Hundreds march at McDonald's HQ over low wages

[opus1]

There's a ridiculous sense of entitlement going on and it's not limited to the burger-flippers. I have two friends in particular, one a music educator, the other working at the VA, and they're constantly whining about money problems, yet they are constantly posting new tattoo pictures, have the latest/greatest smart phone, nice new cars, and each have taken more vacations this year alone than I have in the last 5. Both feel that they should be paid much more than they are, and heaven forbid you suggest living within their means.

I'm all for having fun, but if the fun is costing you so much that you can't afford a doctor copay to go with the insurance I'm already subsidizing for you, maybe you need to dial it back just a bit?

 

[tenderloin]

Originally Posted By: opus1
There's a ridiculous sense of entitlement going on and it's not limited to the burger-flippers. I have two friends in particular, one a music educator, the other working at the VA, and they're constantly whining about money problems, yet they are constantly posting new tattoo pictures, have the latest/greatest smart phone, nice new cars, and each have taken more vacations this year alone than I have in the last 5. Both feel that they should be paid much more than they are, and heaven forbid you suggest living within their means.

I'm all for having fun, but if the fun is costing you so much that you can't afford a doctor copay to go with the insurance I'm already subsidizing for you, maybe you need to dial it back just a bit?

+1

 

[rshaw125]

They are protesting the wrong issue. Immigration causes wages to remain low. They should be protesting the end to immigration illegal and legal. It drives wages down.

 

[02SE]

Originally Posted By: stro_cruiser
Its obvious that none of us here have all the answers, especially me.

Im disgusted by corporate greed and the great inequality.

I do wonder, having looked over the comments, who here does not have white skin? I'd say that us that do have little idea of what its really like to be of color in the US.



I can think of several mostly Government related jobs with Affirmative Action quotas. Basically if you're of the right skin color, or the right gender, you get an automatic edge over other job applicants. Qualifications or ability to perform the tasks of the job are secondary. That concept should be ridiculous to any rational, thinking person.


Funny how legislation intended to end "discrimination", is discrimination personified.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: rshaw125
They are protesting the wrong issue. Immigration causes wages to remain low. They should be protesting the end to immigration illegal and legal. It drives wages down.

Exactly but here comes this pesky little dreaded "Free Market" idea again.

Originally Posted By: d00df00d

You missed my point. I was saying we can't expect people who are already making less than a living wage to choose to work (and thus earn) even less AND take on the financial burdens of an education. That's getting more and more true by the day as colleges get more competitive, degrees are worth less and less, and the cost of higher education skyrockets.

There has to be another solution. Imposing on companies to pay more is a terrible one by any standard, but it's far from the worst.

Spoken like a true socialist. Dreaded "Big Business" that risks their own capital to take risks, hire people and then have Politicians who demonstrated many years ago they could not run a small Post office that sold stamps right outside the chamber.

BTW my grandson who just turned 17 has been working for 6 months at a fast food place. They are already training him to be a manager. So he will be making his 15+ $$/ hour.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: Win

You increase the value of labor by increasing the demand for it. It's not rocket science.


You increase the demand for services by increasing the money pool out there among those most likely to spend it.

 

[02SE]

Originally Posted By: opus1
There's a ridiculous sense of entitlement going on and it's not limited to the burger-flippers. I have two friends in particular, one a music educator, the other working at the VA, and they're constantly whining about money problems, yet they are constantly posting new tattoo pictures, have the latest/greatest smart phone, nice new cars, and each have taken more vacations this year alone than I have in the last 5. Both feel that they should be paid much more than they are, and heaven forbid you suggest living within their means.

I'm all for having fun, but if the fun is costing you so much that you can't afford a doctor copay to go with the insurance I'm already subsidizing for you, maybe you need to dial it back just a bit?



I see it too. We have a generation coming of age that has never had to excel at anything. They get participation trophy's for playing on teams, instead of a trophy for, you know, actually winning. They don't keep score because that might hurt the feelings of the team that loses.

They don't get spanked when they screw up, because a swat on the butt is now considered abuse by some out-to-lunch, pie-in-the-sky idealist. I would argue that NOT disciplining kids when necessary, is the actual abuse.

No incentive to excel, and no accountability for their actions or inaction, leads to a rude awakening in the real world, and a generation looking for a handout. Of course I also believe that was the intended goal, because it keeps the people that promote such a ridiculous ideology in power.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: eljefino

You increase the demand for services by increasing the money pool out there among those most likely to spend it.

Kind of like the Programs put in place to end the depression that didn't work??

 

[OneEyeJack]

Recently at a Walmart I made a purchase that totaled $10.16. I handed the cashier a 20 dollar bill, a dime, a nickle and a penny. The young lady handed back the change and stated that the twenty would cover it. I told here I wanted a ten dollar bill or two fives back. She stated there was no way to know what the change would be until she rang it up. I asked here to accept it all and just ring it up. When the change displayed and even $10 she was absolutely amazed and asked how I knew.

 

[bbhero]

Well pay scale is market driven.. Just an hour to the northwest the pay is a good bit higher. But so is the cost of living. Like northern VA. $81,000 a year is really not much there. If CNAs make the SAME as RNs then let me ask you this.. Does that remotely makes sense? Do you want CNAs to attempt to do all the same work without ANY of the training or education ??
Now like I said. I would like to see them make more money. The good ones deserve a fair amount more.

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
Recently at a Walmart I made a purchase that totaled $10.16. I handed the cashier a 20 dollar bill, a dime, a nickle and a penny. The young lady handed back the change and stated that the twenty would cover it. I told here I wanted a ten dollar bill or two fives back. She stated there was no way to know what the change would be until she rang it up. I asked here to accept it all and just ring it up. When the change displayed and even $10 she was absolutely amazed and asked how I knew.


I can relate. Back when I had my cashier job, I fell for the same thing. The customer was really cool about it and said with a job like that, you aren't paid to think.. just act like a robot. (I ended up giving him the correct change though.)

 

[javacontour]

You increase the value of labor by having the laborer add value by his/her labor.

The classic example is the doctor vs the burger flipper.

The doctor added value to his labor by going to medical school and learning a skill.

The burger flipper may have had a hour or a weeks worth of training before he was made the head fry cook.

The doctors labor is more valuable because the doctor worked to add more value to the labor he has to offer compared to the burger flipper.

The way you add value to your labor is by learning a skill or trade that is valued in the workforce.

If you can't or won't, your labor will not be as highly valued as that of another.

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: Win

You increase the value of labor by increasing the demand for it. It's not rocket science.


You increase the demand for services by increasing the money pool out there among those most likely to spend it.

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: 02SE
Originally Posted By: opus1
There's a ridiculous sense of entitlement going on and it's not limited to the burger-flippers. I have two friends in particular, one a music educator, the other working at the VA, and they're constantly whining about money problems, yet they are constantly posting new tattoo pictures, have the latest/greatest smart phone, nice new cars, and each have taken more vacations this year alone than I have in the last 5. Both feel that they should be paid much more than they are, and heaven forbid you suggest living within their means.

I'm all for having fun, but if the fun is costing you so much that you can't afford a doctor copay to go with the insurance I'm already subsidizing for you, maybe you need to dial it back just a bit?



I see it too. We have a generation coming of age that has never had to excel at anything. They get participation trophy's for playing on teams, instead of a trophy for, you know, actually winning. They don't keep score because that might hurt the feelings of the team that loses.

They don't get spanked when they screw up, because a swat on the butt is now considered abuse by some out-to-lunch, pie-in-the-sky idealist. I would argue that NOT disciplining kids when necessary, is the actual abuse.

No incentive to excel, and no accountability for their actions or inaction, leads to a rude awakening in the real world, and a generation looking for a handout. Of course I also believe that was the intended goal, because it keeps the people that promote such a ridiculous ideology in power.


It is in their culture to have outstanding monthly payments of the biggest best things. The newest phones, cars, TV's, etc.

Another cashier job example: I had a couple come down my lane and pay with two (2) forms of government assistance. They ended up buying 3 cartons of smokes ($24 each) and both had what I believe was the newest Galaxy smart phone. Who knows what other kind of non essentials they paid for..

 

[javacontour]

I think several things will happen if the MW is increased too quickly.

1. Places will cut labor hours. They will automate or expect managers or other remaining workers to do more. Those who remain may or may not see an increase in net wages. If they are replaced by a machine, they will see a 100% drop in wages due to getting zero hours. If a business cannot pass on higher labor costs, then it will work to keep labor cost increases low if not zero. Cutting hours, automation, or even cutting costs of the raw materials may happen to keep total costs where they are.

If the approach is avoid labor cost increases, the net result of a minimum wage hike is zero if not negative. Good for those who keep their jobs and get a $5/hour raise. Bad for all those whose hours just went to zero. Neutral if you get the raise, but then work 30% fewer hours, if not negative because now you have to pay taxes and may not qualify for the EITC when you file your federal return.

2. People who wouldn't take an $8-10/hour job may be tempted to work at $15. People who have degrees or can count change, or who are not confused by getting $20.16 handed to them when the total is $10.16 may end up replacing those who are currently working for $8/hour and barely keeping up with what's going on around them.

The market is brutally efficient. If you are not making $15/hour, chances are it's either your skills or the job you currently are not worth $15/hour to your employer.

 

[BRZED]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
Recently at a Walmart I made a purchase that totaled $10.16. I handed the cashier a 20 dollar bill, a dime, a nickle and a penny. The young lady handed back the change and stated that the twenty would cover it. I told here I wanted a ten dollar bill or two fives back. She stated there was no way to know what the change would be until she rang it up. I asked here to accept it all and just ring it up. When the change displayed and even $10 she was absolutely amazed and asked how I knew.


And what better paying job could she possibly find? After all, that's all there's to it if one wants to make more money.

 

[OneEyeJack]

With too many young people the concepts of reality and expectations have parted company. And worse yet are the politicians that pander to the process and succeed in getting elected and re-elected.

If that young lady in my post above that had no idea how to make change in such a simple transaction represents the minimum wage standard of excellence then the idea of raising the minimum wage becomes one of a compromise between wages and welfare.

The question then becomes how do we as non minimum wage working taxpayers pay the difference. As you may have noticed the well is running dry.

 

[CT8]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
With too many young people the concepts of reality and expectations have parted company. And worse yet are the politicians that pander to the process and succeed in getting elected and re-elected.

If that young lady in my post above that had no idea how to make change in such a simple transaction represents the minimum wage standard of excellence then the idea of raising the minimum wage becomes one of a compromise between wages and welfare.

The question then becomes how do we as non minimum wage working taxpayers pay the difference. As you may have noticed the well is running dry.



No one notices the well running dry, especially the majority of the taxpayers.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
With too many young people the concepts of reality and expectations have parted company. And worse yet are the politicians that pander to the process and succeed in getting elected and re-elected.

If that young lady in my post above that had no idea how to make change in such a simple transaction represents the minimum wage standard of excellence then the idea of raising the minimum wage becomes one of a compromise between wages and welfare.

The question then becomes how do we as non minimum wage working taxpayers pay the difference. As you may have noticed the well is running dry.



+1 "Socialism works until you run out of other people's money". Dame Thatcher.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Al
Originally Posted By: eljefino

You increase the demand for services by increasing the money pool out there among those most likely to spend it.

Kind of like the Programs put in place to end the depression that didn't work??
Kinda like the programs which were ineffective. Then WWII broke out and MASSIVE orders for goods were placed by the Europeans fighting Hitler. WE went back to work.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: Win

You increase the value of labor by increasing the demand for it. It's not rocket science.


You increase the demand for services by increasing the money pool out there among those most likely to spend it.
ROFLMAO, the MONEY pool has to be filled from SOMEWHERE, and those from whom you TAKE it have LESS to spend. Unless you want to print money until it's worthless. Econ 101. Maybe you missed that day.