Should the U.S. Government set all wages?

Question

Since they set the minimum wage, why should they not go ahead and set wages for all jobs throughout America?

It is funny, but I hear a lot of people say that a min wage is ok, and that executives should have a salary cap. Don't they realise that if we give the gov. the power to regulate those 2 issues, then nothing stops them from setting ALL wages.

Answer 1

It is not the governments responsibility to make sure you don't live in poverty.
It is YOUR responsibility!
Get an education.
Get career skills that are worth something.
Don't have children until you can AFFORD them.
Don't snivel if you are too lazy not to do the aforementioned.
(And don't tell me you can't do it. I grew up poor as snakesnot. I put myself through college with loans. Now I make a very decent living.)

Answer 2

I don't know about setting wages, but I do beleive there should be a cap on these excessive profits and massive bonuses some of these businesses are getting. Especially the utility companies. Hey....I'm all for making profit........but when's enough enough? When people are having to make the choice of heat and electric or food while they are making billions in profit......something needs to break. I realize if if we all lived in the jungle these things might not be considered necessities.....but in this society it is. It doesn't appear that these guys are doing anything to improve their businesses. Look at how long and how many people died in these storms this year. I mean invest and improve and show some advancement instead of just pocketing these profits while people are dying because their still running on a skeleton crew claiming their about to go bankrupt. Please. Plus why should CEO's get a bonus for failing? Why should government officials get all their retirement package while their sitting in a Federal Prison for breaking the law?

They keep raising prices and adding fee's yet nothing is better. Customer service is at an all time low. Service is horrible just so a few can reap the benefits.

Answer 3

Actually the US Government does set a number of wages if you think about it. They set the wages for elected leaders, and civil service jobs. Of course, any employer does that.

The minimum wage issue is a red herring, and I really don't see why anybody should care. Any serious job already pays more than it. The occupations that were not covered, still aren't. So why are we all wasting brain cells and oxygen over it.

Question everybody: Can anybody name me a job where people are going to be paid more because of this bill? Give me an example if you would.

You know, I might have to make a question out of that.

-Dio

Answer 4

Well now...NO...we have Capitalism not Communism......Yes there should be a minimum wage for lower case employment, but from that point it should be regulated by industry per job requirement and the abilities of the employee to full fill the company needs, not the government taking charge. If you will take note the government cannot manage money/budget, so if it did enter private business control it most likely would bankrupt every corporation in the country.

Answer 5

What you are suggesting is something very akin to Communism. Just as prices for consumers are better when they are subject to free market pressures, employee benefits and salaries rise higher and are more commensurate with the skills and productivity of the employee when they are subject to competition. After all, if the wage for a skilled job is set, what incentive can a company offer a more skilled employee, vying for the same job as lesser skilled employee, to come work for them? Corporate America’s competitiveness domestically and internationally is directly contingent on their ability to offer competitive wages.

Though the government has a duty to ensure that lower skilled workers are not exploited at too low of a salary, hence the minimum wage statutes, it would be counterproductive to our greater prosperity to insist on having the government dictate the entire pay scale for every kind of worker. Countries where this has been tried suffer from lack of competitiveness and gross inefficiency.

Answer 6

The government can not legislate laws, congress does the president sign them into laws.
Congress reflect the will of the people ( should), hence the purpose of the law.
And that's exactly what's happening right now, congress handling the WAGES law .

Answer 7

If the government doesnt regulate minumum wage then any Jack, Jill, or Joe can pay you 2 cents an hour if he wanted to!

Answer 8

That won`t work, but the reason we have a minimum wage is because if we leave wages up to the employers they will get away with whatever we let them. Always remember corporations are not people had have no feelings because they are not human.

Answer 9

No one who works for a living should have to live in poverty! The Government is saying that over (8) million people do not deserve an honest days pay for an honest days work! They have kept the people in poverty since 1997! They are saying you don't matter, they don't care! We will not receive $7.25 until 2010! Would you work for 12yrs for a 17.6cent an hour increase in your paycheck? The increase actually amounts to 17.6cents an hour for waiting 12yrs to go from $5.15 to $7.25! 1997=$5.15 2010=$7.25! Thats insane! Do the Math! 12yrs,12yrs> Thanks for nothing!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

Did you grow up in the Soviet Union or Cuba or North Korea? If you didn't why don't you go live in Cuba or N. Korea for awhile and see how much you like have the Govt. control all wages. I think you'll love it.