Happy Inauguration Day (and beyond- The Biden Presidency Thread part I)

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Mon Mar 01, 2021 3:52 pm

P.D.X. wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 3:25 pm I guess this is where we compare minimum wage rates with countries whose workers aren't paying out of pocket for healthcare.

Sure. College too, right - don't people in most of these other western countries get basically free college, or else really cheap?

But then you also have to take into account lower taxes and housing costs in most of the US compared to most of the richer European countries.

And you also have to take into account the fact that many employers in the US who'd be required to pay $15 per hour are also paying out of pocket for their own healthcare and their kids' college (but are paying less in taxes and for housing).

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Mon Mar 01, 2021 4:31 pm

I'm willing to take this chance in the event the poor don't get the sharp end of the stick for once.

Post by **brian** » Mon Mar 01, 2021 4:53 pm

You have to break a few eggs to make an omelette.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Mar 01, 2021 7:49 pm

Has anyone made the “we paid you $7.25 before, we’re raising it to $7.75, that’s the $15.00 we promised” joke yet? I bet not. I bet that’s an original.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Mon Mar 01, 2021 8:21 pm

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:17 am

Some labor historians think Biden’s rhetoric on unionizing is stronger than FDR’s.

Joe Biden wrote:“There should be no intimidation, no coercion, no threats, no anti-union propaganda,” Biden said in the video. “No supervisor should confront employees about their union preferences. It’s not up to me to decide whether anyone should join a union. But let me be even more clear: It’s not up to an employer to decide that either. The choice to join a union is up to the workers — full stop.”

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Mar 02, 2021 1:06 pm

Lets see where this goes ...

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Mar 02, 2021 6:57 pm

Neera Tan-done.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:33 pm

He should just make her “acting”.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:29 pm

A_B wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 7:33 pm He should just make her “acting”.

Apparently he couldn’t even if he wants to. She’s never been Senate-confirmed for anything.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Mar 03, 2021 6:56 pm

Senate Dems and presidential Dem agree to further reduce and limit aid promised in senate Dems and presidential Dem campaigns.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Wed Mar 03, 2021 7:12 pm

psunate77 · Post by **psunate77** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 10:42 am

Dems are killing themselves.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 12:41 pm

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 1:43 pm

Even better:

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 2:48 pm

Good thing you shortened your name, asshole.

psunate77 · Post by **psunate77** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 3:14 pm

psunate77 · Post by **psunate77** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 4:07 pm

When does Mitch become majority leader again?

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 4:36 pm

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 4:43 pm

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 5:06 pm

There's always a tweet. Democrat version.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 5:08 pm

DSafetyGuy wrote: ↑Fri Mar 05, 2021 4:36 pm

Primary ad material right there.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 5:19 pm

I can't wait until "I was just respecting the parlimentarian!" spin, as if that matters at all to anyone.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 5:48 pm

degenerasian wrote: ↑Fri Mar 05, 2021 5:06 pm There's always a tweet. Democrat version.

That link says that if the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation the past 40 years, it'd be $10.74 today. For better or worse, it's not really inconsistent for her to reject an increase to a level 35-40 percent higher than that.

I fully expect the minimum wage to be increased this term. But not to $15.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 6:20 pm

The inflation adjusted wage depends on what you choose as your starting point. Here’s one calculating (but not advocating for) ~$24.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 6:20 pm

Also:

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 6:30 pm

mister d wrote: ↑Fri Mar 05, 2021 6:20 pm Also:

More power to them, because whether $15 is an appropriate minimum wage or not, many people care deeply about it and it was a stupid dick move to do the thumbs-down thing. F her.

That figure you cited above isn't tied to inflation. It's tied to productivity. In other words, the average worker can produce many times more economic output than the average worker could do back then. But there is nothing tying overall productivity gains to the types of jobs that pay minimum wage. Plus, if we're talking about how much support we should expect from the minimum wage, that's a matter of inflation, not productivity.

A few days ago I looked at the minimum wage every decade and ran it through the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator to see what those values are in 2021 dollars. The highest of these numbers was $11.07 in 1970 - though I've read somewhere that the actual highest was around $11.50 in 1968.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 6:34 pm

Why can’t productivity be included in the baseline? Minimum wage jobs prop up all other economic output, even if indirectly.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 6:55 pm

This country fucking sucks.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 6:58 pm

In a lecture this week our professor mentioned that minimum wage peaked in 1968 in inflation adjusted dollars. And that the rises tend to correlate to republicans in the White House.

psunate77 · Post by **psunate77** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 7:54 pm

Manchin is killing the Dems and the relief bill.. He is almost like a Wrestler doing a heel turn.

He is now supporting the UI til June, 300/week, no tax exemption. If Dems cave to him, they are done.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 8:45 pm

Sexist card played. We're not allowed to call it a dick move.

psunate77 · Post by **psunate77** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:42 pm

So who gives Mitch the Gavel back? Her or Manchin..

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 10:55 pm

degenerasian wrote: ↑Fri Mar 05, 2021 8:45 pm Sexist card played. We're not allowed to call it a dick move.

Fucking cunt.

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 12:09 pm

What is the most appropriate minimum wage for 2021?

Post by **brian** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 12:22 pm

For the perpetual "THE SKY IS FALLING!" crowd:

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 12:49 pm

HaulCitgo wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 12:09 pm What is the most appropriate minimum wage for 2021?

Probably $10. It's a minimum, not a maximum so states that deem it appropriate can always go higher. But a diner in Alabama should not be forced to pay the busboy $15. They'll just pay someone illegally instead.

Post by **brian** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 1:08 pm

This is where it would be nice having a functioning Conservative party in the US because you’d think it shouldn’t be that hard to “compromise” at 12.50 or $13. $25K a year or $50K for a couple making only minimum wage is liveable wages in a lot of places. It would lift millions out of poverty.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 1:23 pm

brian wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 1:08 pm This is where it would be nice having a functioning Conservative party in the US because you’d think it shouldn’t be that hard to “compromise” at 12.50 or $13. $25K a year or $50K for a couple making only minimum wage is liveable wages in a lot of places. It would lift millions out of poverty.

Sure but thats on the States too. Take PA for example. How does government after government, R or D not address a $7.25 minimum wage? How do people keep getting voted in? Now they are proposing $15 by 2027, we'll see.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 6:48 pm

HaulCitgo wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 12:09 pm What is the most appropriate minimum wage for 2021?

I’d say probably around $11, the highest it’s been. Then automatically index it to inflation.

If I were dictator I’d probably keep the minimum wage around there but bolster spending on health care, college, housing aid, etc. I’d also raise taxes on larger businesses to fund a lot of that.

I don’t think it’s the responsibility of a private company, whether it’s Amazon or the local flower shop, to make sure its employees all make $30,000 per year. But I do think it’s Amazon’s responsibility to pay enough in taxes to make sure all Americans have decent food, housing, healthcare, education, etc., whether they’re Amazon employees or not.