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I'm all for paying people as much money as they are worth, but the problem is that small businesses frequently don't turn a profit for years, and sometimes never. The problem with unrealistic minimum wages
...
leaves me wondering just how many of those businesses were successful...
Good points. Running a small business is difficult. I also agree, some workers are not worth what they're paid no matter how little that might be.
Let's reverse our view of the situation and ask, are there also business owners who are not competent? Or who are capable but misjudge the market? Or who take out a loan in 2007 to start a business and the entire economy collapses all around them? There are business owners and CEO's (and let's face it, others in positions of power) who shouldn't be running the show.
Now back to those workers, there are some how are just downright unemployable. They are the ones who sat in the back of the classroom, never studied, barely turned in homework, skipped school, and flunked tests. If they manage to get hired shoveling whatever, that might be the peak of their work career. Unlike geochem who looked at his situation and thought "I could do better. Those entry level experiences provided me with the necessary motivation to develop the skill sets to do better," there are people who can't do better, and who won't develop skills other than shoveling. Whether it's by their choice, their lack of motivation, or innate ability, they have no way out. But they have to eat, and hunger will motivate them to search for food and other less desirable inclinations one way or another.
“Apparently this thing is such an emergency that it will immediately be followed by golf.” - Haw. Sen. Brian Schatz, 2/15/19
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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are there also business owners who are not competent?
Yes; these are often found in smaller markets where they face little (if any) competition.
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"The interesting thing is, it appears to me, those who argue most against government subsidies, EBT etc, argue against a living wage. Where in reality those that do not make a living wage are most apt to need a little government subsidy. The dichotomy is untenable, and in the long run a source of some our society's ills."
I've never met anybody who has argued against EBT, though I know a lot of people (myself included) who think it's managed very poorly. Personally I don't want my taxes to subsidize the various poisons that people can buy with food stamps (Red Bull, Mountain Dew, etc). It's supposed to be "Nutritional Assistance" not "Causes of obesity and hyperactivity". I'd rather they spent the money on lobster and caviar.
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There are many angles of this problem.
Here is one of them.
The truth is that a society can not survive without those low qualification (and low wage) jobs.
Home care,street cleaning...- you got the picture.
Our health,security,well being of our kids often depends on those workers.If the workers are working many hours and barely surviving or even hungry, at some point many of them stop caring and that can have serious consequences.
TSA security or home care worker ...
Btw, there was a recent suicide of TSA worker during no pay period due to government shutdown.
The bottom line is that not all low paid jobs are for students who live with parents and need to learn basic skills.
Some of the jobs "kids" would find too hard and other jobs
simply require a more mature person.
So what ever you call this,living wage or not,people who perform necessary or even vital jobs for society need at least not to starve for that society's sake.
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To whom it may concern:
Just get it over with. Say your a socialist........
Puna: Our roosters crow first
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Here's a few jokes to lighten the mood, borrowed from a former USSR controlled area:
"So while I was in Bulgaria, I managed to get a copy of an old book called Radio Yerevan. It is filled with some of the jokes that people used to tell in the USSR and elsewhere in Eastern Europe during the Cold War. Though some of the jokes are really dirty, I have picked out the ones that make fun of socialism and make sense from a Western perspective. Keep in mind that is supposed to be like a radio show where people call in and the hosts come up with the answers, so that is why they are all in the Q and A format. So with a casual translation into English from the Bulgarian, here they are:
Q: What is the difference between socialism and capitalism?
A: Capitalism makes social mistakes while socialism makes capital mistakes.
Q: Is it true that Adam and Eve were the first socialists?
A: It might be true. Adam and Eve dressed very humbly, had a very modest need for food, and didn't live in their own home. On top of everything else, they believed that they were in heaven.
Q: Will there be any theft after we reach the communist stage of development?
A: Yes, but only if, after socialism, there is anything left to be stolen.
Q: What are the primary contradictions under socialism?
A: There is no unemployment, yet no one actually works. No one works, yet the stores are all full. The stores are full, yet the people are unhappy. The people are unhappy, yet they still vote "Yes."
Q: Is it true that the USSR is the biggest country in the Eastern Bloc?
A: Maybe Hungary and Czechoslovakia are even bigger. This might be because our armies began withdrawing from there more than a year ago and they still haven't reached the Soviet border.
Q: Is it possible for democratic socialism to start up in such a well-developed country as the USA?
A: Yes, it's possible, but, why?
Q: Is there a difference between "democracy" and "popular democracy?"
A: Yes, it's the same difference between a jacket and a straitjacket.
Q: Is it true that we haven't yet reached the final stage of communist development?
A: Yes, but don't worry; it can't get any worse than this.
Q: Why was the return of the Soviet space station from the Moon such a great success?
A: Because it proved once and for all that it is possible for something to leave the USSR and actually return.
Q: Can you say freely and publicly that which you are thinking here in our country?
A: Yes, of course. Unless, of course, you are thinking of something that shouldn't be said freely and publicly.
Q: What is the most concise definition of a learned worker?
A: One whose blood pressure is higher than his salary.
Q: The Central Committee of the Communist Party offered me a job as a secretary. Should I accept?
A: Yes. Your only duties will be saying, "Yes, Comrade," and at night, "No, Comrade."
Q: Yesterday, I wanted to buy some bananas, however, at the store there was only one banana and it was past its prime. How is a guy supposed to choose?
A: The same way you choose during the elections.
Q: Presently, how can the smart bulgarian converse with the stupid bulgarian?
A: By calling him from Canada.
Q: Is it true that cats are very sneaky creatures?
A: Sometimes. In bad times they try to pass themselves off as rabbit meat.
Q: Is it necessary for comrade Zhivkov (Bulgaria's dictator of 35 years from 1954-1989) to have so much security?
A: Hardly. Up until now, no one has tried to steal him.
Q: How are we supposed to know if we are talking to an aware and rational citizen or an ignorant one?
A: The former frequently checks behind him to see if anyone is there.
Q: Are there going to be idiots under Communism?
A: No. Even those, who believed in communism in the past, will no longer be idiots.
Q: Tell me where does all of our wheat go? Where does the lumber from our forests go? Where do the treasures from our museums go? Where does our oil go?
A: We asked our colleague Krikor to find out the answer to your question. Coincidently, we are also trying to figure out where our colleague went.
Q: Can we boast about some accomplishment of Soviet agriculture?
A: Yes. We sow (colonize) the cosmos, yet we receive our crops from Canada.
Q: Was the working day long in the Stalinist gulags?
A: No. The working day was 8 hours - from 8 to 8.
Q: Is it really that important for the USSR to send the first man to Mars?
A: The people would quite happy to send the First man. (In this context, the "First man" means the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR)
Q: What am I supposed to do if I'm at a bar and some strangers sits down next to me and starts sighing heavily?
A: Tell him to immediately stop with the anti-socialist propaganda.
Q: What would happen if Bulgaria were to invade the Sahara Desert?
A: In a few years they would have to import sand.
Q: How am I supposed to tell if a plane in the sky is Soviet or Chinese?
A: If it is actually flying, then it's Soviet.
Q: Is it possible to predict the results of the next elections for the Central Committee of the USSR?
A: Unfortunately, No. A few days ago, the document with the exact figures was stolen by the secretariat.
Q: Will we win in a war against America?
A: There will always be someone left to prove to us that we have actually won.
Q: Can an elephant be wrapped up in a newspaper?
A: Yes, if the newspaper contains the musings of Todor Zhivkov.
Q: Why has the Red Army stayed so long in Czechoslovakia?
A: Because they are still looking for the person who asked for their help.
Q: Can you tell us of an asset of socialism not found in the West?
A: Of Course. The capitalists have to pay if they want to enjoy the natural beauty of Siberia.
Q: Why is our supply of meat so irregular and unpredictable?
A: We are advancing towards communism so fast that even the cattle can't keep up anymore.
Q: Is there a reason why Bulgaria calls the USSR its "big brother" instead of its "best friend?"
A: Yes. You can pick your friends.
Q: Are there any measures in the new five year plan to improve the food of the people?
A: More cookbooks will be printed.
Q: I just found out that the USSR is planning on sending a man to Mars. Is it possible that there's life on Mars?
A: No, unfortunately there isn't any life there either.
Q: After the communist party took power, my life is no longer dear. Do you know of any sure way of committing suicide?
A: Throwing yourself into the rift between the party and the people.
Q: Is there any similarity between matches and the ruling party?
A: The heads of one and the other are both worthless.
Q: Is it true that the Soviet representative on the UN Security Council uses a special model of typewriter?
A: Yes, it's a typewriter that only has four letters. V, E, T, and O.
Q: Why did they build the Berlin wall, which separates the West from the East?
A: That wall doesn't separate West from East but rather East from West.
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People who work at Wal-Mart in Hilo currently support socialism. Every paycheck they contribute funds for:
Social Security - a socialist system that cares for the elderly in society, or children of workers should a worker die
Medicare - a socialist program that provides health care for the elderly
US Military - federal taxes support a defense program which offers soldiers housing, food, medical care, pensions
The United States is a socialist country in many respects.
Hilo Wal-Mart robots however, will be pure unadulterated capitalists. The question is, as the children of corporations (which the Supreme Court ruled are people), will their robot offspring be entitled to vote? You know who will say yes.
“Apparently this thing is such an emergency that it will immediately be followed by golf.” - Haw. Sen. Brian Schatz, 2/15/19
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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Thanks for those Terracore - nothing like a good Todor Zhivko joke!?
As for socialism, the move to a Universal Basic Income (where everyone receives a fixed monthly income to cover basics) would resolve many of these issues as it allows people to choose to work (at whatever wage), or go to school, or raise a child, or care for an elderly relative, etc, without having to worry about having enough money for food and shelter. In addition to minimum wage, you can end welfare and its inefficiencies as well. Imagine such a socialist nightmare...
Sure it'll take some money, but maybe Amazon could chip in. They're paying $0 in Federal taxes on $11 billion in profits for 2018, so they have some to spare (or invest in more robots). At least in Hawaii, we'll be several years behind any changes (like with everything) and can help fund the corporate robot takeover from afar with our Optional Prime subscriptions!
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quote:
Originally posted by Alex
There are many angles of this problem.
Here is one of them.
The truth is that a society can not survive without those low qualification (and low wage) jobs.
Home care,street cleaning...- you got the picture.
Our health,security,well being of our kids often depends on those workers.If the workers are working many hours and barely surviving or even hungry, at some point many of them stop caring and that can have serious consequences.
TSA security or home care worker ...
Btw, there was a recent suicide of TSA worker during no pay period due to government shutdown.
The bottom line is that not all low paid jobs are for students who live with parents and need to learn basic skills.
Some of the jobs "kids" would find too hard and other jobs
simply require a more mature person.
So what ever you call this,living wage or not,people who perform necessary or even vital jobs for society need at least not to starve for that society's sake.
Great observation,Alex.
If employer pretends to pay, employees pretend to work.
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https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&...AAAA%3D%3D
Might want to leave TSA employees out of that "low pay".
Kona, current openings starting at $45,000 before overtime.
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