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As anyone who's ever worked a minimum wage, menial gig will tell you, being at the bottom of the economic rung sucks. I'm quite a few years removed from my last such job, but the memory of working in a sweltering factory for a mere $4.25 and hour was enough to convince me the stay in school. While jobs at this end of the economic spectrum generally require fewer specialized skills, they're often the most physically draining. You might argue that on the basis of sheer effort exerted, minimum wage jobs like cleaning toilets, picking up trash and mowing lawns should pay more than your typical white-collar job. Such jobs, and such workers, are truly the backbone of the American economy.
That said, in our current economic times, with more and more people having to take minimum wage jobs just to keep the lights on, the last thing a politician would advocate is paying people even less than the Federally mandated $7.25/hour. But of course, when you're talking about Republicans, logic seldom enters the equation:
Alaska Republican Joe Miller, in an interview with ABC News and Politico, said that minimum wage rates should be left up the states. "There should not be" a federal rule regulating low pay, he said. "That is not within the scope of the powers that are given to the federal government."
And last week, Connecticut GOPer Linda McMahon confessed to being unsure what the minimum wage rate is – after saying that she thinks that it should be reviewed and possibly lowered.
Democrats leapt on both stories, painting the Republicans (particularly the affluent McMahon, who has vowed to spend $50 million of her own money on her race) as out of touch with the plight of the American worker. (MSN.com)
As if there weren't enough other reasons to be concerned about November's mid-term elections, this should be cause enough to get folks out to the polls. Miller, who has a pretty good chance of winning his Alaska Senate race, is one of many Republican/Tea Party candidates in races nationwide who thinks minimum wages are a state's issue, and finds the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 unconstitutional.
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Never mind the fact that the Fair Labor Act has been repeatedly confirmed by the courts as constitutional. Never mind the fact that Miller likely has little point of reference since Alaska has among the smallest percentage of minimum wage earners among all states. Never mind the fact that a full-time worker bringing home minimum wage makes barely $15,000/annually, which still puts a family of two below the DHHS poverty line. Never mind the fact that the Fair Labor Standards Act also prevents abuses of child labor. Nope, all that matters is that the Founding Fathers didn't explicitly say you're entitled to a measly $7.25 an hour for making burgers and fries. Miller and the like think McDonald's should be able to pay you with McNuggets if they deem that reasonable compensation. Since we're being so doggedly Constitutional, I wonder how Miller feels about the Voting and Civil Rights Acts.
It's funny that some of the very same Republicans who fought tooth and nail to ensure the right of those on Wall Street to reap huge bonuses now want to deny the right of a guy on Main Street the ability to make a fair, barely-living wage to clean toilets. Then again, perhaps "funny" isn't the right word. "Sad," maybe. "Pathetic," surely.
I wonder if Joe Miller would agree to work for less than minimum wage if he somehow makes it to DC.
Question:
Would lowering the federally-mandated minimum wage stimulate the economy by making it cheaper to hire workers?
Jay Anderson is a freelance writer from Washington, DC, whose work has been featured in the Washington Post and on NPR. When he's not busy talking smack here, he runs the award-winning blog AverageBro.com. Follow him via Twitter @AverageBro.
Comments: (21)
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By: Patricia on 10/18/2010 6:48PM
Two "CANDIDATES" who want this does not mean the entire Republican Party. That is misleading. Also those two candidates should realize that if they get to Washington..They're is no way in "you know where", that would ever get enough votes in committee to go to the Floor of Congress as a Bill to ever be voted on. If it did (which I highly doubt), would be VOTED DOWN BY A WIDE MARGIN.
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By: M. Alexander on 10/18/2010 7:27PM
Republicans and conservatives have always had the same old battle cry that raising the minimum will hurt businesses and force soem to close there doors but it's really funny that same ideology is used when some CEO of a fast food mega-chain can rake in a 6 or 7 figure salary !
Many years ago in the 1970s, McDonald's founder Ray Kroc gave over $200,000 to then Republican President Richard Nixon's campaigns to block a minimum wage hike stating it would hurt his business and this man at that time was a multi-millionaire and I think it's safe to say that McDonald's hasn't been hurt financially by minimum wage hikes over the years !
Also keep in mind that Kroc paid at the time (1970s)$10,000,000 for the San Diego Padres baseball team ! I think it's safe to say he had his priorities all screwed up !
That GOP crap is just a way for the rich to keep their money at someone else's expense for better or worse which is often the case !
Also keep in mind that blue collar workers keep this economy moving and without them it all collapses as we've seen lately !
Many people aren't aware that the almighty sultan king of software Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder uses Washington state prisoners to package his products and why you ask, to keep from paying someone to do the job because by using prisoners he cuts out paying benefits and a "living wage" !
Some of our biggest telecom company's also use prison inmates to man their call centers ! Why you ask ?
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By: 12bigman on 10/18/2010 7:28PM
The same GOPs who sit behind their desks and want to vote to lower minumun wages need to go and work those jobs themselves and see if they can make it i doubt it very much.
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By: SteveLC on 10/19/2010 1:49AM
Patricia, the seeds of greed has been planted. It is the reason that this country is in a mess because, President Bush laid the foundation for America's financial downfall. The US Chamber of Commerce want amnesty for all the ILLEGAL immigrants. This will make it more legal to pay them $7.00 or less per hour. So you keep your head in the sand, about that it minimum wage cannot be removed. Bush wanted to put Social Security (SS) into private financial institutions, and give workers to opt out of paying into SS. Meanwhile the %2 wealthy only pay the maximum amount. Children born of ILLEGAL immigrants allows the parents to obtain food stamps, medical and other benefits. Now if you and other believe really believe that it cannot happen, start monitoring the bills that are quietly moving in the House and Senate and attached to other bills.
The two wars that Bush started cost the country 5.7 Billion DOLLARS per month, but I don't hear a peep from all you anti Obama. You want the government out of your lives, but you are very quiet about Bush's Patriot Program that monitor you and all people of the USA.
All because of all the "we lost the election group", the Tea Party and religious racial bigots allow their hate cloud their thinking, well, some racial bigots can't think.
I'm hoping that the Republicans are successfully in winning some seats in Washington, I am hoping that their greed and you'll racial hatred will destroy America and allow the New World Order and the North American Union to become a realty.
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By: EB on 10/19/2010 10:09AM
Above all other things, please be honest and please be fair in your reporting.
With this said, please go to the Governemnt Jobs website and scroll the "thousands" of current job listings, because if you do, then you will see what this good old Administration, and [whoever is obviously leaving you some tips under the table for this propaganda] is doing:
(1) Most of the jobs are entry level and pay $35,000 and less per year. Please divide this figure by 24 pay periods [or 12 months]. Then deduct Federal Taxes, FICA, Insurance[The New Health Care Insurance Reform mandates], and in most states, state income taxes and other taxes as well].
(2) Now deduct mandatory automobile insurance; food; gasoline and automobile up-keep; utilities; tithes [if any]; toll-road fees [if any]; public transportation [if any]; telephone and/or cell phone bills; child-care expenses [if any]; and then tell me if the jobs on the Governement Web Site are "above", or "just at" minimum wages.
(3) Then look closely at all of those jobs that won't be closing until early 2011. Then see how many are only two year appointmemnts. Uuummmm. this looks like a political trick to me. More specifically, 95% of the jobs are nothing more than minimumm wage jobs. However, by filling all of these low paying jobs,[many of them only pay around $24,000 per year], then the old rope-some-dopes some more rhetoric is going to be that the unemplyment rate is dropping, and then. in 2013--after the 2012 Novemebr elections--when many of these jobs end---who cares? Not Mr. President, because this deception appears to be so properly and craftfully planned, that what African American dummie would see through it?
Please stop assisting in the destruction of the African American community with this false propaganda and mis-information that you are reporting.
You see, most of our "cousins" really "Believe" that the President and the Dmocractic Party has their back when in fact it is all an illusion to get the African American votes by whatever means necessary.
The truth being an absolute defense to a lie, (1)why aren't you reporting the fact that the recently passed Spending Bill will be paid for in part by a reduction in food stamps;(2) why aren't you reporting the insult and slap in the face to retirees who will, for a second year not be getting a cost of living increase---OOOps--but they WILL BE getting one in 2011 and 2012--just in time for the re-elections; (3) why aren't you reporting that the $250.00 check that Mr. President is insisting be given to the seniors in lieu of the cost of living increase is a farce. More specifically, there are 365 days in each year. This means that the $250 represents less than $1.00 per day. Hallelujah!!! Mr. President is treating seniors like slaves. OOOps-the new plantation.
Now tell me, what do Republicans have to do with all of these deceptions??
Please be advised that the blinders are being taken off in the African American Community. Stop being a stooge for our Political Pimps who are making fools of the African American Community. Shame on you.
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By: vdog on 10/19/2010 2:32PM
Hey "TOM TRUTH" I thought you and the GOP were FIGHTING FOR YOUR KIDS FUTURES?!! Guess you won't have much to say when they have to WORK FOR LESS THAN THE CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE at STARBUCKS after GRADUATING COLLEGE. WAY TO GO PAL!!! Spoken like a TRUE PATRIOT!!!
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By: vdog on 10/19/2010 2:38PM
Yo STEVE, the TEA PARTY is NOTHING but a bunch of PISSED OFF RACIST former BUSH SUPPORTERS who have NOTHING TO SHOW for their backing of the GOP and are ANGRY because they WANT THEIR COUNRTY BACK. They have FINALLY REALIZED that they GAVE IT AWAY by backing BUSH. This is why they are ANGRY at CONSERVATIVES. They're a JOKE.
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By: Sedated on 10/19/2010 9:17PM
The last I heard, having more than one job still isn't illegal.
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By: Brenda on 10/19/2010 10:03PM
Yeah, lets lower their wages to the minimum wage. See if they can survive. There are at least 5 people that can do their jobs on just one of their salary and these people would be considered over the poverty line. GET A GRIP. If you lower the minimum wage, you should lower your wages by $300.000.
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By: Lauren on 10/20/2010 2:56AM
Joe Miller and his family in the past were on welfare. He justified it as a stepping stone during hardtimes. Yet he is on a soapbox now preaching about how much those going thru hard times now are getting. He even refers to social security as welfare. He is a dangerous individual.
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