Immigration Reform Act

[TexKan]

Minimum wage jobs aren't based on how hard the work is but rather the education level needed. Try waitin some tables for a weekend then tell me they make what they are worth. Try bein a nurses aide in a nursing home and tell me it's worth the 7 or 9 bucks they make, try workin all day in the sun and tell me it's worth the 12 bucks they make. It's not all so easy for those with no higher level of education -

I agree with your idea it shouldn't be legislated but truth is there are too many fat cats not to legislate it cause if they didn't there would probably be even more fat cats that get wealthy off the backs of others. I don't think there has been another choice that I have ever heard of that would actually work. Fat cats are too greedy.

[TexKan]

Yeah - I'm ready to take this thread south........... comon bubba! KC's in the drivers seat!!.................. get the swing!

[K C Muffin]

We should just agree to disagree. One of the most prevalent of minimum wage jobs is the waitress. Hell, they don't even make minimum wage most of the time. But the good ones.....they rake in the money and some wouldn't trade their job for any other.

I disagree that income is tied to education level. I make as much as any of the other execs at my office....I have a high school diploma. I've honed my craft and at no time did I settle for minimum wage. No time - not even at the beginning. I had something to offer, I knew it and I didn't settle. Even when I was typing stupid insurance policies in the 70's. Good people are in high demand. I have educated myself through college level and graduate level courses in my specialty line. The minimum wage artificially keeps the wages low. Besides, our minimum wage is STILL high enough to attract those from another country......

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by TexKan

Minimum wage jobs aren't based on how hard the work is but rather the education level needed. Try waitin some tables for a weekend then tell me they make what they are worth. Try bein a nurses aide in a nursing home and tell me it's worth the 7 or 9 bucks they make, try workin all day in the sun and tell me it's worth the 12 bucks they make. It's not all so easy for those with no higher level of education -

I agree with your idea it shouldn't be legislated but truth is there are too many fat cats not to legislate it cause if they didn't there would probably be even more fat cats that get wealthy off the backs of others. I don't think there has been another choice that I have ever heard of that would actually work. Fat cats are too greedy.

There are people with 4 year degrees waiting tables. Minimum wage jobs aren't based solely on education but skill. If it is an unskilled job IE: stocker and Walmart and there are 400 people in line to take that job then I would say the employer has the advantage and can pay someone 5.15 or 6.00 an hour. Having a skill doesn't always mean education. A person that lays bricks might make pretty good money and never went to college. It's about having a viable skill. Most minimum wage jobs are low skill or no skill jobs that can be filled by most people.

What exactly is a fat cat? Would you call the person that owns say...Dillons a fat cat?

[TexKan]

It's not about what they own - it's about what they pay thier employees. If someone is working for you and they are eligable for assistance cause they don't make enough to support themselves and you have 5 summer houses.......... then you are a fat cat.

People are working 3 jobs to get by - companies have gone to part time so they don't have to have benefits, the benefits are so high no one can afford them, and company owners are flyin in lear jets to Aspin. It's not illegal it's just wrong. I think it's great to make a profit but I do think the worker should also make a profit. There are some folks that work very hard and make very little. It's my opinion - I know there are degreed folks workin meanial jobs. Bottom line is the rate is goin up and I'm glad.

[Highwayman]

I haven’t seen many “fat cats” running a landscaping business or a florist shop. How many small business owners fly around in Lear jets? Many small business owners aren’t making much above wages themselves but will have to comply with the higher minimum wage. Many of them will end up cutting a job or two in order to make ends meet.

Some folks ain’t even worth minimum wage now.

[TexKan]

Well then you really otta enjoy your service at Sonic!

[Detector]

Just another example of a system with a lot of problems. I look at the minimum wage hike as a band aid. We keep trying to address the symptom with a bigger band aid and ignore the cause. Sooner or later just applying a bigger band aid won't work, and we're very close to that now.

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by TexKan

It's not about what they own - it's about what they pay thier employees. If someone is working for you and they are eligable for assistance cause they don't make enough to support themselves and you have 5 summer houses.......... then you are a fat cat.

People are working 3 jobs to get by - companies have gone to part time so they don't have to have benefits, the benefits are so high no one can afford them, and company owners are flyin in lear jets to Aspin. It's not illegal it's just wrong. I think it's great to make a profit but I do think the worker should also make a profit. There are some folks that work very hard and make very little. It's my opinion - I know there are degreed folks workin meanial jobs. Bottom line is the rate is goin up and I'm glad.

Originally Posted by Highwayman

I haven’t seen many “fat cats” running a landscaping business or a florist shop. How many small business owners fly around in Lear jets? Many small business owners aren’t making much above wages themselves but will have to comply with the higher minimum wage. Many of them will end up cutting a job or two in order to make ends meet.

Some folks ain’t even worth minimum wage now.

I am a self employed business owner. I work upwards of 84 hours per week. I am on call 24 hpd/7 days a week. I have busted my butt for 40+ years, have never drawn Welfare, never drawn unemployment, pay my taxes, pay your Social Security and Medicare, give to the church and charities, rarely get to take a vacation, and have paid my employees by their efforts and value to the company. I do not have a fleet of limos, no summer houses, no Lear Jets. Several of my employees make more money than I do. However, it amazes me to see the work ethic of most employees. Employees assume that you are a "fat cat", even though you pay them well and take care of them. They "borrow" from you, and never return things, always have a "sob" story about why they can't pay their rent (even though they have enough money to drink, smoke, go out to eat, drove to KC for the weekend, and just got back from a trip to Vegas). If a person shows a good work ethic and gives me a good days work, then I will return the favor with a good days pay. If not, then I do not need them "screwing up" my business!! I have come to realize that the only person that I can really count upon, is myself! If employees cared half as much about working and taking care of business, as they do about a paycheck or "hiding out", then they would be successful. In other words, as someone has already mentioned, the only reason that anyone would be working for minimum wage is because they don't really care to better themselves, and would rather be "taken care of" by society!!

[TexKan]

OK - I feel like a salmon swimmin upstream with bears huntin me. It's obvious I think differently bout minimum wage earners than some. It seems the majority pay more than minimum wage anyhow. So if that's the case - what the issue? Ya just feel those making minimum wage are low lifes and aren't worthy of making more 5.15 an hour? You feel that they cost you too much already? Do ya realize after taxes that hourly wage barely buys a gallon of milk, a gallon of gas, a loaf of bread. Oh well - guess not. I personally don't mind paying a little more to raise the standard of living or at least the opportunity to raise the standard of living for anyone. Don't bother me none. Small business owners will probably feel the pinch I agree and I hope that's not a hardship for anyone but then it's a hardship at anytime to pay more for what you used to get for a fixed price. If there wasn't minimum wage - there would be no where to start from when it comes to what a person is worth. Not everyone (most) aren't honest enough to pay people what they are worth. Look at the slave labor commin in here everyday.