The Future Of Retail Jobs In Hilo

[terracore]

"Ah I see. So you suppose that is how it is for everyone else?"

Absolutely. If parents aren't taking care of their minor children there are better laws to address this than minimum wage laws.

[glinda]

Sorry to bust your bubble terracore but that ain't the way the real world works. For those lucky enough, sure. And hey, you obviously have good parents. But they sure failed to expose you to the real world of poverty in America.

[terracore]

Okay, so we are in agreement that not everybody needs to earn a "living wage" then.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

not everybody needs to earn a "living wage" then.

Did Hawaiians under the old chiefs earn a living wage?
Under the monarchy?
Under the Big Five plantation owners?
Under statehood and a minimum wage?

Then why start paying a living wage now? If the system ain't completely broke down and in the ditch, don't fix it.

[alaskyn66]

I'm one of those wackos that think people should be paid based on how productive they are. Not their job title.

[randomq]

I'd be interested to know, per capita, how much subsistence costs here in Puna. Then compare that to county and state taxes payed per capita.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

And when East Hawaii residents get laid off at Wal-Mart, they may not even be able to sign up with the Navy for a job. The Sea Hunter just sailed from San Diego to Honolulu with no one on board. An autonomous robot navel vessel.
Probably uses Wal-Mart robot moppers to swab the deck.
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/02/16/...one-board/

“Apparently this thing is such an emergency that it will immediately be followed by golf.” - Haw. Sen. Brian Schatz, 2/15/19

[MarkD]

News from the Mainland today: Illinois and New Jersey just passed a $15 minimum wage. That means 1.8 million workers get a raise.

Will Hawaii's bill pass?

The Hawai‘i Senate announces that today, Feb. 6, 2018, measures intended to boost the state’s economy by increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour over the next two years and to create a family leave plan to help family caregivers were advanced by the Senate Committee on Labor.

http://bigislandnow.com/2018/02/06/bill-...-per-hour/

[leilanidude]

News from the Mainland today: Illinois and New Jersey just passed a $15 minimum wage. That means 1.8 million workers get a raise.
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Maybe not. Once they get that pay raise since the costs of many items will increase, did they really get a raise? How many will be laid off if the employer decides they just are not needed anymore?

[glinda]

Okay, so we are in agreement that not everybody needs to earn a "living wage" then.

Actually more no than yes. Read on.

I think the idea of a boss pocketing profit by shortchanging the people who work for them is disgusting. Sorry, I just don't buy the idea of profits built on the sweat of folks like that. In fact I think it is a crime. One perpetrated upon mankind since the beginning of time, but a crime none-the-less.

I can dig your rap terracore, and appreciate the Normal Rockwell kine picture of the boy sweeping the barber shop floor, or whatever. Good ol' Americana. But mine don't jibe with that. I didn't have your luck. I was on my own at 13 and if it wasn't for a lot of good breaks I can only imagine where I would have ended up. A person should be paid a wage equal to the work they do. If they give their full time, then they should be able to live on the money they earn. Where and who they live with should have nothing to do with it.

But then, if you want to say we should have a class of employment that is less than, and buyer beware, sure. But call that what it is. Not an excuse to screw people over. But some sort of entry level, short term, work experience for young people etc. Not some excuse to screw everybody else. Certainly not an excuse to keep so many struggling just to get by while a boss man pockets more money. Have you looked at the spread between the CEO and the lowest wage earners? Can you really justify that?