Why hasn't the minimum wage in the US been raised in nine years??

Question

Does anyone have a resonsbly intelligent answer to this?

Answer 1

raising minimum wage means that companies have to raise their prices to compensate for it. a company doesn't like to loose money. The Corporations that put contributions in the candidate's funds tell them not to raise it, so the don't.

If you want to make more than minimum wage, continue your education and work hard. Companies reward that.

B-Cool

Answer 2

It is probably, as a few have stated, matter of Republican philosphy vs. Democrat philosophy.

I have always felt a bit torn on the issue. Yes, it is true that teenagers with no (financial) responsibilities will be greatly impacted, but then, why not? We have a shameful number of working families below the poverty level.

And the reality is inflation seems to follow a raise in the MW. But for corporations, I just cannot believe that figure is much more than a drop in the bucket. Yes, their profit may be reduced, but they get enough tax breaks to keep the earning gap between the top of the pile and the bottom ever growing. And their extra cost at the low end is considered an expense anyway, and as such is totally deductible, isn't it? .

Hmmm... I think I just talked myself off the fence LOL.

Answer 3

Probably because the Republicans have had control of the house, senate and presidency. In their theory of a free market, outside controls are usually viewed as having a negative impact on the overall economy, driving prices up, causing inflation, and forcing the poor into higher tax brackets and negating the gains received from the increased minimum wage. In a healthy economy with minimal unemployment, wages should naturally rise.

Now that the democrats control the house and senate (and probably soon the white house), we can probably expect legislation to increase the minimum wage.

While I sympathize with the Republican philosophy, I also remember some very lean times of minimum wage employment as a young husband and father. It would have been nice to have a higher wage then, and some relief from the social security taxes that took a sizable portion of a very small paycheck.

Answer 4

The Minimum Wage is one of the most powerful inflation triggers there are. And there is no real reason to raise it. MW is intended for specific people: Students who HAVE no responsibilities, and ppl reentering the job market who need to prove themselves. Neither group would stay at MW for long if they are worth ANYTHING. Forcing employers to pay for services not rendered is a great way to trigger the kind of inflation we saw in the '60's and '70's. Do you really want that?

Answer 5

Minimum wage is different in all states. Why is it such a big deal? If you're a 30 year old making minimum, stop complaining. You could/can goto college an make more. If you're a teenager, why do you care?

Minimum wage is getting raised to 7.50$ an hour in California.

If you wan't to make more, you shouldn't have came to this country illegally. If you came here legally, why didn't you goto College?

If you went to college an worked hard, you could be making 3,000$ a minute like Bill Gates.

Answer 6

All raising the minimum wage does is cause inflation of products. Store owners and manufacturers have to defray the cost of workers through the price of their products. It just passes the buck to the comsumer, which if you don't know, even the workers are consumers.

Answer 7

How about just pay everyone regardless of what they do the same rate? Do celebrities really need to own their own private jets and islands? Why worry only about the minimum when the maximum is so very high?

Answer 8

If it gets raised we should be worry about high tax cuts.There's no way we can escape that!

Answer 9

plantation management - slave labor