When we think about wages, pricing and free markets from an economic perspective and take out social justice and identity politics concerns . . . The discussion becomes more enlightening about how prices are set in the real world.
In the even grander scheme of things . . . Nobody is outworking the Chinese toddlers who supply most box stores.
However, this article suggested by a denizen of this blog offers a bit of insight into a competitive advantage taken away by wage law. Check it:
Lew Rockwell: Self-Enforcing Discrimination
TKC blog community quote:
"The point is that minimum wage laws were created to keep minorities out of the work force, not to lift anyone up from poverty. Interesting stuff... amazing how far the debate has gone. Now it's a political tool / weapon of the democrats to make believe they're helping poor Blacks and the disenfranchised."
Sadly, in KCMO the fair wage argument has been hijacked by Mayor Sly James and has become yet another one of his bold public pronouncements that seems embarrassing in retrospect given the City Hall move to nix the petition effort and blame-shift the Missouri General Assembly.
Developing . . .
A salient example of Government overreach (Think Obama Care.), it all looks so good on paper.
ReplyDeleteIn effect, what actually happens is that the unskilled labor force is diminished and business not only loses employees who might later be promoted, but is forced to provide sub standard service, or, find other ways to operate (Read, order your own hamburger with a touch screen.).
One interesting positive scenario, might be (As long as we are talking about hamburgers.), that the inability of McDonalds, or a large chain to provide Big Macs, or Whoppers at X price, might make Mom and Pop small hamburger stands competitive. Of course, the Mom and Pop stands could only get big enough until they hit a point, where they needed more employees.
Big Government panaceas, when operating with the unexpected contretemps of a free market (Like Obama Care) will only survive, in SPITE of the Government panacea. Panaceas, are, by definition, oversimplifications of complicated and nuanced problems, especially when it comes to economics.
Think about the quality of the people we have elected, just here in Kansas City (On a national level, it is too depressing.). Now tell me how smart it would be, to let them balance your check book, run your company or make ANY financial decisions that would affect your family.
Obama is an excellent example. The man NEVER worked in the private sector and yet, with lies, obfuscation, legerdemain and a "Pen and Phone", the post Constitutional Presidency arrogated 1/6th of the ENTIRE U. S. economy. Worked out great, didn't it?
So sure, lets raise the minimum wage to 15.00 an hour, then wonder why unemployment, which is already three times as high as your buddies in the Government will admit, goes even higher.
There is no such thing as a "free market". Never has been. It is a right wing myth, designed to fool rubes like into believing in fairy tale solutions to structural and systemic wealth considering scams perpetrated by the plutocracy.
DeleteSure, give them $15 per hour. Then everyone else's salary will be adjusted accordingly by SKILL. Soon firefighters will be making $150k and a big mac will cost $15.
ReplyDeleteBig Macs already cost 15 dollars. We just hide the true coat with government subsidies of the industry and pretend it's the "free" market.
DeleteWhy is it, that every time there's a picture of a NIGGER, they've got their mouths open, ooking and grunting?? Just like the monkeys in the zoo...Oh wait.
ReplyDelete$15 per hour makes automation in the fast food industry more cost efficient. So instead of hesitating to install automation because of the cost, the higher labor cost will mandate their installation. Then again, why pay these clowns $15/HR when you got all the "DREAMERS" coming in under Obama amnesty who think minimum wag is hitting the lottery?
ReplyDeleteno robot big macs
ReplyDeleteYou mean automation like this, a robot teaching exercise classes?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2015/05/27/how-a-robot-ended-up-teaching-exercise-classes-in-a-dutch-retirement-home/
The Japanese have a robot to do just about anyone's job.
Robots can do a lot more than replacing minimum wage jobs:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2015/04/27/why-you-should-root-for-a-robot-to-take-your-doctors-job/
Sly will give anything you ask for -- but it will have to be a little later when things have setteled down. It will have to be a little bit later when the next Mayor gets int office.
ReplyDelete$15 an hour for solar panels manufacturing..... wind turbines assembly.... and $ 18 an hour for installation of both....
ReplyDeleteWell, worth a try--I hope.
Fast Food could do with downsizing. Try getting in our own kitchens and cook NOW. How long will we be too dependent on coal, oil and gas? At least make "green" affordable.
Damn, we were talking SAVE THE EARTH in third grade in '69 !
...is this really the...
T.W.E.N.T.Y. F.I.R.S.T. C.E.N.T.U.R.Y. ???
$15.00 an hour ???? for unskilled, unlicensed what ???
ReplyDeleteHeres how it gonna work !
You'll work 3 hours at job 1 for 15.00 hr.
then you'll have to go to job 2 15 miles away or more for another 3 hours or so,,
then to job 3 however far away
then to Job 4
then onto Job 5
JOB 6
JOB 7
JOB 8
JOB 9
JOB 10
and at the end of the working day, you've actually worked more hours than working a 8 hour job at a decent fair wage for unskilled trade.
NOT to mention the GAS your out getting from job to job multiple times and the Taxes taken out and add wear tear on your car and being in traffic and fighting the snow ice & blizzards too !!!!
So now you find yourself working instead of a 40 hour week job, your really working 60 to 70+ hours a week,,
and NOT being paid any overtime & time and a half
so what did ya gain ???
as a part timer , most of the time your NOT offered any Benefits, health ins. or paid vacation or sick days or profit sharing
so what did you really gain for that $15.00 an hour ya thought was going to rocket you into another dimension ???????
drive down Front Street west of I-435 and look on the South Side at all the fast food restraunts closed side by side, as well as all the others around town,,, not hard to spot , what'll happen !!!