Will raising the minimum wage in America solve or cause problems?

Answer 1

It will set off a round of inflation that will eventually render the raise moot. No amount of legislation can increase the value of unskilled labor.

Answer 2

Both. For people on the very low end of the scale, they'll make more money which, if they're trying to live on their salary and aren't a kid living at home making spending money, they probably need desperately.

Some will likely lose their jobs if minimum wage goes up enough to help, since some employers just won't be able to afford them. Past experience has shown that this isn't as large an issue as sometimes suggested, but it's pretty huge for the person who loses their job.

Eventually a ripple effect with probably push up salaries in general - the person who used to make a dollar an hour above minimum wage is now just at minimum wage along with people with no experience at all, and they'll (somewhat justifiably) expect a dollar or so increase... etc. etc etc. So wages rise, so the cost of manufacturing and distribution rise, so prices rise.... so is anybody really a lot better off?

That said, living these days on $5.15 an hour, and especially raising a couple kids on that, even if both parents are working making $5.15 an hour each, is darned near impossible. And a lot of the jobs available these days seem to be minimum wage or close to it.

If anyone knows where to find statistics on what percentage of minimum wage workers are kids still living at home and how many are adults trying to make it on their own, please post a link - I've looked for the info but not found it.

Answer 3

Why don't you ask Congress.They have voted themselves a raise TEN years in a row.They seem to think they need a cost of living raise every year.I say whats good for the Congress is good enough for me.Everytime the Congress raises their pay the minimum wage should be raised automatically.And make it reto-active for at least the last ten years.Why is it that politicans can get a raise every year,CEO's can get million dollar bonuses when the company is losing money(Disney for an example),but the poor working man who is struggling just to get by (see 30 Days,ON MINIMUM WAGE)on mininum wage can't get a raise.Why is it that everyone is concerned about what the little guy is making when they have so much.Oh I get it,you guys might not get that big raise or bonus if the guy out there in your company who's on the bottom rung gets a raise.Might cut into your profitability if they made enough to raise a family and maybe have some of that expendible income they keep hearing about but have never seen.Sure they should have all gone to college and then they wouldn't be in the position their in,right.Well the simple fact is a college education isn't for everyone.Some people like to work with their hands,some have talents other that being smart,maybe their just good honest people who for one reason or another didn't get a college education.Why should we as a country who helps the whole world buy giving them money in one form or another seek to deny the least fortunate of our society a living wage so they can enjoy a quality of life that every American should be guaranteed.Live and Let Die,a song by J Lennon,has a verse that says,Give The Other Fellow Hell,well thats exactly what we're doing in this country.Did you ever consider that if we had a Living Wage in this country there wouldn't be so many homeless people in our cities.Families wouldn't have to be seperated because Daddy lost his job and can't pay the rent or buy food and for the good of his family they are put with foster families or even adopted.WAKE UP PEOPLE it's not the mininum wage thats the problem.What is the problem is everyone looking down on the less fortunate and devalueing their contribution to our society to the point that they are nearly starving.Personally I think we need a big change in our country and I pray for the day that the least of us is cherished as much as those that are higest of us.

Answer 4

It would solve allot of problems. First unemployment would shrink and so would welfare. Did you know that minimum wage earners make less money by far than the average person on welfare. Whats the incentive to work for so little money, When you can get it for free by being on some government program??? Also taxes would be collected on this higher wage and in turn our national deficit would shrink. Not only that , but social security is also collected and so , it would actually be there in the future for those that pay into it.

Big Business has huge tax incentives and deductions as it is. In fact they pay a fraction of what the average household pays. Thanks to Bush. they where supposed to create jobs with their tax savings and increase pay and employee benefits. But of course their greedy and it all stays in their pocket. So why not raise the minimum wage and make the country a better place for more people.

Answer 5

Raise the minimum wage to at least 12-14 an hour.It will not hurt any small places of work .It will stop a lot of under the table work.and in the long run it will be good for all.It will get people of welfare,we collect more taxes.Europa all pay more than that.Sweden Norway Denmark and more.Here many collect welfare work and also make very good money off the books.The are making out good,People who are honest,work day and night are getting the bad deal and cant make it ,Soon everyone be on welfare.Only rich and poor.

Answer 6

It will cause more problems, because the "cost of living" will go up.
Fast food will be more expensive, among a variety of other things.
Minimum wage jobs were meant to be temporary positions, first jobs, or part-time jobs.
They are basically for young people, living with their parents, going to college.
Too many people are relying on them for permanent positons, which in turn, they will need a raise. These type of jobs are not meant to be permanent positions.

Answer 7

Alex's Answer - While this is a complicated issue with many factors affecting it, I am hard pressed to think that by neglecting to directly assist someone, you are somehow helping them.

Binyam's Answer - It is definitely not going to cause any problems rasing the minimum wage, however if any do occur, the positive impact would by far outweigh any negative effects.

Answer 8

It won't solve or cause problems. There's never enough money for a lot of people...but it will help a lot of people that work really hard and they should be compensated fairly and paid their worth.

Answer 9

That depends on who gets the raise. The next time their leases are up the land lord will take it away for rent. Cost of living increases are several years behind for low income people. The only way they can keep up is **** ******* or *******.

Answer 10

they say this every time we want to raise the minimum wage, nothing ever comes of it