Classic Stossel: Minimum Wage

Politicians promise that increasing the minimum wage would guarantee everyone better pay, but it actually ends up costing people jobs.
Minimum wage is my Politicians’ Promises Gone Wrong #9.
A Classic Stossel from 2010

[@kriscavitt3479]

Inflation killed any wage gains made in the last few years.

[@juniorvonclaire3576]

I’d love for John to speak with Thomas Sowell on economics. Keep in mind that min wage increases resulting in more people on unemployment? Less independence and more dependence on government? It’s the American Revolution in reverse and they know what they’re doing.

[@i-fart-n-elevators4610]

So has open borders who are willing to work for less

[@gordonsmith33]

Eff Jay bee

[@cassondennison8667]

Inflation caused, in part, by raising minimum wage also

[@Embassy_of_Jupiter]

Depending on the demographics not just a few years, but 51 years.

[@microsoftpain]

And now, with trillions added to the national debt, the "$15 federal minimum wage" push is effectively worthless. Higher unemployment, higher cost of living. Zero benefits.

[@scnut76]

They don't even push for $15 anymore. Now it's $25.

[@microsoftpain]

@@scnut76 Wait, for real? Oh dear.

[@willstikken5619]

Their new plan must be to reach a $15 minimum through inflationary pressure...

[@scnut76]

@@microsoftpain yup. From what I’ve seen now $15 isn’t good enough.

[@freethebirds3578]

@@scnut76 If a part-time hourly employee wants to pay the bills, they need $25. They are never going to be scheduled for more than 29 hours per week so the employer doesn't have to provide health insurance. $25 per hour for 25 hours per week would be enough to pay living expenses here in the Midwest. Get rid of 0bamacare and some employment problems would be solved.

[@AntisocialRedNeckNerd]

“Unfortunately, the real minimum wage is always zero, regardless of the laws, and that is the wage that many workers receive in the wake of the creation or escalation of a government-mandated minimum wage, because they lose their jobs or fail to find jobs when they enter the labor force. Making it illegal to pay less than a given amount does not make a worker’s productivity worth that amount-and, if it is not, that worker is unlikely to be employed.” - Thomas Sowell I trust Thomas Sowell more than any politician when it comes to economic impact of laws. . .

[@user-nh3gu1ge3d]

It's so simple but politicians gonna politick

[@dimaua1830]

When the immigrants come to Canada one of the advices they get is to… volunteer! It is a great way to put your foot in the door and gain valuable experience and connections… while living under the bridge.

[@supertruther6046]

Thank you Richard and Congratulations you are now a certified Super Truther.

[@augustgreig9420]

@@user-nh3gu1ge3d I love Sowell and have read a couple of his books, but he has one of those viewpoints you often hear from economists and people with similar expertise; that even the poorest among us live better than kings did just 250 years ago. This point of view often stresses that poverty is our default state as human beings, but it takes many things for granted. For example, the plains Indians lived in "poverty", but they had a much different idea of what property meant. Typically, they had boundaries when it came to personal property such as clothes, weapons, and usually horses. But the closest they came to owning land was if they ran into another tribe's men on their seasonal hunting ground. But when they were finished hunting there for the season, they'd either follow the herd of buffalo they were hunting, or they'd go to seek shelter from the coming cold, either in the woods where they could build a fire, or at the base off a mountain, looking for caves they could fit in to stay out of the elements. And they'd repeat this cycle every year, never building permanent dwellings, and willing to just walk away if another tribe beats them to the herd or the shelter they used the year before. Ultimately, it all comes down to violence. The only property you own is property that you can defend from enemies or raiders.

[@tarrickmerdev2324]

@@augustgreig9420 I'm not sure what your story was getting at because it didn't counter the point of poor people today having higher standards of living than peoples in the past. Yes, Indians could live off the land. They had to do so to survive. People in poverty today don't need to rely on their own ability (and luck) to hunt animals or forage for food simply to survive day to day. They don't have to gather enough of said food and properly cure, smoke, salt, or otherwise preserve it just to survive the winter, when that food generally won't be available, then do the same thing again next year. They don't have to dig latrines or primitive cesspools for dealing with waste, generally living in far less clean environments and, due to such, dealing with deadly viruses, bacteria, and parasites. They have access to medical facilities and resources and aren't likely to die simply from a minor scratch that gets infected or a single round of fever or diarrhea. They don't have to utilize and preserve every aspect of every animal they no longer have to hunt, from meat to sinew to tallow, just to provide themselves with the basic necessities to live, like bows to hunt with and clothes to keep them clean, safe, and warm. These are the things that Thomas Sowell and other economists mean when they talk about poverty being relative to the human standards of living that have increased throughout human existence, but most notably since the implementation of free market principles. The ability to own private property is one of, if not the, fundamental core of those principles.

[@Apollyon67]

Good intentions my backside. They know exactly what they are doing. Creating a Nanny State.

[@shermanngjazz]

Eric July: "Nanny statism, spy statism, all of which got us into this mess right now."

[@KAZVorpal]

One mistake: The pretense that the state has good intentions. In fact, Thomas Sowell once worked at the Department of Labor. He studied the impact of the minimum wage, and found that it caused unemployment and poverty. He concernedly showed this to his superiors, who clearly knew what he was talking about and just wanted to sweep it under the rug. What was important to them was that the minimum wage was good politically, not that it hurt the poor.

[@brianhale2977]

And a single, federal minimum wage ignores the various costs of living in various states, cities, towns, and counties. It takes needed flexibility out of our economic system.

[@shootingbricks8554]

I believe in states setting minimum wages. Federal minimum wage should only apply to federal government workers.

[@WinginWolf]

@@shootingbricks8554 even across cities wouldn’t that drain small towns of employment if everybody’s going to the city to work?

[@macethorns1168]

@@WinginWolf I'd be completely fine with all government workers only making the current minimum wage.

[@darrennew8211]

Nah. Lots of states and cities have their own minimum wages. The federal minimum wage is just the minimum minimum wage, as it should be.

[@iqbalindaryono8984]

@RiorozenGive it time, the people who will lose the most are everyone, it will show the cracks of exploitative work and force employers to actually see the value that each employee gives. Besides, it's not like employers wouldn't stoop as low as to break the law and pay peanuts for menial jobs - "They took our jobs"

[@justinmadrid8712]

The other side effect of raising the minimum sage is that companies cut workers’ hours, ironically resulting in people actually making less money per week. Which also reduces productivity, which then hurts the consumers…

[@i-fart-n-elevators4610]

Or hire illegals who will work for less just like the companies competitors

[@FishFind3000]

They also pass the cost onto the customer which in turn it’s the same people would got there tiny pay raise.

[@WinginWolf]

Not always. My job’s pay has increased over the years before I was here and hours weren’t cut, nor hiring.

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

Not necessarily, I just realised something about the minimum wage, whilst I am still opposed to it on grounds of inflexibility, let us first establish that as long as wages are not too high, companies will still get more profits from producing more, let us also keep in mind that those same workers are consumers, in other words while the effects will definitely be different for every industry, ie some that already pay higher will be unaffected, those that pay lower will be affected, it does hand money to the consumer, increasing demand, in other words it may actually cancel the effects out, ie lower demand for workers due to higher wages, but in turn those workers can buy more. In any case, the minimum wage mostly helps the ignorant, we can rectify shit by showing people that they can indeed resign and find a better job if they think their pay is too low, as long as there is competition.

[@macethorns1168]

And you can bet they'll surely expect more bang for their buck.

[@Stevarooni]

Minimum Wage is _always_ $0.

[@vicepresidentmikepence889]

Minimum wage, adjusted for inflation, was at its highest in 1968, when the economy was booming. The idea that raising the minimum wage costs jobs, is ABSOLUTE INSANITY

[@tw7086]

My chronically unemployable uncle Jimmy 100% agrees.

[@bobthemagicmoose]

@@vicepresidentmikepence889 i think politicians raise minimum wages just below market rates, just to pretend like they're doing something.

[@jim2498]

@@vicepresidentmikepence889 and if raising a minimum wage helps. Why don't we set a minimum wage of $50 an hour?

[@shermanngjazz]

@@vicepresidentmikepence889 Let's have a $100 minimum wage then! What can go wrong??

[@Noah_E]

My dad owned an auto restoration business for 35 years before retiring. He always paid his employees well and based more on their skills and attention to detail instead of how fast they could do a task. He maintained that, even when it hurt due to taking out loans and second mortgages to expand. He always made sure his employees were taken care of and paid for additional training and equipment because he saw real value in it. Because of that his employees were loyal and productive and people tried hard to apprentice with him knowing that if he saw potential in them they would start out making 20-50% more than anywhere else. He saw them as family and many stayed with him right up until his retirement. My second boss in the real World was the exact opposite. He saw employees as expenses instead of assets and because of that the turnover was really high and the company eventually went out business when a few former employees branched out on their own and everyone who had been undervalued there left with them, leaving nothing but the lazy and under-productive employees at the old company that didn't mind being mistreated.

[@gruttepier2491]

Price's law gets em every time.

[@Terminxman]

Gay story

[@MrKot666]

My current boss is similar to your dad. I don't care if it's 3 in the morning, if he needs me to do something, I'll do it. Because I know he cares about me and my family. I wish we had more people like him. Please send my regards to your dad ❤❤❤

[@recoveringnewyorker2243]

I had a similar experience. I went to work for a custom van conversion shop where the owner treated us great. Unfortunately he fell ill and had to sell the business. The man who bought it immediately took to “cost cutting measures“ including trying to find ever cheaper parts and lower cost employees. Eventually the good employees (including me) left. The van shop closed within a year. I have written a book series about my time in American industry.

[@r.b.c1399]

LET'S GO BRANDON!!!!!

[@Barskor1]

It is astounding that politicians and "experts" who have never started or run a business "know" what a bad business plan is. Totaly believable.... yep....

[@reasonablespeculation3893]

Ignorance is often a prerequisite for arrogance

[@ScottOrr95]

My grandfather was complaining to a teacher that he didn't know how he was going to make ends meet. The teacher's response was you need to ask for a bigger budget next year.

[@freethebirds3578]

@@reasonablespeculation3893 That's great! Can I use that?

[@larrote6467]

you say that as if a lot of business owners weren't idiots also; and you conveniently ignore how cozy poiliticans are with business, (it's called the revolving door); you're just an ideologue, no different from the marxists you hate so much

[@bluesyjazzy-ish3489]

Their “business” plan is what takes priority. Old news w/dems & rhino’s.

[@my3dviews]

High minimum wage just leads to more automation. That is what is happening at McDonalds. You can order yourself on a touch screen or even on your phone. No need for an employee to do that anymore.

[@brmhwb]

Someone still needs to make the food. Also, most fast food places are closed after 8 and dont open before 8am here. Congress voted 15 times (I think could be wrong) to increase their wages, but havent increased minimum wage in over 12 years. I think we need to tie it to inflation. Thats fair.

[@wsmc723]

You eat that crap?

[@alan.smitheeee]

Good.

[@bobthebuilder5779]

@@brmhwb no minimum wage shouldn't be tied to anything. It what kids or old people make if someone is worth anything they'll make more than minimum wage

[@Freedomishere-im6ug]

More self check out Walmart Winn dixie Publix

[@throatwobblermangrove8510]

When the push for $15 an hour minimum was running rampant a few years ago, the woman I was dating at the time said something similar to that last guy, although she was more harsh. She said that if a business couldn't afford to pay $15 an hour they didn't deserve to be in business. When I brought up the fact that doubling the pay for fast food workers would obviously increase the cost of the food a lot, as well as increase the costs they would pay for the things they want, effectively canceling out the raise, she wouldn't discuss it. Some people want to believe what they want to believe, and will ignore anything that runs counter to that. We didn't date much longer. This was just the tip of the iceberg in her fuzzy thinking.

[@macethorns1168]

Yeah, those people are called "Democrats".

[@enfynet]

Because they believe that the wealth of a CEO is cash sitting in a bank that can be given to the workers. I pointed out to someone once that Company X had a CEO earning something like $100 million in bonuses, offered as stock. And the company is so big that that bonus, had it been cash, would have only been a couple hundred per employee, or something like $5 a week more per person

[@LegoSwordViedos]

Or they would have to be content will lesser profits... oh but that's right you don't want to discus that, and that's just the tip of the iceberg in your fuzzy thinking.

[@enfynet]

@@LegoSwordViedos you ever operate a small business?

[@TheJeep1967]

The local burger joint here has a starting wage of $16/hour. But just like you said, a burger, fries, and a drink that used to cost $7, is now $15. If everyone in this area follows suit, we will all be paying more for everything effectively decreasing everybodies buying power.

[@1FXC]

"Government's good intentions" That was your first mistake.

[@nav_man]

It's ironical that people don't understand that minimum wage only Guarantees the wage and not the Employment "A guarantee that cannot be redeemed is not important." -Thomas Sowell

[@TheJeep1967]

Good point! A high minimum wage effectively locks out the unskilled worker from even getting a job at all. Every job has a value to the employer. If you force them to pay more than that job is worth to them, they will raise the bar of what is expected from that employee to get the higher value out of them. Minimum wage jobs are supposed to be a gateway into the working world, giving an inexperienced, unskilled worker a chance to make some money while they learn some skills and gain experience. Minimum wage jobs are not meant to be a career, but perhaps a pathway to a career.

[@iamcosma7065]

@@TheJeep1967 The problem is, thats not how it works out in the real world. People dont just move up on to better things because they worked a minimum wage job. Often times they are stuck at or near the bottom, even if they have increased their skill set and knowledge base. This is why a little fewer than half of the country earns less than $15 per hour. They arent unskilled, lazy workers. Something needs to change.

[@johnpatrick1588]

For the younger folks not around in the 1960s. My father a 25-year-old accounting clerk bought a $17,000 Long Island,NY 3 bedroom house in 1965 for his stay-at-home wife, 3 boys 1 to 4 years old, and a dog. He also had cars. All of the neighbors (airline workers, railroad workers, firemen, etc,)were doing the same plus or minus some kids. That house today is $500k with an $11,000 yearly property tax bill so can a 25-year-old accounting clerk with the same family do it today?

[@MrJoshcc600]

Holy f your man was wealthy that's not the standard

[@Slevin-Kelevra]

@@MrJoshcc600 no, in the 1960's that was normal. If minimun wage kept pace to the consumer price index & inflation, then minimum wage would be in the low $20/hr range.

[@oldsguy354]

If your dad bought a $17,000 house in 1965 with 3 kids and a car or 2, he was definitely more wealthy than the typical American, in fact, he was considerably wealthier than the average American.

[@iamcosma7065]

@@oldsguy354 Dude, my girlfriends grandparents bought their house in 1965 for $16k, grandmother was a waitress and grandfather worked a bunch of different blue collard jobs. This was the norm at the time.

[@henlofren7321]

@@iamcosma7065 The homes were much smaller. Price per square foot has remained consistent relative to inflation.

[@DanSpotYT]

Worked at a place that raised their starting wage from $12 to $15/hr. They stopped replacing people that left and eventually one person took on 2-3x the work load. They lost many long time people as it got horrible there.

[@redtsun67]

This was my last job too. There use to be 2-3 people during a shift. Eventually that got cut down to 1 person per shift, and the shifts were 10 hours long. It was terrible. All because management couldn't afford to hire more people.

[@LegoSwordViedos]

So they said they would pay $15 but they didn't really pay anyone $15 because they wouldn't hire people. And they blame everone else except themselves for the increase workload. They could have hired more employee's but they didn't and then lied to you idiots who buy the lie and then you focus your anger and discust at other working class or poor people. While they laugh their way to the bank getting the same level of productivity for a third the cost. And they say they'll hire more people but in reality their doors are shut. Why bother hiring more people if you and your crew are managing.

[@sebic0164]

You bet, "unintended" consequences are an excuse

[@rrmackay]

@@elicitm3181 Suggesting that businesses always gravitate to abuse of their workers is a marxist myth.

[@DanSpotYT]

@@LegoSwordViedos They let the people already making OVER $15 go with no attempt to keep them. Replaced them with $15. The remaining and new folks had much more workload expected of them. Supervisors that had been there 10+ years left due to the changes (way beyond wages) as it became an environment of micro-managing. My main point is that higher wages do require more expectations, however, asking people to do more than possible in a shift only to be reprimanded over impossible expectations is another thing.

[@IndependenceGuitar]

So what you’re saying is… The government should just mind their own business? Hooda thunk it?

[@DuncanWilliamsOFFICIAL]

It’s almost as if government is useless and the Tea Party should be in charge, not the stupid liberals like Biden/CCNFornia running this country.

[@f308gtb1977]

Heresy!!

[@i-fart-n-elevators4610]

Or keep listening to the lobbyist who want open borders and amnesty for more workers willing to work for less

[@Mintstar_Oceanpop]

Blasphemy!

[@lukasrael1211]

Minimum wage here is 12.56. The restaurants, warehouses, manufacturers, and grocery stored are all way under staffed. Businesses literally cut half their staff and the customers suffer the consequences.

[@i-fart-n-elevators4610]

They need to just hire more migrants who are willing to work for less

[@freethebirds3578]

So do the employees who are paid one wage to do the job of two or three people.

[@tuckerbugeater]

Minimum pay has risen to between $13-14 due to worker shortages. And CPI would go down if energy prices did.

[@edwin2600]

Have you been going about spying in these business to gain this "information?"

[@i-fart-n-elevators4610]

@@edwin2600 it is common knowledge migrants do construction for subcontractors such as framing, painting, masonry, painting, drywall for less than citizens and other delivery man can confirm that stockrooms, at manufacturer, warehouse and kitchen staff are migrants when asking where to put boxes and or where are the ones to pick up and they don't speak English and knowing of 200,000 migrants cross the southern border each month (that's just the ones caught and released we know about) yes it is cheaper to hire migrants because the competition does as they seem to be OK sleeping in sleeping bags and air mattresses on living room floor when signing for package at their rental home or apartments

[@dewaynemiguel3349]

That 15 a hour minimum wage sure worked out great with inflation the way it is,I remember minimum wage being 1.80 a hour and people could actually buy more our rent was 100 dollars a month.

[@jeremyrobin8179]

That's why we need a higher minimum wage

[@dewaynemiguel3349]

@@jeremyrobin8179 HA HA HA LOL over half the people they have making 15 a hour isnt worth 2 dollars a hour.besids it dont matter how high the wage is when these companies cut you back to 2 or 3 hrs a day.

[@Tony-Plinkett]

@@jeremyrobin8179 Why not go on welfare?

[@craighendricks2994]

@@dewaynemiguel3349 LMAOOO I like how you blame wages when it was the Stock market pump, corporate bailout, and stimmy checks that added trillions and trillions of dollars into the debt that caused inflation

[@i-fart-n-elevators4610]

That was at a time of less immigration both legal and illegal competing for who would be willing to work for less

[@karlostj4683]

A minimum wage is a "price floor" in economics. A price floor is a well-known economic concept, with well-known consequences. Those include: fewer buyers of the service whose price is set artificially high. Mr. Dorsey should know that, but he does not want to believe in the basic Supply x Demand = Price curve. Someone should take his diploma and put it through a shredder.

[@sebic0164]

Yep!

[@darrennew8211]

It would be interesting to hear why someone thinks low-cost labor is the only economic activity not subject to supply and demand.

[@karlostj4683]

@@darrennew8211 Perhaps they just don't want it to be...

[@steverennie5787]

In addition to all the points made in this video... Whenever minimum wage goes, companies don't absorb the loss, they pass it on with higher prices for their goods or services... it just makes things more expensive...

[@aaa7189]

I was told on here that they would pay more $ if the workers were getting $15hr. They just don't get it

[@larrote6467]

that's not how the concept works; that, in fact, is illegal to do since it defeats the purpose; but I imagine you're one of those people that thinks economy is a natural science with hard rules like physics or something instead of what it is: a social science; a tool we created and manipulate and is very flexible where value itself changes depending on the society.

[@thomasmatarazzo198]

@@larrote6467 lmao it's not illegal to raise prices 😂

[@MetaverseAdventures]

Maybe the issue is income disribution then as you make a good point.

[@macethorns1168]

Exactly. And why should they eat that extra cost?

[@kotk05]

4:01 he says if you can't pay them more you need a better business model. Pretty sure this guy has never started his own restaurant.

[@DuncanWilliamsOFFICIAL]

Politicians don’t make sacrifices, it’s easy to say someone is insignificant without monitoring any of their life but only on the basis of numbers.

[@gtdrummerdude]

Better business model, no problem. Burger, fries and a beer: $37 Aaand my business closed.

[@LegoSwordViedos]

Sound's like you shouldn't be in the restaurant business.

[@goodolearkygal5746]

Then you've got the person there for 5yrs is now making the same as the new guy.... min wage wiped out all of his raises

[@cartertran270]

Yeah work at a place for 5 years now they pay more then I ever made. I have a new job now but still.

[@jeremyrobin8179]

Bro nothing about his own wage has changed! Making money isn't a game that u win if u have the most of.

[@JonathanTheZombie]

That’s inflation, my man.

[@pauperslament3467]

Then they utterly decimated his buying power...

[@jeremyrobin8179]

That's not what he said and that's not how minimum wage works. Literally inflation has barely anything to do with increasing minimum wage!

[@crayfish7542]

" The Road " to " Business Loss " and " Unemployment Hell " is Paved " by " Good Political Intentions " !

[@dscharlesworth1]

"You probably don't have the best business model going." These people are your enemies, do not ever forget that.

[@bryanb3352]

The minimum wage will have minimum purchasing power not matter what it's set at. If you keep your job, you'll just find that the new wage has the same purchasing power as the old one.

[@SeraphsWitness]

That's a good way to put it. Cost of Living will adjust around minimum wage.

[@normatemp2071]

Does that apply to CEO pay as well because as executives have captured more and more of the gains of society inflation has happened and workers got stiffed on both ends So maybe lets try raising worker pay and not raising CEO pay so workers are not eternally on the losing end for once. This whole conversation really is insane and shows how much the rich have captured the narrative. There are very clear records of job numbers after minimum wage became a thing and they disprove the lie that is the premise of your comment. Cast of the false narrative you accept.

[@SeraphsWitness]

@@normatemp2071 minimum wage increases the cost of the product, at the end of the day. The idea that CEOs will take this out of their salary is absurd. You're just punishing the consumer.

[@normatemp2071]

@@SeraphsWitness that's why you need laws that advantage workers. If not they will make less and less VS inflation that is directly caused by the corporate class taking more and more. How about a maximum wage? Now that would really help working people, but it does not fit the narrative being sold here.

[@SeraphsWitness]

@@normatemp2071 Laws that advantage workers don't actually advantage workers though, this is my point. If you artificially raise wages, that cost gets imposed on the consumer, which increases Cost of Living, now the worker's money doesn't buy as much. It's a circle that government cannot solve. I don't know if you're aware of this, but we HAD a "maximum wage" back in the 50s, and it's the reason we have our terrible system of healthcare being tied up in your job. Employers wanted to pay their employees more, but they weren't allowed. So to reward them, they started adding non-monetary benefits to jobs. So no. Every time government meddles in economics, it ends up having the opposite effect. Stop telling people by threat of force what they can do with their money. It's downright immoral.

[@TheCarCrazyGuy]

Minimum wage jobs were never designed for people to depend on them. They were the doorstep to better jobs. Thank you John.

[@DuncanWilliamsOFFICIAL]

Looks like someone upset the entire population of California and New York.

[@f308gtb1977]

Simple truth that few comprehend, mostly because it doesn’t serve their emotional biases. “But I can’t afford my 4 bedroom house and my F150 and my wife and her Acura and my 3 kids and all the cell phones and the cable and our vacations and the college funds on $7.25 an hour! It’s NOT FAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIR!!!!!!!”

[@freethebirds3578]

Most employers don't want to build up a reliable workforce. Employees are just warm bodies who fill a hole until they don't, so hire someone else to plug that hole. If an employer wants to reduce turnover and keep loyal, happy employees, they pay them well and treat them well. That's rare these days.

[@mrnarason]

Where are all these high paying jobs then.

[@hyperreal]

@@mrnarason In tech, where there is the least amount of regulation.

[@elliottlastnameblank7916]

Send the minimum wage hikers to Scandinavia and make them pay 80 to 90 percent in taxes to pay for their OWN wages.

[@elliottlastnameblank7916]

@FJB oh my fuck, I didn’t even know that - I’m not Irish myself but yes that drives my point even further - this is why I’m a fiscal conservative

[@mosuke5123]

@FJB Thats bullshit, just google it. Its max 20% of your income.

[@mosuke5123]

First: Scandinavia isnt a country, thats sweden and denmark. And in neither of these countries you pay 80-90% taxes ... really i dont get it how you can spread bullshit like this. They got the best education system, are overall more healthy and happy. On the other side you have murica with the american nightmare.

[@elliottlastnameblank7916]

@@mosuke5123 Hidden Fees

[@elliottlastnameblank7916]

@@mosuke5123 Google not the truthsayer - they're part of the corporate leftist elite

[@warbananas6858]

I make 30 an hour and am 19, lol. Started at minimum got experience and found how valuable my lifeguarding, and teaching skills are

[@SuperTsogo]

You save lives

[@LegoSwordViedos]

I get paid $10 as a lifeguard, last year I had to work all year at $7.35

[@LegoSwordViedos]

@@SuperTsogo Yeah unless you live in Wyoming last year as a lifeguard you got paid $7.35 and then this year you only get $10. Oh yeah and all the new people getting hired start out at $10 an hour just the same as what you're getting paid even though you have almost 2 years of experience. FML And yes I have made rescues over 12, 3 of them being serious.

[@iamcosma7065]

The average wage of a lifeguard is $13 in the US, so youre definitely the exception, not the rule.

[@warbananas6858]

@@iamcosma7065 yeah I work for a private company, so people order me and I can to teach lessons or guard. I charge 15$ in gas and 30 an hour. Worked 30 hours this week. It's hard work but it pays

[@mysticstarhf9265]

This reminds me of a story my Dad told me of his old military days in the 70s and 80s when he few if any stripes on his arms. Whenever Congress gave the military a pay raise, the day that the raise kicked in the price of the haircuts on base suddenly magically went up along with the prices for everything else. The service providers all knew they servicemen got more money in their paychecks and so those providers were happy to raise their prices and put their hands into your pocket. So he would often tell me, that even though he got a raise, the price increase on everything would wipe it out putting him right back where he started. No gain. The more pay raises they got, the more the price went up. Catch-22 Cycle. I think it is the same as the minimum wage - the wage floor. You get your raise to $15/hr or $20/hr. But, your landlord now knows you have more money in your pocket and they want a taste of that extra money. Suddenly, your rent goes up and so forth on everything else you need to buy leaving you exactly where you started. No gain. You're making more money, but financially you are still stagnant; the wage floor will always be the wage floor. The higher you raise the minimum wage, then you encroach on other jobs. At $20/hr, you'll have burger flippers making what a college-trained beginning school teacher makes. So then you pay the starting teacher more and of course everyone above them will have to be elevated. All that extra money induces inflation, the ratio spread between everyone remains the same, but there is no increase in buying power because everyone went up at the same time with inflation following right along. So in the end, nobody benefited.

[@johnp139]

You have it BACKWARDS! Those across the board annual raises are COST OF LIVING raises! Not promotions! That is EXACTLY what it is intended to cover!

[@kerbalairforce8802]

When min wage bumped up to $7.25, I was a teenager working at a grocery. Know what I did the next day? Replaced all the price stickers in the store with ones 15-25% higher. I understood the problem with minimum wage at the age of 16.

[@The1stDukeDroklar]

In-n-Out pays nearly twice that of the industry standard and also has the highest quality as well as the lowest prices, being even lower than McDonalds by a good margin.

[@stevesedio1656]

@@The1stDukeDroklar Costco pays really well too. But, their employees produce more, enough more that Costco and In-n-Out can hire fewer people.

[@johneyon5257]

@@The1stDukeDroklar - are they paying higher out of the goodness of their heart? - or are they bringing in more customers due to their business model - which includes franchising - which most restaurants aren't part of

[@The1stDukeDroklar]

@@stevesedio1656 I never see a small staff of employees at In-n-Out.

[@The1stDukeDroklar]

@@johneyon5257 They claim they pay higher wages to encourage more loyalty in their employees thus reducing the drastic turnover of employees other chains deal with as well as having happier employees which is reflected in better customer service. Actually, In-n-Out does not franchise. None of which matters to the point I was making which is that the claims of conservatives (I vote GOP) on this issue, are wrong.

[@BenBlackEquinoxEngelhard]

Remember when "living within your means" was a thing?

[@LegoSwordViedos]

Remember when the stupid old boomers said back in my day I worked for $2.30 an hour. But they can't do math and that would be a minimum wage of $12.50 in today's money. and when the millennials want it changed the stupid old boomers call us lazy when we are working 140% as hard as they did when they were young.

[@thatgui88]

Nah dude minorites have been doing that for a long time.

[@jackson5116]

The federal minimum wage needs to go away, because $7.50 in one state can buy more (or less) than what it can in a neighboring state. For instance, Illinois (my state) had a higher cost of living, and with the higher prices $7.50 doesn't buy much, but our neighbors to the west (Missouri) has a lower cost of living, so $7.50 buys more.

[@LegoSwordViedos]

Then move out you shouldn't get to be an elitist prick who gets paid more jsut because of where you live you are saying everyone else should be treated worse so I can be paid better.

[@BakoSooner]

As usual, spot on. My first job at 14 was to work as a dish washer getting $2.35/hr. That was a low skilled job and just needed some spending money as a kid. Another unintended consequence (which we are all experiencing) is that artificially raising wage also increases cost of goods. That's called inflation. Wage should be based on market demand, not political pandering.

[@i-fart-n-elevators4610]

Nowadays one has to wonder why hire a 14 year old who won't work as many hours when they can hire one of the many illegal immigrants instead

[@aaa7189]

@@i-fart-n-elevators4610 When Seattle raised the min wage...the workers then wanted to work only 20 hrs. Other wise they would lose their benefits

[@LegoSwordViedos]

And what year was this

[@iamcosma7065]

So the minimum wage was $2.35 in 1973 adjusted for inflation today you would have been making $15.47 per hour washing dishes. Moral of the story; wages have not kept up with inflation. You dont realize how good you had it compared to workers todaym

[@Puzzlesocks]

I recently quit my job as an experienced butcher to go into dishwashing because it was more profitable. I was making $18/hr as a head meat cutter for a big grocer, and I currently bring in $22+ washing dishes for a small restaurant. I still view job listings and it blows my mind to see heavy labor or emotionally demanding jobs starting at $15 when I can sit in a room by myself all day listening to podcasts and make 50% more. The system is broken when dishwashers make more money than nursing home assistants or arborists. I'm happy I make more money, but I'm worried because I know this is highly unstable and bad for society.

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

I remember in the mid 1990's, a number of gas stations in my area started offering full-service lanes (in Michigan, not New Jersey or another state that required them). It was a small but nice convenience, and the price was always the same between the full-service and self-service pumps. I wouldn't have paid more for gas to get full service, but several times I saw two stations with identical prices, and so I deliberately chose the one with full-service pumps available. It got to the point where about half the gas stations in my area offered this. I think that it was 1997 when they raised the federal minimum wage. The day after that happened, all of the full-service lanes abruptly vanished. I have never seen an American gas station which offered full-service pumps since, except when visiting New Jersey where it is required by law.

[@DennistheMenace2011]

Oregon is another state with same law.

[@rrmackay]

Funny that where the full service lane is required by law the employees who do that job are hateful, rude and provide horrible service. When it is privately done to attract customers they are pleasant, polite and helpful.

[@jimlovesgina]

It is required in Oregon, too. At first, I was wondering why a carnie was pumping gas.

[@wsmith3849]

It’s just amazing how part time teenage entry jobs like fast food has turned into someone’s adult career field. Who ever thought a grocery bagger would make $30,000 a year. But the most amazing thing is the unskilled people who work these jobs at $15 per hour want even more! Not only do employers hire less people and give them less hours but now I rarely go out to eat due to the cost factor. A meal out today now costs as much as a half weeks grocery bill. Ridiculous.

[@battokizu]

Well then they complain that they deserve way more because they've been there longer not grasping that once you see the end of the tunnel and theres nothing on the other side you should run even faster because how dare other younger people make more! And then wonder why only trash gets hired because smart kids won't take trash jobs. Its never ending

[@isaiahcoleman967]

How dare adults demand they make enough to survive for working full time! The collapse of the service industry makes me uncomfortable! It’s definitely their fault!! and not the fault of legislators shipping jobs overseas and creating costly red tape for businesses!

[@battokizu]

@@isaiahcoleman967 while I don't disagree, its how self entitled the boomerwaffen have become because they broke their backs after the writing was on the wall that doing physically demanding jobs and ruining your body is the only way forward. Not. My. Problem. They're behavior is beyonf disgusting and wishing for the younger generation to fail is why I support every boomer being fired on the spot that dares complain about how bad they have it.

[@iamcosma7065]

1800s version of you: its incredible to me that adults are now having to do the work of children in the factories, and they want to be paid enough to not starve!! The audacity and nerve of these peasants! Wont they think about the factory owners? Also, you dont even see the ignorance of you refusing to go out to eat (cause those pesky workers want more money) and yet still shop at the grocery store. You rely on these people for your survival, yet think they are undeserving of being able to afford basic necessities themselves because they are "unskilled"? Get fucked.

[@jimlovesgina]

I rarely go out to eat. It has become a luxury.

[@brandoniananamoondo3083]

Thanks JS for putting out this content. From Seattle, the epicenter of raising wages for entry level jobs... all it has done is raise the cost of living for EVERYONE. And who suffers more?, the lower and middle class. By raising the minimum wage, everything cost more for everyone. From apartment rent, to Subway sandwiches that used to cost 5 dollars, the promotions are not honored and are likely to cost double. I'm not a Subway dude, just saying. Wendy's has automated ordering stations to eliminate ordering positions. Anyhow, I hope everyone understands my point.

[@macethorns1168]

I remember when they spiked their minimum wage. In what world does it make sense for a cashier to make as much as an ambulance driver?

[@francisdhomer5910]

@@macethorns1168 My point exactly. I'm a medic and my son makes more than me working paving and sealing parking lots. Our basic EMTs make at or less than the people just starting out at Aldi. You are talking about people who must spend time learning their skills, spend the next two or three years taking additional classes to keep their card and take refresher classes. We are respotory therapist, nurses, lab techs and more in the field. Yet in some areas we make less than CNAs

[@matthewschwartz6607]

Cashiers need to earn a living too.

[@francisdhomer5910]

@@matthewschwartz6607 More than medical people? Aldi already pays more

[@sebic0164]

You nailed it!

[@Lambda.Function]

The minimum wage is always $0/hr. The more expensive you make it for businesses to hire people, the more people you doom to make $0/hr. This is why big minimum wage advocates are also talking about government subsidized everything or universal income. They know their ideas hurt people, they just have no idea how to solve the problems they're creating.

[@LegoSwordViedos]

and that makes it okay for people to be wasting their lives away for $7 an hour in 2022?

[@legallyoverworked321]

No, minimum wages prevent exploitation. Not to mention that 7 dollars / hour is nowadays not enough (... it didn't keep up with inflation and consumer price index). Not to mention that there are currently still more way more (7 million) jobs than people available to hire...

[@lochnessmunster1189]

@@legallyoverworked321 What is 'exploitation' as you put it?

[@legallyoverworked321]

@@lochnessmunster1189 Exploitation = someone working full time yet not earning enough money to provide for his/her basic needs (food, shelter, clothes, basic healthcare). In the 1940s, a minimum wage was introduced to prevent situations where people would work full-time yet starve to death because wages would not cover basic needs.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

@@legallyoverworked321 Please can you show me any examples, prior to the 1940s where people worked full-time and still starved to death, especially in the US.

[@DadBodDrumming]

A good business model is one where everyone profits. Workers and owners alike. But higher minimum wages cut into someones profits. It could be from the owners own pockets or more likely less hours for the workers and higher prices for the end user. Govt is the enemy of all good decisions and anyone in govt is there to get your tax dollars and is a crook.

[@lambin4074]

So the business operates less to make more money? Interesting 🤓

[@Cdaragorn]

​@@lambin4074 No, they operate less to avoid bankruptcy. You've just cut their profit margin massively by increasing their greatest cost so they can no longer sustain the same level of growth they had been. You slow the entire businesses growth because you think the business making profit is somehow evil and ignore where businesses actually put that money when you bother to let them make it.

[@lambin4074]

@@Cdaragorn ok, so greatest cost is labour, the effect of letting people go is lowering growth (should be shrinking company, if youre not growing youre shrinking right?), is this what youre saying?

[@Cdaragorn]

@@lambin4074 Effectively, yes. You've retarded the company to a smaller state by significantly reducing their profit margin. The main point is that the fact that they are letting people go doesn't mean they don't want to grow, it just means you've removed the money they were using to sustain the growth they had previously so they have no choice but to revert to a smaller state of growth.

[@iqbalindaryono8984]

@@Cdaragorn they're making money on the expense of their workers. Come to think of it, where *do* those businesses put their money? As a shareholder in a company I can tell you as much that a profitable business funnels that money to the shareholders. Besides, why should any business that relies on exploiting their employees be allowed to exist? It's bad enough should anyone earning minimum wage be hit by a hospital bill that they would need to declare bankruptcy or take massive loans to pay for it. Your government and their cronies lobbying in the billions are taking advantage of your people. Why aren't you more angry about it?

[@Frostgnaw]

What choice do workers have?! Rent has skyrocketed and homes are a joke to even think about buying. Wages can't stay low when inflation has ravaged the economy.

[@stephenpuisis632]

inflation a problem? here's your ONE solution: DESTROY THE CURRENCY TO REVALUE IT

[@travissmith2848]

Here is the problem: Every good or service you use at every step of the way where there is a business with more than ten employees likely has at least one minimum wage worker (or a union worker who's union will look to the current minimum wage when discussing contracts) and each business is in the same boat. Increasing the minimum wage causes the cost of doing business to go up. Costs get passed on and so feeds inflation.

[@MajinMist603]

@@stephenpuisis632 that and bring back the gold standard ….

[@D0ugh.B0y]

Raising minimum wage raises the cost of living and ultimately raises the poverty level and brings more and more people closer to the poverty level because they may raise the minimum wage but they don’t raise everybody’s wages.

[@i-fart-n-elevators4610]

Raising minimum wage increases the numbers of illegal immigrants a company will hire to compete with competitors

[@booperdee2]

then you also have the matter of people who worked their way and negotiated for better wages now having that effort taken away. Employers arent going to want to increase that persons wages proportionally if they have to pay more for the rest of the employees. That person is likely going to want to quit, leaving that buisness with less experienced people, lowering service quality, less money to the buisness, more likely to fail.

[@bludeuce3855]

@@i-fart-n-elevators4610 the left are planning to use the ilelgals as slave labor and build the same slave camsp the chinese have which means enslaving the ilelgals and forcign them to work without pay like what china does to the Uyghurs

[@larcoal2963]

When you artificially jack with supply or demand, instead of letting a free market dictate things, you're going to have problems.

[@gruttepier2491]

An average of 250,000 extra people looking for work every month cross into America illegally.

[@larrote6467]

there is no such thing as a free market. What you call free market is actually artificially inflating the supply; minimum wage and other Keynesian ideas means artificially inflating the demand; but even marketing is already a distortion of the market. You (like most people in here) are just an ideologue, no different from the marxists. Also the main reason why EVERVYBODY intervenes, even the Laissez Faire proponents, is because just letting things happen leads to revolutions; you can't just let something like the great depression solve itself out by markets because that means the death of a lot of people without jobs (and of course, they always revolt before that)

[@iqbalindaryono8984]

We already have problems now with peoples wages not keeping up with inflation.

[@iamcosma7065]

Youre going to have problems with unregulated free markets too, hence the need for regulations.

[@tombowman2154]

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[@azheatsource]

The local Mac joint and the sub shop has sign's up all over the place $15 per hour starting wage. They could not get an order right to save them self's. Will $15.00 do it? Will my food order be correct from now on? I don't think so.

[@macethorns1168]

Exactly this. We're living in clown world where the least skilled and most useless people want $15/hr to do a shitty job.

[@Juthecomedian]

Or remember to put napkins in the bag

[@iammacnathan5350]

You forgot to read the fine print on the sign. All the ones I’ve seen said “UP TO $15/HR. Which means Assistant Managers may start at $15/hr but unskilled entry level maybe $9-10/hr, if that. I don’t think unskilled entry level job applicants are going to qualify at starting as Assistant Managers. Money for nuttin’ chicks for free🤪

[@handimanjay6642]

When I entered the workforce, summer farm work at age 12. Minimum wage was $2.15, gas was $.28 a gal, and a family of 4 could get cheeseburger meals at McDonalds for $10.

[@mysticstarhf9265]

Five years ago, lunch at the diner next to work cost about $10 with a tip and we ate there all five days of the work week. Jump to today, that same lunch and tip is now $20. Wait staff have a new higher minimum wage. My coworkers and I and other regulars we know reduced our visits to twice a week because we couldn't afford to spend $100 a week (net positive $50 more per week or an extra net positive $200 more per month) on lunch. as our pay did not go up. Service went down as a single server now has three times the number of tables to manage. The result of price/wage increases: the diner now has a 70% reduction in wait staff. Less customers due to price and poor service = less need for staff = unemployed staff making $0/hr.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

In the case of fast food workers when they got a raise, cashiers were replaced with kiosks which is fine by me. At least that guarantees service in english.

[@steverennie5787]

Aside from McDonald's (and I don't eat there anyways) I've never seen a kiosk at a restaurant...

[@verybigowl]

@@steverennie5787 lots of them have computer screens to choose your food now instead of cashiers

[@dankamp2872]

@@steverennie5787 You don't get around much then. Kiosks will be everywhere, like self-checkout lanes are now at grocery stores. I refuse to use them - they are de-humanizing, and I see stupid folks standing there for 10 minutes trying to place their orders when the empty counter is right behind them! It's like an extension of social media for them, they can't get enough!

[@steverennie5787]

@@dankamp2872 I do indeed get around... and I agree with you 100% about not using them. A self check out is different though than the order thing. I live in Canada... the ONLY restaurant I've seen a ordering kiosk is in MickeyD's... Now is might be different down the ole USA.

[@dankamp2872]

@@steverennie5787 It's getting there...

[@DRAKKENFIRE22]

This is a classic video that never gets old, it’s never irrelevant, and it is always ignored. I remember when gas station attendants use to pump gas and check oil levels as well. Households use to have the father as the single income provider who could still afford a house, a car, and multiple kids. A lot has changed since the 50’s…for worse. So many people have forgotten that minimum wage jobs are entry level jobs for high school kids to gain some life experiences and for college students to earn income while studying. They were never intended to be a lifelong career choice. In fact, minimum wage laws were created to drive blacks out of employment. What’s worse than pricing young people out of work is that many politicians make simple entrepreneurship difficult. A child wanting to open a lemonade stand can’t do so on her neighborhood corner without a certificate to operate sales. Minimum wage laws should be eliminated. Government should not be able to dictate what an employer can pay. Not only does competitive pay attract the most talented employees to compete, it also drives down the cost of goods.

[@freethebirds3578]

Employees are not choosing to stay in minimum wage jobs for their lifetime; employers are choosing to have high turnover rates so they don't have to pay raises and give benefits to long term employees. If you work retail or food service, chances are you won't stay at one job long enough to get promoted to manager. I'm sure the same is true in many other industries.

[@BlitzOfTheReich]

this is so bloody inaccurate.

[@BigMobe]

Anyone remember when there were ushers in movie theaters to keep people from being disruptive? Well that's one job gone thanks to minimum wage being higher than what their service was worth.

[@hwy27west]

A lot of wisdom there John…Thx.

[@peterbrunsgaard2012]

Thanks John! A true journalist at his finest!

[@sss-ub1db]

☎ᴛᵉˣţ𝄍✉𝑾𝒉𝔮ᴛᵗ𝑠𝑨𝑝𝑝 ᴍs ᴋᴀᴛʜʀʏɴ ʟɪɴᴄᴋ ✚𝟭𝟮𝟬𝟵𝟯𝟱𝟯𝟮𝟱𝟬𝟳✓ ʀᴇɢᴀʀᴅɪɴɢ ʙᴛᴄ/ᴇᴛʜ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪᴅᴇᴀs👌

[@BlueRoseSteakhouse]

Always love the argument of “ if you can’t pay your employees more you don’t have a good business model” but it’s never asked why the employee is incapable of demanding more money in relation to the value of their labor. My long term employees make well over the regional average of our market because they understand they are selling me a service just as I am selling our customers one.

[@stefandieter4044]

Hello Shane how are you doing over there?

[@chrisreed4065]

Because an employee doesn't have the leverage to negotiate with their boss at an individual level. An employee at walmart for example would be laughed at and shown the door because walmart knows they can find some other schmuck. It's why unions exist because, without collective bargaining blue collar workers are at the mercy of their employers. You only have to look at UPS and how they can pay their drivers $42 an hour and still make a profit to see how screwd U.S. workers have been. That's what unions provide. As a side tangent stock buybacks should be illegal as they juice stock prices without providing real added value to the company as well as being one of the major reasons for the mailaise we see in terms of culture and innovation in corporate america.

[@reasonablespeculation3893]

Politicians, along with most Americans don't understand economics or finance. The real tragedy is K- 12 (and often head start programs at pre school levels) 13 or MORE full time years at the cost of 100s of thousands of per child, and the vast majority of High School graduates have ZERO marketable skills. It's a National embarrassment.

[@henlofren7321]

It's a national embarrassment that Americans STILL don't realize that this is done out of malice, NOT incompetence.

[@DuncanWilliamsOFFICIAL]

Guess who are the adults who made schools prepare kids for college? Guess who are the kids that had to learn all that “useless” information all because of your votes? That’s right, anyone born past year 2000 is screwed. I didn’t vote for this; I didn’t vote for a shit school life, you have to blame some adults.

[@henlofren7321]

@@DuncanWilliamsOFFICIAL Blame your parents for not homeschooling or choosing a more intelligent mate.

[@BullittGT40]

This lesson is still relevant today.

[@littletime8849]

Thank you for sharing.

[@FenexDragonis]

I love the progressive mindset here. "If there was no minimum wage they would pay their employees as little as possible" Just completely ignoring the fact people can choose who they work for...

[@macethorns1168]

Truth. Only someone with a college education would say something so stupid. That man was talking out of his ass.

[@DManCAWMaster]

That and that people are resources and employers don't have unlimited options.

[@LegoSwordViedos]

@@DManCAWMaster In a small limited community they do, and when the government colludes with businesses to make it so the buisness can't have competition spring up they have a captive market that has little to no choice.

[@iamcosma7065]

Your point being? You can choose between job A at unlivable wage, or job be at unliveable wage? Wow free market is the best....

[@sb3424]

Always a good idea when discussing the minimum wage to mention that Scandinavians don't have a minimum wage

[@rangergxi]

They do. They have mandatory unions that set the minimum wage based on employee experience and skills.

[@aaa7189]

Then the people would see what they are really worth.

[@michelef406]

@@rangergxiIt is not a government mandated minimum wage. It's the result of free negotiation conducted in a much more efficient way for the workers, this is thanks to economies of scale that makes it easier to bargain for a lot of workers rather than for a single one. So no, they don't have minimum wages, not in the same sense it is intended in this video. This doesn't mean unions are always a good thing but that's a different topic.

[@tuckerbugeater]

America provides their security and they have quite a few natural resources compared to their population.

[@engelsteinberg593]

@@michelef406 Unions aren't different to Goverment coercion.

[@andrewcarter2331]

The prime cut is a great place! Can’t believe you interviewed someone in my hometown!!

[@sss-ub1db]

☎ᴛᵉˣţ𝄍✉𝑾𝒉𝔮ᴛᵗ𝑠𝑨𝑝𝑝 ᴍs ᴋᴀᴛʜʀʏɴ ʟɪɴᴄᴋ ✚𝟭𝟮𝟬𝟵𝟯𝟱𝟯𝟮𝟱𝟬𝟳✓ ʀᴇɢᴀʀᴅɪɴɢ ʙᴛᴄ/ ᴇᴛʜ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪᴅᴇᴀs👌

[@heavyd777]

People who argue for raising the minimum wage never, ever, ever produce ideas that will bring down the cost of living. Cost is the issue, not wages.

[@kevingouldrup9265]

What happens to us who have put 20 plus years into an industry have gone through training and paid for it who have professional licenses and we don't seem to get a raise pretty soon the people who have done nothing will make as much as I!

[@reasonablespeculation3893]

Goes hand in hand with the inflated dollar supply (money printing) which destroys savings ,,, and undermines the wage, that only yesterday, was respectable and livable. Bottom line; Govmnt is promoting destruction of the value, of the dollar. There's lots of them, BUT they are Worthless

[@harrydecker8731]

One cannot solely argue for or against minimum wage. One has to take into account benefits and retirement. Some employees receive fabulous benefits and a pension plan. Others receive no benefits at all. I've read articles that claim 40 percent of older Americans live on Social Security alone. I've also read that only seven percent of retirees have income from three sources: Social Security, Pension, and Savings. Some might argue that people are too stupid to save and invest. How about this, then. For those earning low wages, what they need to do is cut back to barebones essentials. Always drink water, for instance, and no other liquid beverages. Never buy anything new. Stop going to restaurants, movies, concerts, fairs, and sports events. Cancel cable TV. Instead, bank all that money you're not spending. What would happen in such case? Might the economy collapse because many people aren't spending their money? It's not a simple black-and-white issue, is it?

[@xcqematic1]

In the Bay Area, even McDonald's pay $18 per hr and Panda Express $22. The prices of goods have increased immediately and now they are demanding $35 per hour minimum wage. You cant fight stupid.

[@jamesirmert]

It’s not just unemployment and a loss of opportunity that a higher minimum wage causes. It also causes inflation when companies start raising prices rather than cut jobs.

[@GCEXTREMEMN]

Their response is always "if a business cant afford to pay their employees more then they shouldn't be in business" is basically just saying they prefer no jobs at all. No new small businesses can ever start up. Its just a bottleneck like mentioned in your other video.

[@bludeuce3855]

the left wanna use the illegals as slave labor which means slave camps similar to what china has and the ilelgals are used as slave labor and paid nothing

[@vroomkaboom108]

The funniest part is when they think they're saving the world and hurting the cartoony billionaires in top hats, when in reality this is perfect for them. Not only can they afford to take any hit, in practice they are paying to keep competition dead or always struggling; it's an investment that they gladly pay.

[@brianbristofer-woods6788]

I make 35/hr as a diesel mechanic because i spent 6 years in the military learning a trade thats worth something, what adult feels comfortable making less then 25/hr is either living in a rural town where cost of living is low enough to make viable or they’re wasting their potential. LABOR jobs in alaska make 25/hr with no prior experience, minimum any fast food place or walmart will pay you is 15-18/hr. Dont sell yourself short and get a job that can graduate into something worth while. That guy started out at 5 now makes 10 an hour. Dude has zero hope for retirement at a decent age making that much

[@goodolearkygal5746]

You don't have to live in a rural town. Alaska is very expensive. Arkansas is not

[@aaronfox5559]

My dad was a diesel mech his last 6 years he worked in Alaska, 6 months on 6 months off an came home with over 100k but now that he is older his body is messed up

[@lonkslonkolious4916]

These clips are from a time where inflation was WAY lower...

[@imchris5000]

you can be a union carpenter in any state and break 30$ an hour

[@i-fart-n-elevators4610]

@@imchris5000 you should be concerned about being under bid by illegals immigrants who are more than willing to do the job cheaper

[@jimmcgaugh2519]

Retired now, my very first job (part time) was as a 'stockboy' for a convenience store paying $1.00/hour when I was just a preteen kid. About a year or so later, the State caught up with them and made them pay me the minimum wage for every hour previously worked ($1.65 back then), so I received an unexpected lump-sum check. I used the money to buy a 4-horsepower (Briggs & Stratton) 'Charger' Minibike. That's what was called 'stylin' in the suburbs back in the day. (Wish I still had it)

[@IronMike777777]

Here in Chelsea Michigan, Culver’s is starting at $20 an hour. People around here are refusing to work for less. But here rent is also hovering around $1500 a month for a crappy apartment.

[@Tell_It_Right]

I think every hard working person can relate to being young and making little money. But, the ones of us that kept working, got experience (or education) started making more and more the longer we worked. Nowadays days, kids are complaining when they get $18/hr to stock shelves.

[@iamcosma7065]

The problem is its not young kids working these jobs anymore, the average age of a fast food emoloyee is 27. Also a little less than half of the workforce earns less than $15 per hour, these include "skilled" and educated people. Your idea that the harder and longer you work, the more you get paid is very outdated. Welcome to 2022, there is a reason people are complaining.

[@Tell_It_Right]

@@iamcosma7065 Your idea of "hard work" is the problem.

[@iamcosma7065]

@@Tell_It_Right Sure, all the people that you rely on to live your life dont work hard. Keep telling yourself that pal.

[@UserName-ts3sp]

@@iamcosma7065 dont know but i haven’t made below $15 since i was in high school

[@TheKrazyk2010]

Sadly the longest living kennedy politican was ted Kennedy........

[@shootingbricks8554]

Construction is pretty skilled now a days. If I'm a certified welder, heavy equipment certified, etc, I'll be paid more than most 4 yr college grads with liberal arts degrees.

[@jamesmyers136]

The same business model argument used for raising the minimum wage can also be said about the people arguing for the raise…they don’t have a good work ethic.

[@MasonCatalone]

I believe in eliminating the minimum wage, but I also believe that most employers underpay their employees. But, that's a negotiation issue, not a government mandate

[@macethorns1168]

Of course they underpay them, no one (or very few people) want to pay more for something than they have to.

[@engelsteinberg593]

As a voluntary agreement underpay is impossible.

[@engelsteinberg593]

@@elicitm3181 It never happens because they have limited options and competence with take their workers if they no paid a apropiate ammount.

[@combativeThinker]

@@elicitm3181 Leave and work for someone else. Badmouth them every chance you get. They’ll go tits up if they don’t shape up.

[@LegoSwordViedos]

@@engelsteinberg593 Starve and die of medical care you can't afford or work for $8 yep totally fair negotiation. That's like telling the factory owner, Pay me $25 an hour or we burn the factory down and ransack your house. Only think is who has the leverage in the negotiation. And the side that says starve and die or work for S*** wins out. Unless they live in a rural area where people are trapped they can pay basically nothing because there are no other jobs avalible to compete with.

[@asillynertasillynert2204]

Couple years ago 7.25 dude its been over a decade. Its been so long people were BORN raised and joined workforce at summer job with it never changing changing in life time. When it was "introduced" rent was average 700 today average rent is 1300 without change. Healthcare went up even more and so did many other cost of living related goods. Also 95% make more than min wage is a damnable lie misleading. Sure they off 10-25 cents more hell even 2-3 dollars but most country makes less than min wage should be which is was 15 almost 15 yrs ago. Now its closer to 20 is a living wage. When first introduced it changed every 1-5 yrs increasing 300% within first 10yrs. Wasnt until reaganism "screw you got mine be happy with the trickle down your granted" stance in america that it began to deviate beyond 5yr adjustments. And begun going changing every 5-10 yrs. And now were at longest point in history 13yrs. in 1974 rent averaged 100 meaning with 2 dollar min wage 50hrs of work paid rent. Now min wage equals 240hrs of work to pay rent. DO you not see a problem with that. To be on same page where same time equal rent would take almost 26 a hr. And healthcare as well as tuition actually went up twice as fast as rent so you would still have less buying power than 1970s min wage worker. That guy making 3.75-4.00 puts him around 1991 min wage. 450 average rent so he paid rent in 105 hrs. So today at 10hr it still takes him 130 he maybe making more but business do not keep up with inflation. When it comes to wages. Inbetween boomers and people like you well I used to work my ass of for 25 cents a hour back in 1940 yeah but rent was 20 bucks. Outdated owners and workers who secured housing back when it was cheaper are able to drive wages below living cost. You want to know why so many are homeless in usa because they are a paycheck away from it. Want to know why mental health is such a huge issue because a single visit to therapist cost more than a weeks wages. Want to know why people are no longer having kids they can barely afford to feed themselves. And business use market signaling when mcdonalds raises wages surprise surprise so do all other fast food places. They do the same in reverse as well if they all hold out which they can better than a worker who starves next week if they dont say yes. Want to know why there is a labor shortage after a 2-3 decades of being given table scraps and forced to cut corners on own life. Me a I make more but I am close enough to min wage that the "more Is dictated by what min wage is" if min wage went up so would my wage. But when I first started I was making 11 able to have own place a car healthcare little savings. As time went on I moved up but things stayed same by time I got to 15hr my rent and other living expenses nullified it. Few years later couldn't live without roommates a few years after that couldn't live with car payment had to have older barely running beater car. Few years after that and then I had to move to low cost area did this twice. Meanwhile wages stayed pretty much exactly the same. This year between gas and a 45% rent hike/gouge. I am at the point where I have lost 30lbs this year because I couldn't afford to get to work AND eat. Also want to talk about "entitled generation" how about boomers expecting us to subsidize their shitty business model. End of day if service is wanted and a business fails someone "better" will fill the market gap. But lets say I want to enter business market but refuse to force young employees to subsidize my business by living in poverty. How can I compete with companys that do that. It happens all time its actually in my industry in my state we have cartel that runs housing couple property companys do 90% of new building. And if you want to work with any of them you have to agree to absurdly low prices. And even with skilled crews lowest trade skill wages in country contractors lose money. Its gotten so bad many started paying guys under table to avoid taxes some would go steal materials from other job sites. And if you try to break away from these big companys people look at what is a fair price and laugh because these companys will do it for half as much. By having unethical practices as a standard to "save a business/save money" it becomes industry standard.

[@Direwolf13PS3]

"I'm from the government and I'm here to help" This is the result.

[@TheJeep1967]

Our local fast food burger joint now pays a starting wage of $16/hour. Of coarse a burger, fries and drink that used to cost $7 is now $15. If that happens to every business they have effectively decreased the buying power of everyone and those higher wages now buy you no more than the lower wages did before the big pay raise. Many small business work on very thin profit margins. If they have to pay employees more than the value that that employee brings to the business, the owner often has to choose from raising prices of their goods and services, or close up shop all together because they can no longer make a reasonable profit for themselves.

[@bnbwhitezombie]

I don't know when this originally aired but it's still true. I love it when they show Clarence Thomas in that speech he gave where he says that no matter what happens north is still north.

[@wadebarnett2542]

2010.

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@wadebarnett2542 Yep, right when the Fed handed out trillions in QE to prop up a decade stock market bull run.

[@nich_o_las]

I hate when leftist say "you can't afford the minimum wage? Then close your business. That's capitalism honey 💅🏽 " No Zoey, it's not.

[@whothoughthandleswereagoodidea]

Ah yes, government sanctions and regulation. Capitalism at its finest.

[@steelsolider95]

I hate when rightards thank their capitalist master for putting their boot on their neck

[@Operator8282]

@@whothoughthandleswereagoodidea If that's Capitalism, then we haven't been in a Capitalist economy since the 1930's.

[@nich_o_las]

@@Operator8282 correct.

[@whothoughthandleswereagoodidea]

@@Operator8282 Yes, you're correct.

[@tigerarmy6018]

I would like to see Christian Dorsey of the Economic Policy Institute discuss the Business model. Explain to me how the government who pushes this regulation has an acceptable business model that is spending more than it brings in...

[@DavidPimentel]

There is NOTHING good about the intentions of government. The fallout from the minimum wage is the perfect case study.

[@donalddowning4108]

I’ve always wondered if a mandated federal minimum wage is Constitutional. Anybody know what clause justifies that?

[@Cdaragorn]

There doesn't need to be a clause in the Constitution to justify everything. As long as it isn't explicitly forbidden it's at least possible.

[@donalddowning4108]

@@Cdaragorn. If no clause specifies it, or even infers the right of Congress to do so, then the 10th Amendments would apply. Minimum wage would then be left to the states to decide just as the recent decision overturning Roe v. Wade did.

[@recoveringnewyorker2243]

Unskilled laborer applying for a minimum wage job - “What’s your rate of pay?“ - Employer “I’ll pay you what you’re worth” Job seeker - “I don’t work that cheap!“

[@DennistheMenace2011]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@badgerspvcoachellis2436]

The problem is that since they raised minimum wage to $7.25, inflation has sky rocketed and things cost 3x more. So that $7.25 back them would be about $3 today.

[@kevinclause4p55p5]

Politics affects the economy which affects kids and teens. Therefore, they deserve to vote.

[@biffbifford402]

4:01 - spoken like a guy who has never ran a business in his life. And never will run a successful business in his life.

[@drugsarebad97]

Lower tax on businesses would equal more pay for employees , just a thought

[@LegoSwordViedos]

No it wouldn't it would mean more profit for ceo and middle manager.

[@thatgui88]

I think we should give tax breaks to those companies that can be done remotely. All that real estate building is wasted money.

[@drugsarebad97]

@@LegoSwordViedos so we should just tax them as high as possible so the government gets all the money to mismanage however they want ..?

[@voswouter87]

Most people don't understand economics. They don't understand how value can be created in the first place, so neither do they understand that different skill levels create different amounts of value. It's not about what someone is worth, that isn't measured by their wage. It's about how much value someone can create.

[@EmptyBowls]

I do agree with what the economist said about a business failing, due to their inability to raise their minimum wage accordingly. If you're expecting to expand a business and cannot figure out what you're doing wrong with respect to retaining and hiring talent, then how do you expect to sustain your business with such a flawed model? The reason why some employers, like the bowling alley, were were able to both, retaining their current talent and increase employee morale, was due to their business model making an effort to do so. As a result, the business is very sustainable, has awesome employee morale, and continues to grow in both, size and customer satisfaction. Now compare this model to those of businesses that always suffer from high turnovers. While their business appears deceptively sustainable, the underlying business model doesn't make any efforts to retain any current talent by adjusting minimum wages accordingly. As a result, their stubborn business model becomes a self-defeating curse to the business, causing the business to either, close or continuously suffer form a lack of customer satisfaction and employee morale.

[@skateebee]

Due to upward pressure from minimum wage I see Whole Foods now STARTING at $17/hr. Really? To put cans on a shelf or get carts from the parking lot? And everyone wonders why everything is so expensive.

[@keithsj10]

Only 1.5% of workers earn minimum wage. That's something John doesn't mention 🙄 Besides, businesses don't owe anyone a job.

[@dannyturkian9083]

Many of minimum wage workers are 16 - 25 years old and don’t have a family to raise. Something politicians don’t mention

[@Rubenigno16]

3:03 they say it right here

[@marcusswedo5217]

@A Z Where are you going in America you are only running into minimum wage bottom of the barrel workers?

[@DuncanWilliamsOFFICIAL]

@@marcusswedo5217 he’s likely heading into a major city, democrats always run them all for some reason and always produce unintelligent populations.

[@tuckerbugeater]

No one owes you a safe space.

[@stricken1666]

I think what nobody talks about when we say "minimum wage jobs are for entry positions for teens" is that when you look at a huge portion of the work force, its adults stuck working dead end jobs where you barely make enough to meet living expenses. That was when things were good a couple years ago, now you literally can't afford to live anywhere on any minimum wage. I'm in favor of letting companies compete with wages and benefits on their own but I'm also in favor of giving people a decent life. The problem lies in the supply of labor force willing to do it for less.

[@stricken1666]

@KFC Man as much as I agree with you about those who want to work any shit job and expect to live comfortably, the boomers enjoyed working 1 job and look at how lavish most of them are living now. Between inflation and stagnant wages, most jobs paying less than $18 per hour on average are not a livable wage (meaning you can't afford rent, food, car and other necessary expenses on your own) and unfortunately most jobs pay less than that across the board. People use the term minimum wage as if you can survive on that. Rent alone will eat that entire check and laugh about it. This is also why we see so many people have roommates instead of being able to buy a home for themselves. Look at housing prices, who has 10-30k just sitting around for a down-payment? Boomers earned about 50% of the total cost of their home per year (not that they paid all that into it, just that they earned that much) compare that to today where the national average income is around 50k but the average home costs about 400k. Must have been nice to actually afford a home.

[@steverichter9825]

I had not seen this one yet. When it got to Warren Meyers, I recognized him from reading his Coyoteblog site all these years. Pretty cool and still relevant today. Go Stossel.

[@sss-ub1db]

☎ᴛᵉˣţ𝄍✉𝑾𝒉𝔮ᴛᵗ𝑠𝑨𝑝𝑝 ᴍs ᴋᴀᴛʜʀʏɴ ʟɪɴᴄᴋ ✚𝟭𝟮𝟬𝟵𝟯𝟱𝟯𝟮𝟱𝟬𝟳✔ ʀᴇɢᴀʀᴅɪɴɢ ʙᴛᴄ/ ᴇᴛʜ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪᴅᴇᴀs👌

[@joeykahng6219]

“Good intention” If it wasn’t for those lower paid entry level jobs, that small business owners could afford? Wouldn’t have earned the skills I have today. Today… seen a kid making 3 times what I made back in the day as a courtesy clerk, on his phone.🤣 And…… there’s ya sign.

[@dk-bw4gk]

And then we got Obamacare mandates that pushed the entry-level jobs out anyways, or you're working 20 hours a week at $12/hour.

[@LegoSwordViedos]

$7.35 an hour cough

[@christopherrusso531]

I rarely saw check out machines until min. wage hit 15 an hour. As an employer, I do the work myself and or hire less people. Working myself makes it harder to grow the business. Also, govt taxes force me to hire less and lay off more.

[@slchambers1]

I started out under 2 dollars a hour at a grocery store. I was 15 and dropped off at 0500 every Monday through Saturday to get the milk and bread in the store. By myself till 0700. I didn’t know how to look at schedules, mop, sweep and clean according to store standards. Took weeks to get it done properly. Then at 1100 I’d catch the city bus to high school. Got out of school at 1700. I wouldn’t have got the opportunity if wages would have been higher. Made about 20 bucks a week in tips. Rolling in the dough

[@thefanwithoutaface8105]

See here's the problem with the whole raise wage thing, you do that then companies just raise the price of everything effectively making the increase meaningless. Also you shouldn't expect a living wage for working at Macdonald's. That's not a skilled or difficult job, that's the kind of thing you expect a teenager to work on for gas money.

[@qm9262]

That's why it only benefits teen workers because they just get more pot money without having to pay more for groceries and other living expenses.

[@momsberettas9576]

If you can't afford to pay your workers a living wage then you have a failed business model. McDonalds absolutely can afford to pay every worker a seriously livable wage, but greed always wins in the end. There is a glut of money, it just all goes to the top. How about cut all taxes in half, that might help minimum wage workers. The government is so bloated and wasteful with spending. Reduce the gov by 80% and well be ok. You shouldn't be making 100 mil a year if your employees at the bottom can't afford a comfortable life.

[@my3dviews]

@@momsberettas9576 The McDonalds near where I live used to have six cashiers, now there is only two and sometimes one. You can now do your own order on a touch screen. Eventually they will just get rid of all cashiers and go fully automated. The high minimum wage makes it economical to buy expensive machines to replace the workers. Next they will have machines that prepare the food. The whole restaurant will only need a couple of employees. You are assuming that the McDonalds restaurants are corporate owned, when in reality most are franchises, where the owner needs to keep costs down to make a profit. McDonalds jobs are starter jobs, to get young people experience while they still live at home. They don't need a living wage, they need experience to get a better job later.

[@The1stDukeDroklar]

In-n-Out already pays nearly twice the wage of other fast food companies all while maintaining the highest quality food and service while being the best value in the fast food industry. Does that not prove your argument invalid?

[@user-nh3gu1ge3d]

@@momsberettas9576 I agree with your bit about cutting taxes but McDonald's CEO made 20 mil last year, not 100. And that sounds pretty reasonable to me for running a company with over 20 BILLION in annual revenue with 38,000 locations across 100 countries. Considering some people make considerably more for throwing a ball or mindless junk like pop music/tv/media crap. McDonald's CEO isn't taking any money out of your pocket, that's just silly. And clearly, their business model isn't "failed". If you think you can do better, go ahead. But you can't. Which is why he makes the big bucks and you don't. No need for envy, just do better.

[@r.rodriguez4991]

Imagine walking into a diner and being greeted by a responsible, well-mannered thirteen year old girl. Those days sure are gone!

[@vote2a617]

Travel across many states. Using McDonald's as an example. High minimum wage states McDonald's is using ordering kiosks or phone applications exclusively if you wish order a meal. Low minimum wage states no kiosk there's still a smile behind the counter ready to take your order. Middle wage states have both options available, but McDonald points towards the kiosk due to minimum staff behind counter. McDonald's use to hire high school kids but that's rare now days because training has a cost as well, now you see a lot of retirees or older workers behind counters. McDonald's basically charges same nationally advertised price point across naton for the same meal. So McDonald's staffs their restaurants based on employee costs, all else being equal to deliver very same product to the customer at national price point. Personally I'd prefer to see a smiling high schooler behind the counter learning a work ethic and skills to be used as they grow into the workforce.

[@rrmackay]

Government good intentions have led us to record inflation and record wealth disparity. It is so bad that employers are giving across the board raises just to maintain their existing workforce.