Norris2k said:
I appreciate you put in the perspective of an argumentation and calculation, and clearly we agree it's not a small change, it's a big change with multiple secondary effects. You explain pretty well the impact it will have on other salaries. But you miss the point of the tremendous impact a rise of salaries would have on the society, fiscal system, investment, scholar system. Because all those working poor, they are a burden for the fiscal system (stamps, medicare), they can't contribute enough to the consumer society (can they even afford a mac donald ?), thier children will have it hard at school, and they divert companies like Mac Donald to invest because they can rely on cheap labor. Perhaps it would be better for Mc Donald to think about and invest in their production chain, the way they did when they revolutionized the fast food market and influenced companies like Burger King or Tacos bell. Low wages made them lazy, they don't invest in robotic, the production chain is mostly the same for decades. And they didn't have any new product as successful as the big mac or quarter pander for the last 30 years. Perhaps it would be better for Mc Donald to not lead to a government default, part because the State is required to spend so much on that that millions of working poor (not just their employees). Perhaps it would be better for Mc Donald to have more clients because instead of relying on food stamps, every people will be able to eat at the Mac Donald. And last but not least, perhaps it would be better for them to die... because “No business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country.” (Roosevelt) If very low wages is the base of their business, they don't really have a viable business model. We don't have to sponsor them with poverty and taxes. |
Sponsor them with taxes? Taxes are one of the largest expenses they face. McDonalds and other large companies face a tax rate in excess 35% of taxable income (that's billions of dollars, their taxable income exceeds 7 billion) and that's just federal. State goes on top of that and varies.
As for the bits about raising wages and stuff, as I said I am fine with a raise to something survivable but that's not what people keep demanding. They want a minimum wage that makes everyone middle class but my point is the cost of that plan is astronomical and it would have to be recouped somewhere. And that somewhere is going to be product prices. And if the cost of goods goes up on average significantly what's the point? You can't forcibly make the economy pay out more than it is able. Which is why it must fall to the States to set the minimum wage according to the cost of living and economic health. Keep the federal low to allow for that.
And in the case of McDonalds, as I explained before they aren't looking to provide all their employees with careers or even most. They are capitalizing on the fluidity of the work force, that there are always people either just entering the workforce or in between jobs or otherwise just looking for *some* work. In other words, these are jobs and products that otherwise wouldn't exist, many currently working at McDos wouldn't have a job if not for that very business model. It's not a model you have to agree with. And as I said I would be fine with (and McDos could survive with) a moderate increase in minimum wage.
Also, food for thought, the old minimum wages were set in a time where one person per household supported the household. Now a much larger percentage of households have two or more sources of income. Which does effect the dynamics here. Not only does that mean lower amounts support more, but also that more money is payed out via payroll than many think. Not saying this swings the debate either way. Just another thing to throw into the mix of highly complicated factors that go into discussing such large, impactful changes to laws regarding business.