jobs are part-time and as we move forward, I get the feeling a lot more jobs will become part-time relieving companies of having to pay for health insurance.

[bulbasaur]

Fuel to the Fire 3....
You need to be making about $90,000 today to have the same buying power as $50,000 as in 1990. 

Fuel to the Fire 4...
In 1990, a 4 year college would cost about $5,000.  Today, it is about $24,000.  The rate of increase in tuition is much faster than the rate of inflation.  If tuition followed the buying power of other products on the market, it should cost about $9,000 today. 

Fuel to the Fire 5...
Today, the average starting college grad's salary is about $40,000.  In 1990, the average college grad's salary was about $40,000.  A grad has to make over $70,000 today to have the same buying power his/her counterpart had in 1990.  Only a handful of degrees break that $70,000, and those jobs tend to be in the sciences, specifically engineering. 

That being said, I should be fair and say that many degrees do indeed break $70,000 once the person is in mid-career.  However, at the bottom of the list are grads with degrees in social work and psychology, which is starting $37,000 or less.

Fuel to the Fire 6
In 2016, there is a push for minimum wage to go to $15/hr.  In 2016, the average college grad's hourly pay is about $18.

[zena]

Fuel to the Fire 3....
You need to be making about $90,000 today to have the same buying power as $50,000 as in 1990. 

Fuel to the Fire 4...
In 1990, a 4 year college would cost about $5,000.  Today, it is about $24,000.  The rate of increase in tuition is much faster than the rate of inflation.  If tuition followed the buying power of other products on the market, it should cost about $9,000 today. 

Fuel to the Fire 5...
Today, the average starting college grad's salary is about $40,000.  In 1990, the average college grad's salary was about $40,000.  A grad has to make over $70,000 today to have the same buying power his/her counterpart had in 1990.  Only a handful of degrees break that $70,000, and those jobs tend to be in the sciences, specifically engineering. 

That being said, I should be fair and say that many degrees do indeed break $70,000 once the person is in mid-career.  However, at the bottom of the list are grads with degrees in social work and psychology, which is starting $37,000 or less.

Fuel to the Fire 6
In 2016, there is a push for minimum wage to go to $15/hr.  In 2016, the average college grad's hourly pay is about $18.

Exactly my point.  If the min wage gets raised, higher rages should also get a raise.  Of course if you raise all the wages, you have to raise the price of goods and services too.  So, we're just going in circles.

[lexicon]

Fuel to the Fire 3....
You need to be making about $90,000 today to have the same buying power as $50,000 as in 1990. 

Fuel to the Fire 4...
In 1990, a 4 year college would cost about $5,000.  Today, it is about $24,000.  The rate of increase in tuition is much faster than the rate of inflation.  If tuition followed the buying power of other products on the market, it should cost about $9,000 today. 

Fuel to the Fire 5...
Today, the average starting college grad's salary is about $40,000.  In 1990, the average college grad's salary was about $40,000.  A grad has to make over $70,000 today to have the same buying power his/her counterpart had in 1990.  Only a handful of degrees break that $70,000, and those jobs tend to be in the sciences, specifically engineering. 

That being said, I should be fair and say that many degrees do indeed break $70,000 once the person is in mid-career.  However, at the bottom of the list are grads with degrees in social work and psychology, which is starting $37,000 or less.

Fuel to the Fire 6
In 2016, there is a push for minimum wage to go to $15/hr.  In 2016, the average college grad's hourly pay is about $18.

Great points. We can't just raise the minimum wage and expect to make things run smoother.

[Hung_Low]

Great points. We can't just raise the minimum wage and expect to make things run smoother.

Kinda what I've said all along... you can't make minimum wage @ $15/hr for the whole state or country. Let the market work itself out and let each city decide for themselves.

More and more fast food are turning to automation already and it's not even $15/hr yet. More low skill workers are going to be out of work than those that will benefit for the wage raise. Stay turn for more going to welfare...

[bulbasaur]

Fuel to the Fire 7...

Raising the minimum wage from $7.25 is currently a controversial topic.  However, 29 states already mandate a minimum wage that is already above $7.25.

[SummerBerry]

Kinda what I've said all along... you can't make minimum wage @ $15/hr for the whole state or country. Let the market work itself out and let each city decide for themselves.

More and more fast food are turning to automation already and it's not even $15/hr yet. More low skill workers are going to be out of work than those that will benefit for the wage raise. Stay turn for more going to welfare...

Fast food are not going to want many part time employees or high school kids just get 3-4 full time employees for each 12 hrs shift.  With today technology the app is enough to order and have your order ready by the time you get there.  I haven't tried any of the app for order but sooner or later might have to join everyone too.

Welfare is going to have to set their income eligibility along with every other gov/public assistance program.  It has been doing it for many yrs.  We care so much about wage increase but forget that there are plenty of lazy people who don't even want to work unless they are force.  You already got those who worked low wages is doing their best and get assistance where it is need. 

[bulbasaur]

Fuel to the Fire 8...

Working full-time minimum wage earns about $14,500 per year.  That puts millions of people in the poverty category, and that qualifies them for government benefits, social programs, etc. 

[thePoster]

I remember when I was working a factory job and u brung my income tax for my uncle to do and my total for the year was like 22k....  Even at that time I didn't think it was alot but my uncle was like "wow!  You made alot of money last year!".... I thought to myself " really?  I don't think 22k is alot at all...."

[bulbasaur]

Fuel to the Fire 9....

Biggie says, Mo money Mo problems.

[duckwingduck]

Inflation.  In the 90s, I could buy a soda can from the vending machine for $0.25.  Now it's $0.75.  $15/hr minimum sounds right.  When worker have more money, they spend and create a demand for jobs.  I am all for $15/hr.

I feel  I would need to make $160,000 to live comfortably in this country.

[Yebleng]

I don't mind living off of $15 an hour as long as both me and my wife is making that. I want to dumb all my expenses and go back to the simple life.