Minimum wage laws hurt minimally skilled workers. I have seen first-hand evidence of this. I have seen, when the minimum wage was raised, the youngest and oldest workers fired first--the youngest because they're the least qualified (seriously--they can't even figure out change for a $4.76 tab, nor what to do with the penny you hand over with your $5 bill), and the oldest because they're the most trouble (sick days, refusal to be bullied by a manager with a lower I.Q., worked there long enough for a raise anyway). I've seen places pull their "help wanted" signs when the minimum wage was raised, not because they didn't still have that extra job to fill, but because the possible workers coming in to apply simply weren't worth what the new minimum wage was.
And now there are some doofuses that want to raise minimum wage to $12/hour.
There are no more full-time minimum wage jobs. Everywhere that pays minimum wage is cutting employee hours to barely more than half-time so that they can dodge the costs of 0bamacare. Raising that minimum to $12/hour (from a bit under $8) is going to do nothing but make sure that stores are going to seriously consider whether a clean floor is worth the cost of their employees wasting time sweeping it. And they're going to seriously consider (if they can) moving emphasis from their physical locations to online sales and service--which is also going to hit states harder as jobs and tax revenue falls.
Why is it that adults with a clear understanding of how money and business works, and a clear understanding of the consequences of mucking with the rules, are never the ones in the position to halt blatant stupidity from being forced on us? Why are we stuck with overgrown children with the "It's not fair! I'm gonna fix it!" mentality?
6 minutes ago
Oh, great. They add more lead weights whilst I tread water. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it just? If you've got any small business ideas, now might be a good time to try setting up as part time piecemeal work to get a little more income coming in. It's why I'm pushing so hard with my writing.
DeleteIt's why DW and I got into AdvoCare. She also is thinking of becoming a Damsels in Defense distributor.
DeleteI've thought about going to college to learn a trade, but that brings other challenges. Not the least of which is the moving involved.
I wouldn't recommend college. Not unless you're talking about a two-year trade school. It really isn't worth the money for what you'd get out of it--especially since you'd probably find any core requirements a waste of your time.
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