Why are so many people against raising the minimum wage?

Question

I keep hearing "inflation, inflation", it's meant to fight that not increase it..

I don't get what the big deal is, people act like we've never done it before.. Like everyone is going to lose their jobs and it'll cost $10.00 for a cheeseburger.. We've done it before people, and nothing close to that has happened. Twice with Clinton, and twice with the first Bush in only 4 yrs.. Where are they getting this stuff??

eott0-D o I have to make it to want it raised? Sorry but that sounds really greedy. You clearly have the mindframe of "if it doesn't affect me, I don't care".. I make much more, but I don't think any "american" should have to make crap. It needs to be raised!! Whether the greedy like it or not..

Answer 1

I'm against raising the federal minimum wage because I don't believe that setting a minimum wage is a duty of the federal government. Each state should control their minimum wage because the salary necessary to live in Alabama, Georgia or Mississippi is not the same as needed to live in New York, California or Hawaii.

If the residents of a state feel the minimum wages needs to be addressed they should do so. This is one of the areas where the feds need to step aside, they are encroaching upon states rights.

Most states I have been to recently have set the minimum wages well above the federal guideline anyway. Raising the minimum wage would just be political grandstanding and wouldn't necessarily affect too many employees. It's feel-good legislation and would be designed as an election year ploy, "See we raised the minimum wage, vote for us!"

Answer 2

There are a lot of valid reasons to be against raising the minimum wage. Probably the most compelling is that the benefit does not equal the cost.

Some 90% of economists believe the minimum wage raises unemployment among low-skill workers. (1) There is a wide consensus that it leads to inflation as well. That's not to say raising the minimum wage would destroy the economy. As you pointed out, we've done it before and seemed to do okay. But what we probably observed was the bad effects of the minimum wage increase being cancelled out by good effects from other trends.

It's kind of like a tug of war, with me on one end of the rope and the Pittsburgh Steelers on the other end. The rope is probably not going to be pulled in my direction. Still, I am obviously making things harder for the Steelers, if only a little bit.

The magnitude of harm from the minimum wage may not seem so bad, since it does not ruin the economy. But the benefit is even smaller. As of 2005, only about 2% of workers earned the minimum wage. (2) Most of these are young people or part-time workers, not people trying to support a family. And even most of these people will earn more than the minimum wage after a few weeks on the job. Very few people are hired at the minimum wage and stay there for very long.

There are also the political and ethical reasons against the minimum wage. As other people have answered, it's not the job of the Federal government to set wages. In my opinion, it's not the job of the states, either. No government should be involved in the private, consensual decisions of adults. That includes things in the boardroom along with things in the bedroom.

Just because you think low wages are immoral doesn't give you the right to impose your morality on others.

Answer 3

Raising the minimum wage is not something that effect just those with low paying jobs. It immediatly forces the business to raise prices proportionatly on all products. Meaning consumers pay more...meaning strain on their budgets...meaning forcing their employer to raise wages for all. It directly does increase inflation. The governemnt than has to print more money for circulation, dolloar doesn't buy what a dollar could before! Granted for maybe one week those with minimum paying jobs have more purchasing power but than they are right back in the same boat. Free-market means you are paid for your skills. Years ago remember anybody with a computer degree or skills were riding a golden train. Now the market has righted itself and demand for those same skills plus pay level have dropped sharply. If some one is will ing to work for $5 an hour than they are worth $5 an hour. But if no one will do the job and you have to raise the wage to hire someone than that is free market. People seem to want to go around this time tested system and just get money quickly. Quick money always gets you more trouble than you will ever know!

Answer 4

it is true...inflation...no not everyone will lose thier jobs and cheeseburges wont cost $10 but the price of living will continue to increase and probably cause problems for many...as you said it has increased a few times already in the recent past..so why does it need to be increased again? why are you so for raising the minimum wage? get a decent job and an education and you wont have to worry about it

Most people making minimum wage arent "american" usually illegal immigrants looking for any work they can get

Answer 5

Where does the money for a wage increase come from? Not from the "greedy employer", it comes out of your pocket when the company raises prices to cover it. Minimum wage applies more to McJobs than to careers anyway.

Answer 6

Oh, that's simple.

When the minimum wage goes up - Prices also go up because they (insert any type of commercial sellers here) figure since you've got more money now, you can afford to pay MORE for their products!

It's a vicious cycle. It'll cost a bag of rubies for a loaf of bread one day because of the minimum wage at 3 million dollars per hour.

Answer 7

What's with the answers that say people aren't on minimum wage anymore? It is hard to find a good paying job and I know a handful of people on minimum wage and they were teenagers a long time ago.

Answer 8

I don't understand what the big deal is either as pay is a business deduction for the employer, so they're not losing anything & if people have more money, they will more than likely spend more of it & it would pretty much even things out.
And the gap between rich & poor just keeps increasing.......
not good for either...look at Mexico...where do we Americans migrate to?????

Answer 9

um, yeah, the minimum wage increase is going to be around 20%. See if any of the other wage increase were that high. I doubt it

Answer 10

people don't want to raise minimum wage because it means giving out more money.... everything in this world is about money... it's sickening the lengths some people go to just to get rich, and i must say, it's the goverment that are leading this money grabbing attitude