Democrats Options

[knucklehead]

If you didn't read this on CNN yet, this is a new thread in response to that "Congress getting richer" thread I posted.

I'm not a democrat, but I do admire them for this and didn't expect it at all. I just hope they stick to it. After all the shit republicans have pulled recently, I don't even wanna be republican anymore. Doing things like this is what it's all about, whether they're really just vying for public opinion or not.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A week after the GOP-led Senate rejected an increase to the minimum wage, Senate Democrats on Tuesday vowed to block pay raises for members of Congress until the minimum wage is increased.

"We're going to do anything it takes to stop the congressional pay raise this year, and we're not going to settle for this year alone," Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said at a Capitol news conference.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/27/con...wage/index.html

[M1N10N]

I read in a time magazine that the medicaid bill was going to have a clause that would make the free health care the senators get the same as medicaid; many senators voted for it knowing it would get stripped off

[Hartmann]

So you want an increase in minimum wage, which in turn raises inflation?

[Dogmeat]

Wow those senate democrats, they are just so totally for the american people! Why they rejected a pay raise, they are stalwarts of moral perfection!

Wow.

This is the biggest political stunt I've seen in ages. Wooptee fucking doo.

[chook]

So you want an increase in minimum wage, which in turn raises inflation?

energy prices dictate is much more than wages in this country.

[impala454]

oh i'm sure the democratic pres candidate will never mention this

[knucklehead]

Wow those senate democrats, they are just so totally for the american people! Why they rejected a pay raise, they are stalwarts of moral perfection!

Wow.

This is the biggest political stunt I've seen in ages. Wooptee fucking doo.

So... you think 95% of politics aren't just stunts and attempts to show off and gain public opinion? It's the nature of the beast.... like I said, stunt or not, I like this one. Everything is a fucking stunt in Congress. At least this one might have some actual benefit.

And the debate about minimum wage increase and it's affect on the economy can go on for days/months/years, it's pretty pointless to argue about. For every person that says it will raise inflation, someone else claims it won't.

And if you don't agree with an increase, you're in the tiny group of 14-16% of Americans who are against it as well and somehow think it's going to screw up our already-fucked economy. So have fun over there.

[pebkac]

The minimum wage is a joke. Whether or not it increases inflation isn't the point. The point is to make sure our employers are paying people wages they can live on. Go ahead and try to raise a family on 5.15/hr.

[impala454]

The minimum wage is a joke. Whether or not it increases inflation isn't the point. The point is to make sure our employers are paying people wages they can live on. Go ahead and try to raise a family on 5.15/hr.

maybe people who make 5.15/hr shouldn't be raising families

[Psykopath]

maybe people who make 5.15/hr shouldn't be raising families

most ignorant statement I've ever read.


So what about all those people who have been pushed into early retirement, laid off due to outsourcing, etc. and need a job?
Guess they should abandon their family...

[kcroxyoursox]

its an infinite loop - i cant go to school if i dont have money, i cant get money if i dont have a job, i cant get a job if i dont have the skills, i cant get the skills unless i go to school...

remember the guy who did the documentary super size me? in his tv show he and his girlfriend did the minimum wage living thing for a month. they were on an episode of oprah i watched a while back

http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200604/200...4_284_101.jhtml

[Hartmann]

The minimum wage is a joke.  Whether or not it increases inflation isn't the point.  The point is to make sure our employers are paying people wages they can live on.  Go ahead and try to raise a family on 5.15/hr.

By raising the minimum wage you artificially raise inflation. You push the prices of goods up by "increasing" the standard of living. Economists have been screaming this for a long time.

If the places that pay minimum wage to their employees have to increase that amount they will compensate by first lowering benefits to those people, then raising prices. If they provide a good or service that is common or sought after, those people who got an increase in wage will not see an increase in their ability to purchase goods.

So if Wal-Mart increased their minimum wage, the workers would more than likely see their benefits drop and then the fact that they still couldn't buy stuff at the cheap store they work up.


I agree with Impala on the not raising a family at minimum wage... To a point... People need to be responsible. If you manage your money correctly, work decent amoun of hours, and save, you could have a 3-4 person family. It probably wouldn't be a glamorous lifestyle but you'd be able to eat, sleep, and save for later. The fact that most of America is in debt (mostly credit card) is what's disturbing...

[schwab]

you watched......oprah?

[kcroxyoursox]

most ignorant statement I've ever read.


So what about all those people who have been pushed into early retirement, laid off due to outsourcing, etc. and need a job?
Guess they should abandon their family...

seconded

in the oprah show they also talked to some people like nurses who were making more than min wage and still werent able to make ends meet... living with their children in shelters and such

[kcroxyoursox]

you watch......oprah?

fixed. yes i do. i could make lame comments about how i dont have cable, but sometimes i watch it of my own free will