Median income in Minnesota and in the
United States according to the U.S. Census Bureau:
Median household income, 2008-2012
|
Minnesota $59,126
|
United States $53,046
|
Now; we are hearing a lot from
politicians like Minnesota's billionaire governor Mark Dayton, these
millionaire labor leaders and the foundation-flowers like Kathleen
Blake from Take Action Minnesota that $9.50 or $10.10 is a “good
place to begin increasing the Minimum Wage to what they claim will
eventually get everyone to a real living wage.
Their claim, is
the same claim we here from the employers, that raising the Minimum
Wage too quickly will hurt the economy.
So; what do they
propose?
They propose saving the economy on the backs of the
poorest of the poor.
Let us set aside and ignore the
argument that the economy should be saved by the richest of the rich.
The rich are very touchy; they don't like to hear this kind of talk.
Talking this way sends them into fits of rage and depression. They
might pick up and leave Minnesota; or, heaven forbid, they might pack
up and leave the United States altogether. So, let's spare the rich
the agony that comes with the suggestion that they should be relieved
of their wealth through some kind of socialist wealth redistribution
scheme.
Remember--- it is the claim of these wealthy employers
in the first place that raising the Minimum Wage to a real living
wage all at one time would destroy the economy... and, let us not
forget their concern for the poor small businessman for whom they
don't seem to have much concern for when their monopoly price-fixing
scams drive these poor small business people out of business or the
high rents they charge these small business people are more than
their profits can sustain. I am sorry, I am getting off track here
into side issues.
Let me return to the main topic I was
intending to respond to: the idea that the Minimum Wage should only
be increased gradually and in increments.
It isn't like
working people have any right to lay claim to the surge in profits
these employers have mysteriously been lavished with.
It isn't
like labor is creating this enormous wealth.
It isn't like the problem with the
economy stems from these employers hoarding this wealth. These
super-rich people couldn't all have “hoarding disorders.”
We
live in a country where millionaire labor leaders like to live in
harmony and without any strife or struggle between them and the
billionaire employers.
You know, we should all be friends; go
to the same country clubs, golf courses and resorts--- go along to
get along.
Alright.
Here is the deal.
We should
decide how long it will take until poverty-waged workers (I know, I
know; the proper term is low-wage workers; poverty is such a nasty
and upsetting word--- the rich create the poor then can't stand to
look at them or hear about their problems [they especially don't want
to hear about any problems relating to “cost-of-living”]).
Back to this gradualism and
incrementalism that is the “normally accepted” pace of reforms.
It isn't like the Minimum Wage should
have been raised to a real living wage since the Minimum Wage Laws
were first established back in 1938 or so; right? The pace of reform
needs to be slow and very gradual so there is no noticeable impact on
profits--- whenever this would be by the time the number crunchers
decide?
So; here we go.
Here is my suggestion.
We agree
on a date specific at which time the Minimum Wage will become a real
living--- non-poverty--- wage.
This could be five years from now--- it
could be one-hundred years from now; depending on how gradual and
incremental we want the “reform” to be.
In the mean time;
lets all come to an agreement that what we will do is all make the
exact same sacrifice to save this rotten capitalist economy.
Whether
we start with Minnesota's present Minimum Wage of $6.15 an hour or
Barack Obama's suggestion of $10.10 an hour--- anyone else have a
figure to pull from the hat?
We all agree to accept whatever wage is
agreed to and anything and everything above this wage--- including
salaries, bonuses and profits--- will be deposited in some kind of
federal credit union where these funds will be deposited to be used
to finance job creation programs; we are all for creating jobs,
right?
Then we just pay everyone the Minimum Wage we all agree on. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, eh?
We don't want to leave the unemployed without income---
and we for sure don't want to pay these lazy bastards for not
working.
Or, another solution would simply be to
put all wages, salaries, bonuses and profits in a pot and divide it
all up every year and we should end up with everyone making somewhere
around the “median income.”
Come on, Governor Dayton,
Richard Trumka and Bill Gates--- are you willing to make the
sacrifice you are willing to saddle poverty-waged workers with?
Median income in Minnesota and in the
United States according to the U.S. Census Bureau:
Median household income, 2008-2012
|
Minnesota $59,126
|
United States $53,046
|
$53,046.00 sounds like a pretty good
income to me.
It seems that “jobs” and the wealth of our industry and industrialist/stockholder class is more important than survival of the species.