# Dear (rich) people who oppose even a paltry $15.00 an hour minimum wage: **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 8, 2016, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243 "2016-12-08T23:52:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/21 "2016-12-09T00:45:58Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > 15 bucks an hour = prices going up = business going down = fewer positions available. You know, people said the same thing when the minimum wage was first introduced. Funny how that works. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/22 "2016-12-09T00:49:38Z")
I’ve got a Canadian site you can order contact lenses from online. Won’t need to verify your rx, ships to the US. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/23 "2016-12-09T00:53:12Z")
The OP has been on these boards since 2006 and is still only making minimum wage? Backstory, please. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/24 "2016-12-09T00:54:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > We should index it to inflation and let it go at that. The OP didn’t say anything about phasing it in. I’m sure the MW will be at $15 some time in the future. I suspect the OP is thinking short term, but let’s wait until he or she clarifies. I agree - there should be regular small adjustments. When was the last time it was raised? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/25 "2016-12-09T00:56:02Z")
> [@Neo-Calredic](#): > > Not true, according to the Department of Labor: > > [https://www.dol.gov/featured/minimum-wage/mythbuster](https://www.dol.gov/featured/minimum-wage/mythbuster) The New! Improved! Department of Labor won’t bother with stupid stuff like studies, analysis and statistical measures. That stuff is for leftists. They will rely on the Good Old Fashioned Common Sense of the Billionaires. They know much more than “the help”. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/26 "2016-12-09T00:58:06Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > The OP has been on these boards since 2006 and is still only making minimum wage? > > Backstory, please. It’s God’s will, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/27 "2016-12-09T01:02:05Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I agree - there should be regular small adjustments. When was the last time it was raised? 1. Such a disgrace. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/28 "2016-12-09T01:05:53Z")
State MW rates are more meaningful. Most states have MW levels higher than the federal minimum. It’s $10/hr in my state (CA). ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/29 "2016-12-09T01:10:11Z")
Do you know who would really be pissed with a minimum wage increase to $15 an Hour? Those people who are already making $15 an hour. Their pay just went from about double minimum wage to minimum wage. Basically a decrease in buying power. And they’re unlikely to get a raise anytime soon since their companies payroll just went up. I’d much rather see people form labor unions to get their wages up, than run to some “nanny” government to get what they deserve. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/30 "2016-12-09T01:13:49Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You probably thought you were really clever in saying that, too, didn’t you? Aw, you don’t have to do that ironic, backhanded, snipey thing. You can come right out and say that you really like and admire me. Don’t be embarrassed. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/31 "2016-12-09T01:19:51Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Aw, you don’t have to do that ironic, backhanded, snipey thing. You can come right out and say that you really like and admire me. Don’t be embarrassed. Oh, I like you just fine. Just don’t go too far down that **Reeder** Expressway. That’s all. People were giving you (mostly) friendly advice in that thread. Of course, if you start cozying up with **Der Trihs** , too, that might change things… We all love him because he’s our very own left wing lunatic. Every board needs one. But not two. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/32 "2016-12-09T01:32:23Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Oh, I like you just fine. Just don’t go too far down that **Reeder** Expressway. That’s all. People were giving you (mostly) friendly advice in that thread. Of course, if you start cozying up with **Der Trihs** , too, that might change things… We all love him because he’s our very own left wing lunatic. Every board needs one. But not two. 😉 I do love a prompt reply. I’m hell bent on mending my evil ways. As for being liberal, too late by several decades. (And no, those two aren’t the same thing.) ---
**Author:** ![HeXen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@HeXen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeXen)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/33 "2016-12-09T01:33:32Z")
Good ol corporate America? There’s a few realities that some people miss and is why our economy has to be very delicately balanced in order to function properly. Raising wages despite local economies can cause more problems than solve. Our country has been designed first and foremost for a free market. Raise the wage in your county and businesses may look elsewhere, so often it’s offset by tax incentives which isn’t helping our tax dollars anyway if a county can even really afford to, it’s expensive just to be attractive to business owners. The price of everything goes up right along with it, some products go higher and the min wage workers live the exact same lifestyle they lived before. Rule #1 about corporate America. Employees exist only to make investors money. Not the other way around. It’s a balance in the scale of economies and is why the minimum wage exists. Rich people are often the job creators due to investing. You want to franchise a McD’s? You’ll need $330,000 to get started. Maybe you could hire only the employees that will invest $10k, that way they can’t complain about their pay because it’s as good as the customers they bring in and can win or lose in the profits. However good luck with finding an employee that could or is wiling to do that. Since employees have no invested interest typically less it’s an employee owned situation, they become an asset. They agree to accept the job for a predetermined about of pay only to turn around and demand more at times. They own no risks unlike investors. They own no high stakes like CEO’s which are paid to perform for the investors, not the employees so they of course they make tons of money under contract. There are tons of ways to make a lot of money but often investing in yourself or your own business is certainly a good one. Flipping burgers part time and playing video games full time as certainly plenty of American’s out there do, isn’t quite gonna do it I’m afraid. Rich people are often seen as greedy but they are not the only greedy ones out there. Greed is not class specific. There is a reason why the Billionaires get coddled in politics, because they are the driving force keeping American’s employed. Sorry but that Walmart greeter is not keeping anyone employed are they? maybe that assembly line worker with a meth habit, what is he doing for his local economy to ensure future generations can have jobs?..just asking. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/34 "2016-12-09T01:59:32Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I proposed this point in this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=784740&highlight=Calvinism), “…Republican notion that if you are poor, it is a sign of God’s disfavor.” > [@John\_Mace](#): > > You probably thought you were really clever in saying that, too, didn’t you? Clever? Haven’t you heard of “prosperity theology”? Calvinism? It’s a widespread belief on the right that wealth and poverty are a sign of respectively God’s favor and disfavor, and has been for centuries. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/35 "2016-12-09T02:03:27Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > The OP has been on these boards since 2006 and is still only making minimum wage? > > Backstory, please. Shit, I’ve been on these boards longer than that and they’re not paying me _anything!_ ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/36 "2016-12-09T02:21:35Z")
I fly chartered jets, which means I’m around a lot of well-off people. Sometimes they come up to the cockpit to chat, and one guy stands out in my memory. He was talking with my first officer about politics, which I don’t think is a good idea while working, so I stayed quiet. He proceeded to give a five-minute lecture on why it would be absolutely ruinous for him, the guy traveling on a private jet, to have to pay his employees $15 per hour. I actually take no position on the economics of the issue, not having studied them carefully yet. But that guy sure gave me a gut-level reaction that I haven’t forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/37 "2016-12-09T02:27:31Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Clever? Haven’t you heard of “prosperity theology”? Calvinism? > > It’s a widespread belief on the right that wealth and poverty are a sign of respectively God’s favor and disfavor, and has been for centuries. Oh, I’ve heard of it. It’s not “widespread” in the sense that ThelmaLou is claiming except in your imagination, which knows no bounds. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/38 "2016-12-09T02:32:52Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > I fly chartered jets, which means I’m around a lot of well-off people. Sometimes they come up to the cockpit to chat, and one guy stands out in my memory. > > He was talking with my first officer about politics, which I don’t think is a good idea while working, so I stayed quiet. He proceeded to give a five-minute lecture on why it would be absolutely ruinous for him, the guy traveling on a private jet, to have to pay his employees $15 per hour. > > I actually take no position on the economics of the issue, not having studied them carefully yet. But that guy sure gave me a gut-level reaction that I haven’t forgotten. The guy might have been an asshole, but if he has a large employee base, he’s probably correct. Not many decent sized companies could survive a sudden mandate to double their employees’ salaries. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/39 "2016-12-09T02:42:46Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The guy might have been an asshole, but if he has a large employee base, he’s probably correct. Not many decent sized companies could survive a sudden mandate to double their employees’ salaries. The obvious quick answer is, maybe he should stop flying private jets around. I have friends who complain about people on public assistance who (supposedly) have big TVs and eat lobster, and they are very quick to say that they shouldn’t be doing that. I think if you’re going to complain about paying people a bit more, you don’t get to do it in your private jet. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243/40 "2016-12-09T02:49:12Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > You know, people said the same thing when the minimum wage was first introduced. Funny how that works. I wasn’t there in 1938 to hear it. What exactly did they say? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-rich-people-who-oppose-even-a-paltry-15-00-an-hour-minimum-wage/774243.md?page=3)