YES! If it had kept up with inflation it would be $10.60/hour.
39%
YES! We need a real livable wage to end poverty.
61%
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No, this will cause employers to hire less people and hurt the very people trying to be helped.
Come on, this poll options stink. How about some real options, or why even have a poll?
It's beyond laughable, outrageous, that the slobs in congress and the state legislators get automatic pay increases, not to mention cadillac fringe benefits like pensions where they can recieve more than they did, notice I'm not saying EARNED, in salary and FIRST DOLLAR health insurance coverage and keep it after they "retire". The only way they can stop the inceases is to vote against the raises each year. Who will keep doing that when they're not in an election year? The best congress and legislatures money can buy? DREAM ON!!!!!!
I hear ya, Samsnead. The ruling elite have it all in the bag, at our expense. Imagine us all getting to vote on our own pay raises!
Even nine bucks an hour is a friggin' joke. And they (Obama & Company) think anyone can afford health insurance on THAT?! For Obama to suggest nine bucks an hour would be a ticket out of poverty is beyond pitiful.
So what is your solution then, "PAFreedom"? Five bucks an hour? Fifty cents an hour?! - Alice I.W.
In Washington state, we are already above $9 an hour in most places, due in large part to strong unions here. IMO right-to-work for less states need a federal minimum wage, to force a better standard of living.
I made more then the current minimum wage in 1976 in a union job. In 2004 I worked for Walmart for a few years just prior to retirement and earned less then that, even with $1.00 per night premium and as a single person with very low mortgage and no other debt, I found it difficult 8 years ago to live on that wage, so I can well imagine it would be next to impossible to support anyone other then one self on it today.
what's going on? your question is, a -- yes or no question. my choice is--yes or yes for sure ! i think it was Moe, who said: heads i win...tails you lose. Facts of Life: when my costs go UP. i can absorb it (for a while) IF i'am wealthy, otherwise i CUT costs.i can't reduce RENT, i can't reduce the Utilities Cost ( much ). LABOR is what i can CUT--have 100 people do the work of 125 people. (will i retain my good employees ? ) i can also RAISE the price (to our consumers)...(will my customers keep coming back ? ) maybe REDUCE the size .. of what i'am selling, (will my customers accept, getting Less for the same price ?) will they come back ? now-a-days, America is filled with dedicated-hard working people, who are not directly responsible for the profitablity of their company, and don't grasp--->increase sales...control costs = profit. "these" hard working people 'hear-about' the Bernie Madoff's of the world, and think every company operates the same. Successful people are not The enemy. Successful companies are no The enemy. Are we graduating people to aspire to a Minimum Wage Job - for Life ? your choice is: No or No-Way.
If the minimum wage had risen since 1997 at the same rate as CEO compensation, it would now be about $30/hour. I did the research on rates and the calculations back in 2007, and at that time, it worked out to $25, so I estimated for the years since.