Minium Wage/ McD's/ Sense of Entitlement

[CPT Tripss]

BTW, garbage collector is actually a pretty decent job most places. IIRC, they average $85-90,000 a year in parts of NJ.

Only on The Sopranos! In the real world, mid 30s, $16 - $17 an hour.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

for the small number of times I eat at mcdonalds, yes I have no problem paying an additional 12% on a big mac. a big make is 4 bucks around here. if an additional buck brings some one up to 12 bucks an hour, I think my budget (pre social security) can handle it.

I think the best way to go about this is to spend money at places that pay better if you're able.

But, when it comes to our own money, the rules change (me included).

People are pro living wage, buying meals at McDonalds and groceries at Wal-Mart.

Pro-union, driving a Toyota.

Pro-child labor laws, wearing clothing from a 3rd World sweat shop.

And so on.

 

[bdcp]

[
+

QUOTE=bdcp;49165854]So, what did people do 40 years ago before everyone went to college? They learned a trade or started a business. No reason that can't be done today.

Do you have any clue how many small businesses fail in a year?

And you do realize if everyone learned to be a plumber, an electrician or a mechanic the pay for those jobs would go down?

I work at a college that teaches those trades and we have graduates that cannot find a position because the market is saturated.

Learning a trade or opening a business is a great choice for some, but it doesn't solve the problem for all.[/QUOTE]

Quote is weird, this is where my response starts:

Where are you? In the DC area, there are TONS of jobs in those fields. People need to be willing to move as their ancestors did.

Yes, I know how many businesses fail in a year. What's your point? Businesses have always had a failure rate. Ever heard of taking a risk? Your second paragraph makes no sense. The market will bear what the market will bear. There is a huge demand for plumbers/electricians/mechanics currently so why not take advantage of that? And, yes, I know someone who owns a Plumbing/HVAC business and they are always looking for skilled employees. There's a lot of money to be had in those skills right now.

Raising minimum wage isn't the answer.

The reality is we NEED skilled plumbers/electricians/mechanics. I'm not talking about solving the problem, but raising the minimum wage is not the answer, period.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Only on The Sopranos! In the real world, mid 30s, $16 - $17 an hour.

Depends if they're working for a city, or private hauler.

 

[Neelloc]

I meant $ lol, but yeah. Too many people lack the basic economic education to figure that out. Supply and demand. Those that want to double the salary of the fast food worker can pay the difference. It's not rocket science to do these jobs so why should it be paid at a rate that high?

I've never worked in fast food. Have you? I have family members who have. They are both now in great careers. Yet they said those jobs were very tough, required a lot of skills. No, not rocket science, but it does require certain skills.

We priced out inhome help for our inlaws this week. The company (in the DC are where incomes are high) charges like $17/hour for in home help. I think that's worth a lot more than slapping together a hamburger. The $17 is what the company makes per hour, not the employee. This in an area where the average household income is over 100K/year.

I hate to tell you, but if the company is charging you $17.00 an hour, then the actual employee who is doing the care is probably making $9.00-$10.00 an hour for caring for your in laws. How do you feel about that wage?

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

http://www.ehow.com/info_7757857_average-garbage-man-new-jersey.html

No where near $90,000.

 

[Neelloc]

I think the best way to go about this is to spend money at places that pay better if you're able.

But, when it comes to our own money, the rules change (me included).

People are pro living wage, buying meals at McDonalds and groceries at Wal-Mart.

Pro-union, driving a Toyota.

Pro-child labor laws, wearing clothing from a 3rd World sweat shop.

And so on.

Well said!

 

[bdcp]

I've never worked in fast food. Have you? I have family members who have. They are both now in great careers. Yet they said those jobs were very tough, required a lot of skills. No, not rocket science, but it does require certain skills.



I hate to tell you, but if the company is charging you $17.00 an hour, then the actual employee who is doing the care is probably making $9.00-$10.00 an hour for caring for your in laws. How do you feel about that wage?

Yes, me and both my sisters did while we were in HS/college (which I think posted earlier). It doesn't take that much skill. Good thing I could add and subtract when working an old fashioned cash register (not like today's computers).

The $9-10/hour is market driven. That's how I feel about that. I believe in free market economics. How about you?

Everyone here needs to check out the "budget" board here because everyone there is figuring out how not to spend any extra money

 

[Handbag Lady]

I wouldn't have a problem paying more for my McNuggets if that means a Mickey D's worker gets a higher wage.

I have no problem standing for what I think is right.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I've never worked in fast food. Have you? I have family members who have. They are both now in great careers. Yet they said those jobs were very tough, required a lot of skills. No, not rocket science, but it does require certain skills.



I hate to tell you, but if the company is charging you $17.00 an hour, then the actual employee who is doing the care is probably making $9.00-$10.00 an hour for caring for your in laws. How do you feel about that wage?

Life isn't fair. I know a lot of people in VERY easy jobs with no education and no skill required who make $30 an hour with exceptional benefits. Others work like dogs for peanuts. That's life.

Oh, and if my experience with temps is any indication, that $17 probably works out to $12-13 for the employee. Not that that's great, just clarifying.

 

[Neelloc]

Life isn't fair. I know a lot of people in VERY easy jobs with no education and no skill required who make $30 an hour with exceptional benefits. Others work like dogs for peanuts. That's life.

Oh, and if my experience with temps is any indication, that $17 probably works out to $12-13 for the employee. Not that that's great, just clarifying.

Ah. Personal experience. For clarification:

A dear friend of mine is a HHA. She works for an agency. Her pay is $9.50 per hour. The family she works for told her that the agency bills them $17.00. That's where my figure came from.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

http://www.ehow.com/info_7757857_average-garbage-man-new-jersey.html

No where near $90,000.

Specific places - not state average. Either way, much better than fast food

 

[jrmasm]

No one should stay there without any hope of their current job getting them above that amount..

That's not what I asked. Who should make minimum wage?

 

[bdcp]

The downside is a higher wage almost always results in fewer people working.

Yep! I said that a few pages back lol. Emotions get in the way of logic.

 

[eliza61]

The downside is a higher wage almost always results in fewer people working.

very very possibly true but the end result is turning out to be the same. we now have a very large population that is under employed and not really contributing to the economy.

they are not adding to the tax base, they are not purchasing houses, or big ticket items and in high cost of living areas they still need assistance.

So if they only jobs you produce are ones that do not help your economy where does that leave you? what has been the upside to creating low wage jobs?

 

[Neelloc]

Where are you? In the DC area, there are TONS of jobs in those fields. People need to be willing to move as their ancestors did.

Yes, I know how many businesses fail in a year. What's your point? Businesses have always had a failure rate. Ever heard of taking a risk? Your second paragraph makes no sense. The market will bear what the market will bear. There is a huge demand for plumbers/electricians/mechanics currently so why not take advantage of that? And, yes, I know someone who owns a Plumbing/HVAC business and they are always looking for skilled employees. There's a lot of money to be had in those skills right now.

Raising minimum wage isn't the answer.

The reality is we NEED skilled plumbers/electricians/mechanics. I'm not talking about solving the problem, but raising the minimum wage is not the answer, period.

QUICK!!! Someone get to the picket lines in NYC and elsewhere and hold up HUGE signs stating "STOP WORKING FOR CRAP WAGES WHEN YOU CAN WORK WITH CRAP!!!! GO TO THE WASHINGTON D.C. AREA AND TRAIN TO BE A PLUMBER!! THE JOBS ARE PLENTIFUL THERE!!!"

Problem solved.

 

[Neelloc]

Sigh.

I'm bowing out of this thread for tonight.

I have to be up extra early for my minimum wage retail job tomorrow morning.

Tell ya what. If you promise not to judge me for working there, I promise not to judge your purchases and how you treat me when going through my line.

Someone's got to ring up your toilet tissue, curtains, and shampoo and all those other items you don't want to pay too much for.

 

[bdcp]

very very possibly true but the end result is turning out to be the same. we now have a very large population that is under employed and not really contributing to the economy.

they are not adding to the tax base, they are not purchasing houses, or big ticket items and in high cost of living areas they still need assistance.

It's not "possibly true". It is true.

Do you know people in that situation? High cost of living areas tend to pay higher, (above minimum wage) than lower cost of living areas. Painting with a broad brush about minimum wage doesn't work. Minimum wage is meant to be a starting wage. I know several family member's in DH's family who REFUSE to move for better jobs. In the DC area, the unemployment rate is very low, yet I know DH has family who will not move here for work. So, should they still get welfare? Or be paid higher wages at McDonald's? I don't think so.

 

[bdcp]

QUICK!!! Someone get to the picket lines in NYC and elsewhere and hold up HUGE signs stating "STOP WORKING FOR CRAP WAGES WHEN YOU CAN WORK WITH CRAP!!!! GO TO THE WASHINGTON D.C. AREA AND TRAIN TO BE A PLUMBER!! THE JOBS ARE PLENTIFUL THERE!!!"

Problem solved.

OMG. So, your answer is let's just raise minimum wage and keep people in low paying, low skilled jobs? Why not expect people to strive for more. Like this country was built on. Too many expect everyone else to take care of them.

Have you ever heard of an example? Sigh!!

Do me a favor and check the classifieds in the DC area and other large metro areas. You might learn something.

My DS (27) decided he and his wife wanted to move to NC. He applied for one job, interviewed and was offered the position, same day and guess what? He has an associates degrees and worked retail while in college, GASP!!

 

[Planogirl]

So, what did people do 40 years ago before everyone went to college? They learned a trade or started a business. No reason that can't be done today.

As I mentioned... Many worked in manufacturing. That has been a dying industry for quite a while.

One thing I would love to see is support for small business growth.

I think for younger and older citizens programs to foster small business ownership would be great.

That would be great but if some people are like me they would have no idea how to start a small business nor can they afford to. You have to have at the very least something unique or needed to sell.

Sigh.

I'm bowing out of this thread for tonight.

I have to be up extra early for my minimum wage retail job tomorrow morning.

Tell ya what. If you promise not to judge me for working there, I promise not to judge your purchases and how you treat me when going through my line.

Someone's got to ring up your toilet tissue, curtains, and shampoo.

I appreciate what you do.