Minimum Wage, Should We Increase It?

In what country?

 

Well I know that here in Massachusetts, the minimum wage is set to rise to $11/hr by June 2016

 

UK minimum wage is $10/hr (set to increase further), but the cost of living is very high as well. US cost of living is probably the lowest in the developed world.

 

Yes. Minimum wage doesn't cause inflation to go up, the minimum wage is raised to keep up with the rising inflation. $7.25 today is worth $6.26 in 2007, when they raised minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25. A dollar today is worth 88 cents back then.

 

The minimum wage here is set to increase by 3% this year precisely because inflation is high - our disposable incomes have declined by 6% since 2010, and are the same now as 10 years ago (despite everything being more expensive).

 

Minimum wage jobs aren't really supposed to be the jobs people stay at forever. No, I don't think that's the solution. Cut down on military and welfare expenses.
I love our military, but we do have more important things to worry about.
Do the people in the Middle East really need drones flying around? Can't we get the private sector to work on alternative energy sources?

 

Which is exactly our problem.
Too many people, not enough jobs. While I wouldn't call the USA overcrowded yet (*cough*potato country*cough*), I can say that we need to create more job opportunities. Otherwise, we're all screwed.

 

Unfortunately, most jobs now require some form of degree, and that makes it hard for people who were highschool drop outs or are older to get a job.

 

Reducing mandatory workloads and increasing pays would be a good thing to do, and it'd circulate more workers throughout the week so more jobs are available.

And yes, I do think the US needs to raise the minimum wage. Although in Australia it's a universal $15/hr, I believe that it's good to put in the expense of the area in the equation, which could bring it from $12 to $20 or maybe even higher (the minimum wage has been decreasing in actual value for a long time and is pathetically lower than it once was and needs to be)

Workers deserve to be able to live off what they make for a living.

 

While I agree with most of what you are saying... minimum wage jobs seem to be lasting longer and longer for people, Some can't find anything else. I have noticed a lot of people who work minimum wage jobs are fairly spread across various age groups, not just younger people filling in some money while they go to school or start on what they want to do for the rest of their lives.

 

I think we should increase the minimum wage to $11-$15 an hour. People say this would hurt small business, but it actually helps with job security, job turnover rates, and productivity. It's common sense that we pay all Americans a living wage.

And if I have to spend a few extra cents to a dollar to help fund this minimum wage, I would gladly do it to help keep a family out of poverty.

 

Hell yeah. Even if it does ruin the economy who cares. I'd be making more money