Minimum wage rises in 8 states

If corporations weren't so cheap, a minimum wage law wouldn't be necessary. But for many workers, government mandated raises of the minimum wage will be the only raise they ever get.

I don't understand how companies can defend giving the CEO and other executives big pay increases and then claim that it doesn't hurt their business. Strange logic considering any company only has a fixed amount of resources. But if lower level employees earn a living wage and get regular pay increases, that will hurt their business and slow economic growth?

Capping CEO pay and mandating a $15 per hour minimum wage would stimulate the economy.

You need to get past what you think someone has earned, based on what they did. Its how much money was made overall that counts. Every employee is part of the process that made it happen. Every employee deserves a reasonable proportion of the profit, regardless of the skill level required for their job. Whether its sweeping floors or whatever.

Its all part of the big picture, and it wouldnt work without that part. Thats where the value of their job is. If a factory cant run without someone sweeping the floors, then that floor sweeper is actually pretty important, isnt he.

One thing should be clear to all. Unless most people are working, and making enough over bills to have money to spend, the economy will die.

 In reality, the only thing keeping the economy alive is all the welfare and unemployment. Along with those still working of course. But if you removed all the "entitlements", the economy would crash almost immediately, due to the much lower sales across the board. And the added costs for keeping social order. No doubt that would create riots.

The business community has to put people to work making and selling widgets, and pay them enough to buy these widgets. Its that, or a welfare state, and all the costs that go with that. The masses arent just going to go away. The enonomy goes beyond just making a buck. Its how society provides for itself. That basic need must be met.

To Genesisreader :

 Removing party’ ideologue since neither party looks out for the people; I would like to point out that a living wage doesn't work. If the wages for the group that performs base labor is increased then the price of the goods must therefore, adjust upward. As the price increases we see what is known as inflation. This causes the amount earned by the "Living Wage" to once again be at a deficit of the amount needed to live working a 40hr week. Basically if one works a minimum wage job they must work twice the hours to receive equal money as skilled laborers. The other option is to gain the skills needed to be a skilled labor thus increasing the amount of currency received. to put it in simple terms an increase in min. wage equal an increase in cost of goods or even simpler same problem, bigger numbers.

So, 8 states raised minimum wage?

Translation... 8 states raised the cost of living for everyone who makes above minimum wage, thus giving them a pay cut.

8 states kept those who make minimum wage in the exact same financial position dues to the inevitable raise in the cost of living that comes with raising minimum wage...

Way to stick it to the middle class.

I am always amazed at how little understanding the average reader of these articles has of basic economics.

Here is your lesson for the day. Any required increase in wages or taxes is not obsorbed by the company. It is passed along to the consumer.

Oh well, politicians live for the fact that they can play people for the fools they are. Now, don't you regret not paying more attention during your free, public school education?

It is called an entry level job.  There has to be a starting point wage for a job.  No you are not going to buy a house or a new car on $15,000.00 a year.  That is why people have room mates, have the incentive to go to school to better themselves.  Nobody says that a person has to make that for the rest of their lives.  One of my first jobs as at a car wash.  By the time I left there to go back to school I had worked my way up to manager.  I was able to buy the house, and raise two kids on what I was earning.  As technology takes over more and more of our everyday life, experience and education are going to be even more important.

Besides I am sure that we all have worked with people that are not even worth the minimum wage.

The American economy was at its strongest. When average blue collar workers wages, were 3 times the cost of living. (thats rent,food+bills) That was in the 50's and 60's, and 70's.

Then Reaganomics came along. And wages have flatlined ever since, meanwhile prices have risen 400% or more. Its why blue collar wages now barely cover rent, food and bills.

This is what people are realizing, and things are going to change. The people will elect the person they need to, to make it happen. That you can bank on.