By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - General - Former McDonald's USA CEO: $35K Robots Cheaper Than Hiring at $15 Per Hour

Nuvendil on 24 May 2016
VGPolyglot said:
Nuvendil said:

You clearly have next to no knowledge of the small and middle tier business world.  90-95% of small businesses and middle tier business could not sustain $15 an hour.  And they don't have the war chest to float a transition.  I know this.  Also, let's not fall into the trap that CEOs are EVIL and the rich are EVIL.  While some can be dicks, many are very altruistic.  And the job of major executives is one 95% of people couldn't do.  I've seen that myself, most average joes couldn't run a taco stand much less a multi billion corporation.  

As for standard of living, that is radically different from state to state and that's the problem with a $15 minimum wage.  Cause cost of living effects pay and that effects business plans and structuring.  It effects EVERYTHING.  NY or Washington State might be able to support $15 without too much fuss.  But Texas?  NC?  SC?  No, it would be a complete and utter train wreck.  The US is huge, the cost of living, wage disparity, economic strength, etc is not universal.  Such a high federal minimum wage would be highly ill dvised.  Let the States decide in accordance with what the State needs.

Disagree entirely with the bolded. How do the rich get rich? By having many people work for them and giving them millions/billions of dollars, then them only giving back only what's mandatory. Also, if they were such nice guys, why do they move their bases of operation abroad, where they have slave labour and child labour in order to make as much money as possible.

Like I said SOME are bad, others aren't.  Like any other group.  Trust me, you give the average Joe that spot and many would be far, far worse.  

Tax evasion is a crappy practice but honestly our corporate taxes are among the highest so what do you expect to happen?  That's the law needing to catch up with what technology makes possible for businesses.

But yes, they pay themselves.  But the good executives and even most of the bad ones don't loaf around and rake in the cash.  Managing a business of that size is very hard. And on that level, high pay is entirely just.  They make more than the vast majority cause theirs is a job the vast majority would be hopelessly incapable of doing.  



Around the Network
aLkaLiNE on 24 May 2016
Nuvendil said:
aLkaLiNE said:

No. I'm sorry but no, this is wrong. The $15 minimum wage needs to be mandated, and all the other people employed at the upper middle class and below need pay increases relative to the minimum wage increase.

 

The fact is that while wages have roughly doubled in the past 40 years, the costs of living have more than quadrupled. To say that workers at the minimum wage are the problem is so wrong when you see individuals being paid millions a year to simply represent a company. The problem isn't a 15$ minimum wage, the problem is overpaid CEOs, sales people, owners etc. This massive gap in the standard of living between wealthy and poor is not by any stretch of the imagination right and that's where the real issue lies. We could as a country easily support a $15 minimum wage of those funds came from wealthy individuals with hyper inflated salaries that allow them to live well above their actual contribution toward society.

You clearly have next to no knowledge of the small and middle tier business world.  90-95% of small businesses and middle tier business could not sustain $15 an hour.  And they don't have the war chest to float a transition.  I know this.  Also, let's not fall into the trap that CEOs are EVIL and the rich are EVIL.  While some can be dicks, many are very altruistic.  And the job of major executives is one 95% of people couldn't do.  I've seen that myself, most average joes couldn't run a taco stand much less a multi billion corporation.  

As for standard of living, that is radically different from state to state and that's the problem with a $15 minimum wage.  Cause cost of living effects pay and that effects business plans and structuring.  It effects EVERYTHING.  NY or Washington State might be able to support $15 without too much fuss.  But Texas?  NC?  SC?  No, it would be a complete and utter train wreck.  The US is huge, the cost of living, wage disparity, economic strength, etc is not universal.  Such a high federal minimum wage would be highly ill dvised.  Let the States decide in accordance with what the State needs.

First of all, you don't know a thing about me so it is in extremely bad taste to come into a debate downplaying the knowledge of someone else whom you haven't met, as well as rather arrogant. But let's take this a step back. Why is it that low and mid tier business can't afford a standard 15$/hour? Is it, perhaps, because of tax reasons? 

 

Theres not even much to say to your second paragraph, as I said, the cost of everything has disproportionately gone up in contrast to paid wages. You're telling me that the worlds most powerful nation could do something in the 60s that can't be done now? I find that laughable at best and inexcusable at worst.



animegaming on 24 May 2016

you know US government if you really want to create more jobs outlawing this could really help with that.



aLkaLiNE on 24 May 2016

This comment was in poor taste.



armodillo17 on 24 May 2016

Anyone here read the Robot series? Seems appropriate.



Around the Network
VGPolyglot on 24 May 2016
shikamaru317 said:
I agree that most fast food workers aren't good enough employees to justify that kind of raise (many aren't even good enough workers to justify what they're making now), but you can't go replacing them with robots. Unemployment would go through the roof, the US fast food industry currently employs over 3 million workers afaik.

Yeah, having 3 million unemployed people who are desperate for work but can't find it does not create a good situation.



JRPGfan on 24 May 2016
animegaming said:
you know US government if you really want to create more jobs outlawing this could really help with that.

Nope McDonals will just close up shop :P

And move all their resturants to india. (im jokeing)

Yeah McD couldnt do anything if the goverment decided to step in.



VGPolyglot on 24 May 2016
JRPGfan said:
animegaming said:
you know US government if you really want to create more jobs outlawing this could really help with that.

Nope McDonals will just close up shop :P

And move all their resturants to india. (im jokeing)

Yeah McD couldnt do anything if the goverment decided to step in.

Which they probably won't. Who knows how much money McDonald's "donates" to officials in office.



UltimateGamer1982 on 24 May 2016

Once McDonald's does it, the rest will follow suit.



Goatseye on 24 May 2016
animegaming said:
you know US government if you really want to create more jobs outlawing this could really help with that.

Like if corporations aren't looking for ways to pay their employees cents a day. If McDonalds could produce hamburgers in China and export them to the US, they would've done it.