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originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
originally posted by: ChuckNasty
originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
originally posted by: ChuckNasty
a reply to: sirlancelot
If the minimum wage was to increase to 15 an hour, you'll see less burger joints. You'll see less 24 hour places. The likelihood of stores being open 7 days a week would also disappear.
Unless your able to explain why other countries don't suffer from these effects from paying there workers over $15 an hour, then you have no right to make these unfounded claims.
How many countries pay 15 USD (equivalent), or more, minimum wage? The number might surprise you.
You should re-read the part where I recommend one to pull-their-head-out.
The US is basically number one when it comes to wealth in everyway (average wage, wealthiest country, most billionaires ect....), yet when it comes to minimum wage they are 13th. How can anyone possibly justify that?
The United States of America, the undistributed number one country for freedom & wealth. But wait........ The lower class are forced to work on 3rd world wages. Obviously there's something wrong with how the wealth is being distributed.
originally posted by: Hoosierdaddy71
a reply to: sirlancelot
When the minimum doubles, the people above will get a raise also. The people at the bottom will still be at the bottom.
originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
So, just out of curiosity and because I love working though the numbers, how much is a large big Mac meal worth over there in the US, or a Whopper meal at Burger King (they call it Hungry Jacks over here)?
Because over here a Big Mac meal and a whopper meal will set you back about $9 to $10 (or $7.49 to $8.30 US) and a casual worker gets 20.50 (17.06 US) an hour or 18.70 (15.56 US) for a full-time worker.
So my question is, if fast food restaurants can still turn a good profit over here (unless of course there charging less than $3 for a large Big Mac meal in the US), who’s pocketing that extra earnings, when they only pay there employees $7.25 in the US?
Why should some fat cat CEO who probably doesn't even reside in that state and is just going to let the currency linger in his bank account get the extra earnings? Instead of giving the extra earnings to the employee, who’s then going to go and spend the currency straight away and help stimulate their local economy?
originally posted by: Grovit
originally posted by: xDeadcowx
Most people are paying well over $1000/month just in rent, add in cost of utilities and food and you have a bill that can't be paid working 80 hours a week at the current minimum wage.
thats bull. maybe in a big city like new york but other than that most people do not pay that much.
where i live it is far from rural and i have never paid even close to that much.
totally wrong on that.
originally posted by: coop039
Average rent in St. Louis (city, not county) is $844. And most places in the city arent that nice, and crime is higher, along with poorer schools.
Im in St. Louis county and pay $800, and still not in a fabulous area (3 miles from Ferguson). Most of the houses in my area rent for 1000-1500 and apatments start around 700(one bedroom). You can find cheaper places further out, but then you just spend more in gas and time.
originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
a reply to: ChuckNasty
I suspect you already know full well that only one other country has a minimum wage of over $15, but why should that matter to any patriotic US citizen?
Guess the old Hollywood propaganda just rubbed off on me more than you. I personally just always assumed the US was the world leader when it came to things like minimum wage (not 12th) or the quality of life index (16th)
I’m simply trying to point out an obvious conspiracy that’s been perpetrated onto the people of the US by the wealthy elite. When they would have you believe that allowing citizens to be entitled to a liveable minium wage would have a negative effect on the economy when there is clear evidence that contradicts this claim.
I’m over it though, think I’ll opt out of this debate now and go entertain myself with some alien conspiracies. But before I do, I’ll just sum up with some interesting facts of this so-called country of “lazy freeloaders”, who are not only entitled to $17 an hour minimum wage, but also 2 weeks payed holiday and 10 days of payed sick leave a year. They can also not be fired without a legitimate reason and 3 written warnings.
lol, those hard-core conservatives must be foaming at the mouth right now in pure disgust.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australia is the 53rd most populated country, yet has the 12th largest economy in the world. Seems like they punch above their weight to me, for a country of people that apparently just sit around waiting for handouts, lol.
Australia has the 5th largest GDP (nominal) per capita in the world, according to the international monetary fund, where as the US is 9th.
Though, when it comes to GDP (PPP) per capita, Australia is 14th, where as the US is 10th. But that’s hardly the economic meltdown that people have claimed a $15 an hour min wage would create though.
According to the Big Mac Index, the price of a big Mac in the US is $4.80, yet is only $4.81 in Australia. I can also assure you that the over $15 an hour minimum wage, more than compensates the highly inflated extra cost of 1 cent.
I can also assure you that Mcdonalds, KFC’s, burger kings, cafes and restaurants are everywhere in Australia (as I’m sure they are in the US) and there doing just fine. Only difference is you’re not made to feel obligated to tip here, that’s just some American custom you see on Hollywood movies.
So unless there’s some magical money tree over here that I’m not aware of, I think the evidence is more than clear and these claims of economic disasters from paying a $15 minium wage are completely unfounded. Only possible reason I can see why anyone would be against it, is just plain spite for unskilled workers.
originally posted by: Grovit
originally posted by: coop039
Average rent in St. Louis (city, not county) is $844. And most places in the city arent that nice, and crime is higher, along with poorer schools.
Im in St. Louis county and pay $800, and still not in a fabulous area (3 miles from Ferguson). Most of the houses in my area rent for 1000-1500 and apatments start around 700(one bedroom). You can find cheaper places further out, but then you just spend more in gas and time.
well you do what you have to do i guess. people relocate all the time.
i moved across the country.
i say to that i guess move a little further out and get a car thats good on gas...it can be done.
people travel for work all the time...
not all areas are like that.
im 20 minutes outside cleveland.
i have a 3 bedroom house in a good neighborhood. i pay $650
i guess the key is to live where you can afford to live.
you dont have to stay where you are.
other places. smaller places.
there are options
originally posted by: coop039
not always so cut and dry. My house is two bedrooms, about 800sqft. Im a single full time dad, so moving to another city without friend or family support would be tough. Plus the cost of child care. Right now since Im close to work I can take my kid to school and have an after school service pick him up. But I still have to get him by 6pm. That service cost me another 200 a month. If I was to far out, or had to use a service to take him and pick him up that cost would more than double.
originally posted by: coop039
originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
a reply to: ChuckNasty
I suspect you already know full well that only one other country has a minimum wage of over $15, but why should that matter to any patriotic US citizen?
Guess the old Hollywood propaganda just rubbed off on me more than you. I personally just always assumed the US was the world leader when it came to things like minimum wage (not 12th) or the quality of life index (16th)
I’m simply trying to point out an obvious conspiracy that’s been perpetrated onto the people of the US by the wealthy elite. When they would have you believe that allowing citizens to be entitled to a liveable minium wage would have a negative effect on the economy when there is clear evidence that contradicts this claim.
I’m over it though, think I’ll opt out of this debate now and go entertain myself with some alien conspiracies. But before I do, I’ll just sum up with some interesting facts of this so-called country of “lazy freeloaders”, who are not only entitled to $17 an hour minimum wage, but also 2 weeks payed holiday and 10 days of payed sick leave a year. They can also not be fired without a legitimate reason and 3 written warnings.
lol, those hard-core conservatives must be foaming at the mouth right now in pure disgust.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australia is the 53rd most populated country, yet has the 12th largest economy in the world. Seems like they punch above their weight to me, for a country of people that apparently just sit around waiting for handouts, lol.
Australia has the 5th largest GDP (nominal) per capita in the world, according to the international monetary fund, where as the US is 9th.
Though, when it comes to GDP (PPP) per capita, Australia is 14th, where as the US is 10th. But that’s hardly the economic meltdown that people have claimed a $15 an hour min wage would create though.
According to the Big Mac Index, the price of a big Mac in the US is $4.80, yet is only $4.81 in Australia. I can also assure you that the over $15 an hour minimum wage, more than compensates the highly inflated extra cost of 1 cent.
I can also assure you that Mcdonalds, KFC’s, burger kings, cafes and restaurants are everywhere in Australia (as I’m sure they are in the US) and there doing just fine. Only difference is you’re not made to feel obligated to tip here, that’s just some American custom you see on Hollywood movies.
So unless there’s some magical money tree over here that I’m not aware of, I think the evidence is more than clear and these claims of economic disasters from paying a $15 minium wage are completely unfounded. Only possible reason I can see why anyone would be against it, is just plain spite for unskilled workers.
Just out of curiousity, how much does a two bed room house rent for in a nice area with good schools?
How much is electricity? Sales tax?
How much of that 17 min is taxed?
Cause, after reading what you posted Im ready to immigrate to Australia. I dont make 17 an hour, nor do I have two weeks vacation. I also only get 3 paid sick days a year.
originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
a reply to: OccamsRazor04
When it comes to rent, it really depends on the area or quality of the house (obviously). When I used to live in the (mid) inner eastern suburbs of Melbourne we were only paying $190 a week for a two bedroom unit ($643 US a month), which was very good. It was on a main road though, which is why it was so cheap.
Now I'm living in the center of a regional city of about 15,000 people and pay basically the exact same for an old 3 bedroom house. But you can buy brand new 3 bedroom houses where I am now for $250,000. Where as my brother brought a dumpy house in the suburb where I grew up in Melbourne and that cost him 550,000. Mind you that suburb has recently been named as one of the top 10 most desired suburbs to live in Melbourne, so it's really not that bad. If your happy not living in a upper class luxury home in one of the richest areas.
Groceries and basic food items really aren't that much more than what you find in the US, from the research I've done. I mean, I can go spending $40 dollars a week and eat just fine, won't live like a king, but you won't starve neither.
It's luxury items that will get ya though. We have a GST tax and most imports a taxed the living crap of. Just for an example, I brought myself a 750ml bottle of wild turkey the other day and it cost like $45 ($37 US), which is quite obviously just ridiculous. It'd probably cost less than $20 over there in the US.
Oh and it's not true either that you'll some how be doing good if you decide to just sit on your arse, you'll just be scraping buy. But unless your an alcoholic, drug or gambling addict, there really is no reason for a person to starve or turn to crime. That's kind of my point. Rather than the impression that I get from the US, where you would need to breed a bunch of white trash children just to get some assistance. Seems to me that a single male with no kids who has a hard time holding down a job due to mental illness (or whatever), would just be left to starve and would have no option but to go rob houses or sell drugs on the street, which is probably one of the reasons why the prison population is so bad over there...............Anyway.
originally posted by: Divin3F3nrus
If you are like I was and just barely make enough to survive you end up saving everything you can to make a better life for yourself. If you are like me now and make an excess then you spend your money on luxuries while still being able to save for the future. If we all got paid more we would spend more, and companies would still make a large profit becuase of the VOLUME they would be dealing in.
originally posted by: Divin3F3nrus
a reply to: OccamsRazor04
I am middle class. I make a SMALL excess. This is about just barely making it now, and then after the increase being able to finally afford some comfort. Somebody who barely makes it saves what they can to improve their lives. Somebody who makes $100 extra a week will spend most of tht, adding it back into the economy.
The rest of your post about the situation in the US is inaccurate.