Staggering 78% Of US Workers Live Paycheck To Paycheck

[Lightbringer]

Because as soon as minimum wage was increased, their hours were reduced to compensate. Also, in several cases, their managers just straight up told them it was going to happen if minimum wage was increased.

But one negative affect has happened, in some cases, the hours cut to balance out the wage increase was significant enough to cause some to make less money than before.

Well again, I'm reluctant to just take you on your word. For all I know, you can be just making this story up. I said in my earlier comment that if that were the case, then the business is likely small and already failing as it is.

Also, wages have been stagnant for 40 years. That means that the minimum wage has not kept up with inflation, which also means that if we were to raise the minimum wage to what it should be if it kept up with inflation, then it should work since it was always like that until recently.

 

[Ōkami]

Well again, I'm reluctant to just take you on your word. For all I know, you can be just making this story up. I said in my earlier comment that if that were the case, then the business is likely small and already failing as it is.

Also, wages have been stagnant for 40 years. That means that the minimum wage has not kept up with inflation, which also means that if we were to raise the minimum wage to what it should be if it kept up with inflation, then it should work since it was always like that until recently.

Or you know, I live near Seattle and have friends that live and work in Seattle. But you seem to be confused, it's the major franchises that are cutting the hours. My friend Bianca used to get 40 hours a week at Starbucks, now that's at 30 hours.

You see, it was very common for people to live outside of Seattle but work their because it had more jobs and an already above average minimum wage compare to other parts of Washington, but the cost of living in Seattle was expensive.

But now with the minimum wage increase, less hours and by extension cost of living has gone up too.

 

[Lightbringer]

Or you know, I live near Seattle and have friends that live and work in Seattle. But you seem to be confused, it's the major franchises that are cutting the hours. My friend Bianca used to get 40 hours a week at Starbucks, now that's at 30 hours.

You see, it was very common for people to live outside of Seattle but work their because it had more jobs and an already above average minimum wage compare to other parts of Washington, but the cost of living in Seattle was expensive.

But now with the minimum wage increase, less hours and by extension cost of living has gone up too.

Those aren't good examples as they cut hours for a variety of reasons. You're talking about multi-billion dollar franchise and you expect me to believe they can't pay their workers a decent wage?

Again, wages have been stagnant for 40 years. Prices go up, and the wage remained the same. You do realize that inflation will keep going up whether or not the minimum wage increases, right? So if that's the case, eventually your friends will be making the equivalent of what $3 is today if it continues to do so.

If you're telling me that businesses can't pay their workers a live-able wage and need to pay them slave-wages in order to remain a business, then they should fail.


"The latest research from the University of Washington found no major reduction in hours or jobs at Seattle restaurants, in keeping with a finding in a study conducted by University of California, Berkeley, that was released last week."[/I]

 

[Ōkami]

Those aren't good examples as they cut hours for a variety of reasons. You're talking about multi-billion dollar franchise and you expect me to believe they can't pay their workers a decent wage?

Again, wages have been stagnant for 40 years. Prices go up, and the wage remained the same. You do realize that inflation will keep going up whether or not the minimum wage increases, right? So if that's the case, eventually your friends will be making the equivalent of what $3 is today if it continues to do so.

If you're telling me that businesses can't pay their workers a live-able wage and need to pay them slave-wages in order to remain a business, then they should fail.

Have you ever worked for a multi billion dollar franchise? They pay survivable wages not livable. The jobs are considered entry level mostly gear towards part time students, of course the wages won't be great.

To your last part though, if you think that then every major franchise should fail.

 

[Lightbringer]

Have you ever worked for a multi billion dollar franchise? They pay survivable wages not livable. The jobs are considered entry level mostly gear towards part time students, of course the wages won't be great.

To your last part though, if you think that then every major franchise should fail.

Seattle’s minimum wage increase, like every other significant wage hike, both actual and proposed, phases in gradually over a period of years. Small businesses in particular are given more leeway and longer deadlines in order to get up to wage snuff.

Just because it's geared toward students doesn't change the fact that a large portion of the population works there and has little other choice. Decent paying jobs are far and few and most are unqualified. So what is the alternative?

Would you rather have inflation just continue to increase and wages to continue remaining stagnant? The only thing that will do is increase poverty levels and wealth inequality; and that affects both you and me because eventually the bubble will burst.

There needs to be some sort of overhaul to the system.

 

[Floydical]

The problem in America is as our wages go up, most people simply increase their luxury of living instead of saving. You got a raise at work? Instead of saving it perhaps you just spent it on a bigger TV or newer car. The reason people over 100k live paycheck to paycheck is because they spend every dime increasing their level of luxury.

I have a co-worker that lives paycheck to paycheck and has obviously been making in excess of 60k for the last 25 years. He should have saved his money, but he never did. Consider this: 2 months a year we get an extra paycheck (since there are only 12 months but 52 weeks in a year). This guy consistently tracks every paycheck and knows when he's getting an extra one. He should know that if there was ever a month to save money, it would be that month. BUT NOPE. He spends it on some retarded ass crap every time that extra money comes in and is not afraid of admitting it to everyone.

Its almost like a lot of americans are proud of living paycheck to paycheck by trying to get as much enjoyment out of life as possible. And in some people's minds you're not living if all you do is save your money and not spend it in a retarded way. This guy never saved a dime for his daughter's college and he's mad that she never made a real attempt to go to school. He's a **** and a lot of us Americans are just like him.

 

[Edogawa]

Seattle is just one real world example and you're dismissing it and saying that it's not representative of a fact....it's been two years, and nothing has spiked. That is more than enough time to see any economic implications. If you're not using real-world examples as a basis for your argument, then what exactly are you basing it on?

In almost every instance of the minimum wage being increased, there has no been no hike in prices. If there has, it is with business that were already failing to begin with. And like I've said, the wages have been stagnant since the 1970s which means they haven't kept up with inflation. If you're talking about what's fair, well, keeping up with inflation would be fair.

Lastly, I just want to point out that inflation doesn't have one factor, it has thousands. Saying that the minimum wage will be the sole cause of a spike increase is not how economics work.

I'm not dismissing it. I'm saying that a policy that temporarily is working for Seattle is in no way justifying it'll work for the whole country, because the difference in GDP and population.

 

[Lightbringer]

I'm not dismissing it. I'm saying that a policy that temporarily is working for Seattle is in no way justifying it'll work for the whole country, because the difference in GDP and population.

Just because it has a different GDP and population doesn't mean the economic principles aren't the same.

Also you say that it won't work, as opposed to what? We are currently living in a failing system as it is. We're in a bubble where inflation rises and wages remain stagnant. Inflation will continue to rise regardless of whether or not we increase wages or the minimum wage. Without purchasing power, the economy won't thrive and businesses will also hike up their prices and layoff workers because they aren't making a profit. So what you're saying will happen as a consequence of raising the minimum wage is already and has been happening for quite some time. Eventually that bubble will pop.

So what is your alternative?

 

[Floydical]

Just because it has a different GDP and population doesn't mean the economic principles aren't the same.

Also you say that it won't work, as opposed to what? We are currently living in a failing system as it is. We're in a bubble where inflation rises and wages remain stagnant. Inflation will continue to rise regardless of whether or not we increase wages or the minimum wage. Without purchasing power, the economy won't thrive and businesses will also hike up their prices and layoff workers because they aren't making a profit. So what you're saying will happen as a consequence of raising the minimum wage is already and has been happening for quite some time. Eventually that bubble will pop.

So what is your alternative?

All your analysis and insight into this issue is largely wasted time. In the end, companies will find people offering their service for less than the position deserves. Why would a company pay a premium to an employee when hundreds would line up behind them for the same job at less pay?

Companies that can't make it die and those who can't qualify for better jobs have to take less. Its a capitalist society, you really think you'd be able to remedy a situation as complex as the American economy? On top of all that, as I've said before, Americans in general are terrible at saving their money. Despite every weakness our capitalist society has, a lot of pain an anger would be avoided if the average American was simply more responsible with their money, plain and simple. Free college would help too as the guy in the video brought up... but that would never happen.

 

[Lightbringer]

All your analysis and insight into this issue is largely wasted time. In the end, companies will find people offering their service for less than the position deserves. Why would a company pay a premium to an employee when hundreds would line up behind them for the same job at less pay?

Companies that can't make it die and those who can't qualify for better jobs have to take less. Its a capitalist society, you really think you'd be able to remedy a situation as complex as the American economy? On top of all that, as I've said before, Americans in general are terrible at saving their money. Despite every weakness our capitalist society has, a lot of pain an anger would be avoided if the average American was simply more responsible with their money, plain and simple. Free college would help too as the guy in the video brought up... but that would never happen.

But it wasn't always like this. Companies used to pay decent wages. In the 1950s and 60s, the minimum wage generated enough income to keep an individual out of poverty.

Yes, it's possible, if regulations are imposed as they once were.

The only other alternative is to let the economy crumble and I'm pretty certain you wouldn't want that.

 

[Edogawa]

Just because it has a different GDP and population doesn't mean the economic principles aren't the same.

Also you say that it won't work, as opposed to what? We are currently living in a failing system as it is. We're in a bubble where inflation rises and wages remain stagnant. Inflation will continue to rise regardless of whether or not we increase wages or the minimum wage. Without purchasing power, the economy won't thrive and businesses will also hike up their prices and layoff workers because they aren't making a profit. So what you're saying will happen as a consequence of raising the minimum wage is already and has been happening for quite some time. Eventually that bubble will pop.

So what is your alternative?

It's not the same, actually. Each city and state has its own laws, business regulations, productivity and so on. I'm sure you know that.

But you fail to see that our living standards have dramatically improved from 50 years. An American living on an average wage from the 50s couldn't afford a luxury that the current American living on average wage can afford now. And purchasing power is actually rising in the US. Look up the consumer market data by countries; the US has the single largest consumer market in the world, and that's because the trust American companies and foreign companies investing in the US have on the American's purchasing power.

 

[Lightbringer]

It's not the same, actually. Each city and state has its own laws, business regulations, productivity and so on. I'm sure you know that.

But you fail to see that our living standards have dramatically improved from 50 years. An American living on an average wage from the 50s couldn't afford a luxury that the current American living on average wage can afford now. And purchasing power is actually rising in the US. Look up the consumer market data by countries; the US has the single largest consumer market in the world, and that's because the trust American companies and foreign companies investing in the US have on the American's purchasing power.

That doesn't mean economic principles don't apply the same way. If you're arguing that raising the minimum wage wouldn't work in the U.S. while also saying that what works in states varies due to GDP and population, well then that's a bit of a contradiction. I could then argue with your logic that raising the minimum wage would work in certain states if that is the case.

I'll ask again, what is your alternative? Wages remain stagnant, inflation and poverty are increasing.