Help Raise the Minimum Wage
Help Raise the Minimum Wage
Our guest blogger, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), is the ranking Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in the Senate.
Yesterday, I offered an amendment on the Senate floor to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour in three steps over the next two years. This increase will help almost 15 million Americans rise out of poverty. This vote is critically important, and I need your help to win this fight.
As many of you know, the federal minimum wage hasn’t been raised in nine years. A minimum wage worker, who works full-time, 52 weeks a year, makes $5.15 an hour—$10,700 a year. That’s not even enough to keep a single parent with one child above the poverty line!
Despite our efforts, Congress year after year has refused to give working men and women the raise they deserve. Yet Congress keeps giving itself annual pay raises—it’s the height of hypocrisy.
But now, we have a real opportunity. We’ve had significant minimum wage victories in red states and blue states alike, and an increase received strong bipartisan support in the House Appropriations Committee last week. The momentum is growing, and the time for action is now!
Make calls, send emails – tell Senators to support the Kennedy Amendment to raise the minimum wage. Ask your friends and neighbors to take a stand for a fair minimum wage too.
Thank you for your help. Together, we can see that minimum wage workers finally get the raise they deserve!
– Ted Kennedy
so- instead of making 10K a year, somebody making min. wage will make 14K a year?
what a freaking joke!
LIVING wage is what is needed
June 20th, 2006 at 4:33 pmAnyone want to place bets on how many posts it will be before some troll brings up Chappaquidick?
In all honesty, a slight bump in minimum wage, and a national healthcare system would go along way to solving poverty.
June 20th, 2006 at 4:37 pmRaising the minimum wage is a good start, next we need National Health Insurance so people making minimum wage can afford health care. Keep up the good work Ted, and keeping telling it like it is.
June 20th, 2006 at 4:41 pmThanks for your efforts Sen Kennedy….
June 20th, 2006 at 4:41 pmWill do what I can to help…….
Ted Kennedy is trying to get the minimum wage raised, but until it’s in fact raised every member of Congress must have their pay raises frozen! The hypocrisy in DC must END!
June 20th, 2006 at 4:43 pmHow much is a living wage worth when your drowned at the bottom of a river?
Krazny, turns out it was 6
June 20th, 2006 at 4:51 pmAnyway we can clone you Senator and run you for office in atleast 25 other states?
I’ve paid attention every year that you bring this up and every year that it gets defeated just before Congress and Senate take a very nice raise themselves. Thank you for sticking with it.
Hopefully the tenth time will be the charm!
Count me in for mysupport… will write those letters tonight.
June 20th, 2006 at 4:52 pmSquegeeboo;
June 20th, 2006 at 4:53 pmThe survivors still have to eat, and pay rent, and try to buy medicine.
In all honesty, a slight bump in minimum wage, and a national healthcare system would go along way to solving poverty.-Krazny
I agree more with the impact of healthcare than the minimum wage. The bottom line is minimum-wage jobs should not be the only source of income for folks over extended periods of time.
We need to do more with the educational system to make sure people have the skills that lead to jobs providing far beyond the minimum wage. Leave min-wage jobs to high school kids looking for extra money or a history of employment, not people trying to support families.
June 20th, 2006 at 4:56 pm#6 - So does that mean we can talk about First Lady Laura Bush killing her ex-boyfriend by “accident”?
How about we tie the minimum wage increase to the increase of congressional pay. No minimum wage increase, no congressional pay increasse. Simple, no?
June 20th, 2006 at 4:57 pmThe problem is if the minimum wage is increased, corporations who cowtow to the republicans will outsource those jobs to Asia and Indonesia. It’s already spreading like a virus. I myself have been solicited by the corporations I’ve supported and worked for (for many years) to travel to Indonesia to train people to do the same job I have provided.
June 20th, 2006 at 4:58 pm“The survivors still have to eat, and pay rent, and try to buy medicine.”
Kennedy, and his son seem to be doing just fine affording whatever they needed after surviving their respective crashs. Looks like the survivors don’t have to worry about it.
“Leave min-wage jobs to high school kids looking for extra money or a history of employment, not people trying to support families.”
June 20th, 2006 at 4:59 pmAnd what about the mental midgets who can’t move past min-wage jobs, but still have a family to support?
“So does that mean we can talk about First Lady Laura Bush killing her ex-boyfriend by “accidentâ€?”
Why it appears you just did, but thats completly different, because it happened to a republican person, not a democrat, so it’s distasteful to bring up. Unlike Kennedy’s mishaps, which are fair game.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:03 pmWhile we should definetly raise the minimum wage, we should also tie your yearly wage to your ability to have a family. Pumping out a bunch of kids and then trying to figure out how to afford it just isn’t bright and it isn’t the government’s fault.
We are already over populated the way it is. If you want a kid, apply for a license to have one and prove you make enough income to support said kid IMO!!!
June 20th, 2006 at 5:04 pmAnd what about the mental midgets who can’t move past min-wage jobs, but still have a family to support?-squeegeeboo
Like I said, more needs to be done with education. To some degree, people also need to be taught that it does not make sense to start a family if you can only make minimum wage. It’s not responsible.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:07 pmWhy does Squeegee hate rivers so much?
June 20th, 2006 at 5:08 pmI’m afraid when the Democrats overreach and go for $7.25 instead of a more realistic figure, they are purposely setting this up for defeat. It’s a political stunt meant to be used later in the campaign against the Republicans, just like the Republicans will use the recent symbolic vote over withdrawing from Iraq in the campaign against Democrats.
Kennedy knows that $7.25 will never pass, which is exactly why they chose such a high increase. What about starting at $5.75 or even $6.00? Everyone knows that Congress will drown $7.25.
I also agree with others here such as DrSinker. These types of jobs aren’t supposed to be supporting an entire family. Minimum wage jobs are meant for unskilled work for mostly younger people, not for people to support a family with. Making healthcare more affordable for the public would help a lot more than toying with the minimum wage. Especially when toying with it involves trying to hike it up to a level we all know will never pass.
Thanks Kennedy for yet another cheap political stunt, and not a bill that actually has a chance in hell of passing.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:11 pmSquishy,
What is to be done with all the mental midgets, how have so many been created? Do we have more a percentage of mental midgets than other devoloped countries?
On one hand our society encourages mental midgetry, on the other hand, we complain about lazy, stupid, non-productive people. So which would be best for our society Republicans? Encouraging people to have knowledge and skills (which could lead to more people being intellectually aware, making thier own decisions, and seeing through all the bullcrap that is presented on a daily basis), or keeping people dumb and stupid so they fall in line and “go with the program”, you can’t have it both ways.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:13 pm#18 - Sort of like the gay-marriage ban which is another cheap political stunt that had no chance in hell of passing but was pushed for purely partisan and political reasons, right?
June 20th, 2006 at 5:14 pmSeixon,
Your probably right, but what politician does not pull political stunts? At least the awareness of this issue is being raised. When would a Republican get around to addressing the minimum wage issue?
June 20th, 2006 at 5:15 pmIf you are actually reading this Mr Kennedy, then I want to take a moment to thank you for your foresight and wisdom in casting your nay vote for HJ 114.
In the great tradition of the Kennedy family you once more displayed the solomon like wisdom of your two great brothers, respectfully John F and Robert F Kennedy, and sent a clear message from the start, that America Ends Wars, we Don’t Start them.
I support your efforts to raise the minimum wage. While I could not imagine having to live on 7.25 an hour, and I wish it were so much more, we have to fight the fights we can win, and make the progress we can make.
This is a good bold step in the right direction, and can only improve the lives of millions of Americans.
If I have to pay 50 cents more for a Bic Mac, so be it.
Godspeed Mr. Kennedy. You rock.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:18 pmOn the off chance that Senator Kennedy may actually look at responses, thank-you, Senator for this initiative, as well as your many loyal years of service to our nation.
Peace.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:18 pm#21 - When hell froze over? How about after we “won the war on terra”?
June 20th, 2006 at 5:18 pmOh! I know!
When the Republicans returned to fiscal responsibility instead of “borrow and squander” policies!
#16,
If more people were properly educated, they might become liberals, or even become voters, we can’t have that. There is a price to pay for keeping the masses stupid, but Republicans think its worth it.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:18 pm“When would a Republican get around to addressing the minimum wage issue?”
When it becomes politically viable to abolish it, so prob. never.
“you can’t have it both ways.”
June 20th, 2006 at 5:20 pmThe dumber they are, the more chances for success for me, so I’m gonna vote for keeping them as sheep.
I also agree with others here such as DrSinker. These types of jobs aren’t supposed to be supporting an entire family. Minimum wage jobs are meant for unskilled work for mostly younger people, not for people to support a family with. Comment by Seixon
This is true - to a point. But, even those “low” wage jobs deserve a raise once and a while. How much was a gallon of gas 9 years ago? These teens need to get to their jobs and, unfortunately, given our severe lack of public transportation, many will drive cars - and probably older gas guzzlin ones to boot.
So - even on the premise that minimum wage jobs are for “teens only” (starter jobs, if you will), they still deserve a small raise, I’d think. But, it’s easy to ignore them when you’re making a 6 figure income.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:20 pmVeleseko
June 20th, 2006 at 5:22 pmYou are assuming that life is predictable. What if you were making enough money as say a house painter, you were married and had twins. Then you fell off the ladder and injured your back. You get a job as a cashier, no ladders no heavy lifting — but found that there wasn’t enough money for your children. Your idea only makes sense in SF novels and not in very realistic ones.
Or if a couple had enough money for children between the two of them, but one person died after the children were born?
Education is nice but what would happen if the populace was educated and there weren’t any good jobs around. Look at cuba currently or Ireland 15 years ago.
Siexon,
I find it odd for a person supposedly as non-paritsan as yourself, that you decry Kennedy’s amendment as a political stunt, but you offered nary a word about the republicans recent political stunts involving a gay marriage ban, and a flag burning amendment. I don’t know that a phase in of $7.25/hour would be the hardship you claim. Several states already have much higher minimum wages then the federal minimum.
At least try to be consistant if you are going to try to claim non-partisinship.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:28 pmSen Kennedy,
Thanks for your efforts in this area. My emails are sent, for all the good they’ll do, since I live in Idaho.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:29 pmIf you are still making $5.15 an hour and are above the age of 21 then YOU really have a problem. YOU have a problem of motivation and I don’t share the idea that your employer should have to pay you any more than he wants. Now if you want to make more than $5.15 an hour may I suggest working for that evil giant Walmart? Also, if you want to raise the minimum wage, why not to $10 or $20 an hour? Are you ready to pay Disneyland prices at McDonalds? Last Summer I paid about $18 for a burger, fries, and a drink at the magic kingdom. A similar meal at Mickey Dees is about $5 and they pay higher than minimum wage. Disneyland employees are union and that’s why you pat $18 for a $5 meal. Hey here is an idea for all you liberal out there with lots of money to spend: Next time you visit Burger King give a couple of bucks to the guy/gal in the paper hat?
June 20th, 2006 at 5:30 pmOn the other hand: we have a minimum wage law in the United States that has passed constitutional challenges. We lack a maximum wage law.
How much is too much?
$1 million/year?
$10 million/year?
$100 million/year?
Can someone please justify the astronomical salary/compensation packages given to the few, and, since the current faction in power claims we are a Christian nation, do so in light of the teachings of Christ?
June 20th, 2006 at 5:30 pmPost 32 Zookeeper > Everyone in DC will be surprised to receive letters from you in Idaho > GOP figures that state is completely red for them!
June 20th, 2006 at 5:33 pmPost 34 > Sweden has maximum wage laws as far as I know or have heard > I think it’s a good idea, because greed is completely out of control in big corporations for the CEOs!
June 20th, 2006 at 5:36 pmplay fair and follow the rules
You mean, like, do unto others…?
June 20th, 2006 at 5:37 pmKrazny, he’s comparing two completely different things.
The gay marriage ban, and the flag burning ban, are non democratic, nazilike even, attempts to further RESTRICT Americans freedoms, and inhibit certain demographic groups from enjoying their lives as Americans.
Senator Kennedy’s bill is designed to “HELP” Americans by GIVING them MORE.
More is better.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:40 pmThere’s a quote I can’t seem to find now that it is appropriate…
The gist is that there is enough in the world if each man only takes what he needs, but never enough when men take more than they need… but far more eloquent than that.
It’s true. We have enough in the world for everyone to be comfortable. The problem is the few who want to exceed their needs in life and be excessively decadent, at the expense of others.
I say a maximum wage (why not if the owner of Whole Foods Markets can cap his salary at $400,000), can’t we say $5 million is the absolute maximum salary including bonuses and perks and any other loophole for compensation)? If that isn’t enough - nothing ever will be…
June 20th, 2006 at 5:40 pmWow - $7.25 in two years. I live in Washington State, and the minimum wage is $7.63.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:42 pmSquishy,
You need the mental midgets to be successful, so to keep them in their place, you need to throw them a bone occaisionally, or they will stop serving you. They haven’t had a bone in 9 years, is it time yet?
June 20th, 2006 at 5:43 pmYou mean, like, do unto others…?
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 20, 2006 @ 5:37 pm
Funny coming from an Atheist, huh? :)
June 20th, 2006 at 5:44 pm#41,
Sarcasm on
You live in a moonbattery state, of course they pay minimum wages that are better than the Feds, them dang moonbats seem to think if you keep the masses happy, many other things will end up better for yourself personally.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:45 pmNot to be disagreeable but I am not comfortable with capping salaries Unb. No disrespect, but its too close to communisim for my taste. In America the skys the limit, and I’m fine with that.
And some men who makes more than they need, end up giving away a significant portion of their wealth. Bill and Melinda Gates for example have pumped over 20 BILLION (with a Big B), into charitable orginazations. 20 Billion! Thats a 3rd of his wealth!
Philanthropy like that does more than people know, we just tend to overlook it I think, cause they have so much.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:47 pmGOP figures that state is completely red for them!
Comment by Jay Randal
I write ‘em all the time, and they “appreciate” my letters, but do nothing. They don’t care, but what the hell, I can’t let them think no one is watching.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:48 pmI have first hand experience and knowledge that rising the min wage has ZERO negative affect on the economy, and if naything it encourages some growth…albeit in the min. wage sector. So for any right-wingers and other brainwashed people here saying the skiy will fall if the min wage goes up…the real world is full of evidence to the contrary.
HOwever, Kennedy is also wrong, as will be any left-wingers who claim that rising the rate will raise people out of poverty. It won’t. They will still be poor but just not as much. I’ve never known anyone suddenly go from poverty to non-poverty because their min wage job gave them a small raise.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:48 pmI agree with unbelievable that a cap on CEO salaries/compensation is needed! 5 million tops sounds like a good number! Another way to do it is federal taxes after 5 million gets set at 100%, so if you make more than 5 million it gets taken to pay for social programs!
June 20th, 2006 at 5:49 pmRepublican Soldier,
By the way I do respect any person who has been in the service.
Ok, hey I admit people should work for what they make, and get some skills if they want to make more. Do you believe in minimum wage at all? If you do, should it be adjusted every so often for cost of living?
June 20th, 2006 at 5:50 pmBut if we raise the minimum wage for all those courtesy clerks at Mobil stations, ExxonMobil will go out of business and their CEO won’t get that $400 Million dollar bonus he deserves for finding all that oil!
[/conservatard]
June 20th, 2006 at 5:51 pmOK, how about capping these bonus packages. If you have made 20 billion on your own thats great, have it. But what about these CEO’s getting these huge packages when in essence they took the job, they didn’t make the job.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:53 pmHow much is a living wage worth when your drowned at the bottom of a river?
Comment by squegeeboo — June 20, 2006 @ 4:51 pm
Good question squeg-o. Why don’t you jump into the river and I’ll stand on the bank and pay you $5.15 and hour while you’re down there. Then we’ll have a definitive answer to your question.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:54 pmWow - $7.25 in two years. I live in Washington State, and the minimum wage is $7.63.
Comment by madashell
I saw yesterday that our Wal-Mart (which is about 3 steps from the Washington border) is hiring cashiers for $7.80 per hour. Most of the businesses close to the border pay Washington minimum wage.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:55 pmHOwever, Kennedy is also wrong, as will be any left-wingers who claim that rising the rate will raise people out of poverty.
Comment by Rosencrantz — June 20, 2006 @ 5:48 pm
Thats “Senator” Kennedy, or “Mr” Kennedy please.
And I don’t think he or anyone else for that matter is claiming that it will raise anyone out of poverty. Senator Kennedy was speaking about the “poverty line” as defined by the Tax code.
Obviously we can’t force every business out there to start paying everyone 50k per year. That WOULD impact our economy. He is just trying to help, and 4,000 a year more, when you are making 10,000 a year is a pretty big bump.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:57 pmThats 4,368 dollars more per year for the mathematically impaired.
Hell I could use that much more per year.
4 Gs? I’d take it, and I make 6 figures.
June 20th, 2006 at 6:07 pmSee this is not meant to be a panacea for poverty. Its meant to help people NOW, by giving them more money to work with, while we continue to work to pass more legislation, and find ways to further increase salaries as we go.
But this bill is something real, something tangible now. Its real relief for real people. And the people who will benifit by this bill are going to see almost half of what they make per year, ADDED to their current income.
Thats real, and thats now.
June 20th, 2006 at 6:15 pmNot to be disagreeable but I am not comfortable with capping salaries Unb. No disrespect, but its too close to communisim for my taste. In America the skys the limit, and I’m fine with that.
I’m not. In order to pay Jabba the Exxon Hutt $400 million, it had to be taken away from someone else. We live in a closed system with limited wealth. We don’t just print new money when we need more. So, I do have a big issue with families having to choose between enough food and gas to get to work because the only way Mr. CEO can have 24K gold shower curtains is to take money out of their piles. I’m not even close to okay with that.
And some men who makes more than they need, end up giving away a significant portion of their wealth. Bill and Melinda Gates for example have pumped over 20 BILLION (with a Big B), into charitable orginazations. 20 Billion! Thats a 3rd of his wealth!
That’s Trickle Down,and it doesn’t work. Unfortunately the Bill Gates types are the exception. And we wouldn’t need his charity if no one could take that much money to begin with. He’s just giving people back what they should have had to begin with.
Philanthropy like that does more than people know, we just tend to overlook it I think, cause they have so much.
Comment by FLAVIUS `WORFEUS — June 20, 2006 @ 5:47 pm
I think it just doesn’t exists often enough.
Great post to Senator Kennedy. I hope this time he gets his wish.
June 20th, 2006 at 6:18 pmUnbeleivable,
You have “white flys”, thats what they are. They came from the South. You have it warm enough now for them.
June 20th, 2006 at 6:22 pmOk.Well I don’t completely disagree with you Unb. I know what you are referring to.
I just disagree with across the board caps. But I am not married to that position.
June 20th, 2006 at 6:30 pm#41- madashell, I live in Washington State also. It was the attempt to get the initiative on the ballot that lead me to my first foray into politics. Since I was working for minimum wage at the time, it was possibly going to affect me, and my co-workers as well. So I contacted the group sponsoring the initiative, and said I wanted to volunteer. They said they wanted to meet with me, personally, so two people came to my house, to ‘interview’ me, and make sure I had only honest intentions of helping out. Gads I was nervous. But I told them my ’story’ (why this was important to me) and they said they would call me and pair me up with one of the members of their group, who would show me the ropes. So, for several weekends,and on my days off, I stood outside of grocery stores, rain or shine, and asked people to sign the petitions. It was an eye-opening experience. One man stands out in my memory, he said “I don’t believe in that.” I told him to have a nice day, anyway. What a JERK! So I am proud of the small part I played in making that happen, and have been a ‘political junkie’ ever since.
June 20th, 2006 at 6:37 pmI just disagree with across the board caps. But I am not married to that position.
Comment by FLAVIUS `WORFEUS — June 20, 2006 @ 6:30 pm
You married? ha ha :)
June 20th, 2006 at 6:40 pmAt one time in America there were Captains of Industry like Henry Ford who worked hard for their profits, but the new breed of corporate CEOs are fat hogs, like the CEO of Exxon, who do nothing but steal from their workers to get fabulously wealthy!
June 20th, 2006 at 6:40 pmGreat story and more proof, Cyra, that the average wage earner is not a degenerate junkie milking the system as the Right likes to pretend… Great job!
June 20th, 2006 at 6:43 pm#43 - Unbelievable,
I never said I was an Athiest. I have said I am a Shaman. The two are not synonymous.
Besides, the basis Universal law expressed in “do unto others…” spans many different theologies and cultures across the globe. It is also reflective of the Law of Karma.
However, the argument has particular applicability to those who claim this is a Christian Nation, based upon Christian Values.
The same phrase that is cited often as condemning homosexuality also condemns the covetous.
Covetous: marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions.
While the term homosexuality is a misinterpretation of the term catamites, which refers to men who like to have intercourse with boys, it has been the misinterpretation which has become the “sin” and not the original term.
Yet the covetous are admired, and people like Worfeus argue for “the sky’s the limit.”
That is why I asked supporters of unlimited income and wealth to explain their position in light of the teachings of Christ.
June 20th, 2006 at 6:44 pmThere are 24 hours in a day. Most people sleep at least 8. That leaves 16 hours left. Most people work half. Even if someone works the other half too, that’s only twice as many hours. How do we justify paying anyone thousands of times more salary, when very few jobs are thousands of times more valuable to society than the others?
June 20th, 2006 at 6:47 pmI never said I was an Athiest. I have said I am a Shaman. The two are not synonymous.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 20, 2006 @ 6:44 pm
I never said you were. I was refering to myself.
June 20th, 2006 at 6:49 pmThat is why I asked supporters of unlimited income and wealth to explain their position in light of the teachings of Christ.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 20, 2006 @ 6:44 pm
Well I’ll take that challenge.
How about we start with what you reap you will sow, and work from there?
June 20th, 2006 at 6:52 pmIf the US had fair wages then the fry cooks at McDonalds would be well paid, because they are made to work their butts off! CEO Raymond of Exxon basically signs a few papers a day on his fat behind and shovels caviar down his throat like ripe blueberries, as he swigs jugs of champagne! No way that fat hog earned a retirement package of 400 million > it was thievery!
June 20th, 2006 at 6:55 pmYes Unbeleivable,
I for one, have a Masters Degree, have a professional license, and help people’s mental health improve. I should make 6 figs for that, I don’t. Societie’s priorities are backwords. There are dogs that make more than I do, as said by David Spade.
June 20th, 2006 at 6:57 pmI agree Jay.
I’m not a supporter of huge CEO salaries.
Understand, I am more concerned with Government limitations than I am minimums.
And like I said, I’m not married to that.
June 20th, 2006 at 7:00 pmBut I think 5 million dollar caps could easily stifle growth and move us towards a more communistic society.
I could look at alternatives however, but if I were a senator (God help us all), then I’d have to vote no on that one.
June 20th, 2006 at 7:02 pmDemocrat Soldier,
Sort of like the gay-marriage ban which is another cheap political stunt that had no chance in hell of passing but was pushed for purely partisan and political reasons, right?
Well, actually, the majority of Americans do not support gay marriage, and the gay marriage amendment was not that many votes away from what it needed. To bring up the gay marriage thing now, though, was a bit of a gimmick.
Krazny,
I find it odd for a person supposedly as non-paritsan as yourself, that you decry Kennedy’s amendment as a political stunt, but you offered nary a word about the republicans recent political stunts involving a gay marriage ban, and a flag burning amendment. I don’t know that a phase in of $7.25/hour would be the hardship you claim. Several states already have much higher minimum wages then the federal minimum.
At least try to be consistant if you are going to try to claim non-partisinship.
The gay marriage ban was not a stunt since it is very close to passing, and is also supported by 2/3 of Americans.
I already commented on the flag burning amendment, saying that it was lame and that Think Progress should be more forthcoming about nations who outlaw the burning of flags.
I have also not commented at all that raising the minimum wage would bring “hardship”. Why are people always putting words in my mouth here?
I seriously have no idea what would happen if you raised the minimum wage to $7.25 at the federal level, but I doubt it would be all hunky dory as some seem to claim. I think it will affect different sectors and geographical areas differently, some positive, some negative. Raising to $7.25 seems ridiculous, because for one it will never pass, and two it seems a bit too high for it not to have ramifications.
Let’s not forget about all the jobs in the USA that are already at $7.25, and that raising the federal level to that much will mean that everyone already getting that wage will demand a raise…
In other words, by putting it to $7.25, you are raising quite a broad selection of wages, not just those earning $5.15 right now. Would small businesses be able to handle that? Let me just say one thing: the greeters at Wal-Mart will be the first to go.
In the mean time, why don’t we have Congress push through a reasonable increase, such as to $6.00 so that an increase actually happens! I think our low wage earners would appreciate that much more than the Democrats putting out campaign commercials in October saying that the evil Republicans defeated their $7.25 wish that they knew would be overturned.
Yet of course, if Congress gave them an increased minimum wage, then the Democrats would lose yet another feather in their hat to lure low wage earners into the voting booths to vote for them.
And folks, that’s exactly why the Democrats are pushing ridiculous bills they know will never pass. Call on them to stop the political stunts and get something done for the American people instead.
PS.
I see there’s some discussion of wage caps. I would be in favor of that, yet I cannot see how it could be implemented without reeking of communism. There is no justification for individuals to have as much wealth as they do, even given the circumstances of their jobs being highly stressful and loaded with responsibility. However, shall we become a communist state that regulates how much people can earn? It’s a double-edged sword and I’d love to hear a great idea on how we could both keep wages down and continue the American spirit of capitalism and free trade.
Oh, and let’s not forget some of the highest paid humans on Earth: celebs and sports stars. If CEOs are going to take a cut in their wages, why not celebs and sports stars? Let’s not leave our liberal rich folks out just because they’re liberal, eh?
June 20th, 2006 at 7:09 pmThat phrase does not come up in a search at biblegateway.com.
Here’s the closest I could find, “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
So, this phrase justifies “the sky’s the limit?” Or does it fcondeme the wealthy?
Question: is he talking about money, or stewardship? It is a parable: each will interpret it to his own meanings.
June 20th, 2006 at 7:10 pmWORFEUS > Sweden has caps on CEO wages and they are not communistic, but they do have full health care for everyone! As Americans we are brought up that wealth could happen for any of us, but the elite in America want that only for themselves! Caps on CEO pay is just an idea, but if you can come up with a better idea, to cut greed, then I would listen to your plan! I know you agree that Exxon’s CEO exposes that greed!
June 20th, 2006 at 7:11 pmYes if there was caps on CEO pay, then movie stars and sports stars as well!
June 20th, 2006 at 7:14 pmI never believed that an actor or actress should get paid like 20 million for one movie role!
June 20th, 2006 at 7:16 pmYEs, cap the movie stars and sports stars, salaries that is. Yeah I get paid millions to play a game.
June 20th, 2006 at 7:18 pmWe have some common ground. There was a way, once upon a time. The graduated income tax. However, income has essentially been redefined as wages. The very wealth, whose wealth and income is largely unearned have found effective ways to avoid the graduated income tax. A 100% tax on all income, regardless of the source, above a certain level, would reinstate the purpose of the graduated income tax.
Oh, and if you look at the economic model of the early church as described in the New Testament, it was a communistic economic model: everybody works, everybody shares.
June 20th, 2006 at 7:19 pmThat phrase does not come up in a search at biblegateway.com.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 20, 2006 @ 7:10 pm
LoL, sorry, I thought you once said you were a bible scholar or something.
Maybe its the handle.
June 20th, 2006 at 7:20 pmJune 20th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
Good, now all you have to do is try and find a single Democratic politician who will advocate capping the salary of celebs and athletes………….
June 20th, 2006 at 7:22 pmI know you agree that Exxon’s CEO exposes that greed!
Comment by Jay Randal — June 20, 2006 @ 7:11 pm
Oh a thousand percent agree.
Gas is through the roof and these mooks need more money?
They say if they lower gas prices their will be a “run” on gas.
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
Oh yea, they lower the price 30 cents a gallon and I’m just gonna rush out and by a few hundred gallons?
Give me a break.
June 20th, 2006 at 7:26 pmBriseadh na Faire,
A 100% tax on all income, regardless of the source, above a certain level, would reinstate the purpose of the graduated income tax.
Wow, they don’t even have that here in Norway. There’s a problem with this, and it is that the government shouldn’t be the one raking in the extra money, the money should be spread amongst other people. In other words, instead of the CEO taking $10M in income for one year, he should get $1M and the remaining $9M should spread around the other employees in the company or reinvested into the company. Giving all of it to the government seems to be the wrong way to go about it.
Oh, and if you look at the economic model of the early church as described in the New Testament, it was a communistic economic model: everybody works, everybody shares.
Well, I don’t really give a damn what the economic model of the early church was, but thanks for sharing…
June 20th, 2006 at 7:28 pmThey lower the price 30 cents a gallon it will STILL be 275 a gallon where I live!
What the hell is that? 2.75 a gallon.
A few short years ago when Clinton was President I was getting it for 79 cents a gallon.
They’d half to cut it in half to make a dent.
June 20th, 2006 at 7:30 pmCompare:
and
They’re not the same quotes. I can only research what you give me.
It’s a pity you didn’t finish the quote:
Doesn’t sound like He’s talking about the right of the covetous to amass wealth, does it?
I never claimed to be a bible scholar. Just a Shaman. Briseadh na Faire is Celtic for “Break of Dawn.”
I’d love to stay and post some more, but I have a class to get to. I’ll be back in 6-7 hours.
June 20th, 2006 at 7:31 pmall this talk about minimum wage is bullshit in my opinion and no, as non liberal I won’t bring up Chappaquiddick ( although I do wish i could fish there!)’
June 20th, 2006 at 7:45 pmhow about a new system? maybe one if you are a kid say under 18 you get minimum wage and if you are over that maybe a living wage set by the economic indicators for that respective area? 7 bucks and hour does not buy doodlysquat in most places in America but it goes a lot further in georgia than it does in say connecticut.
How about a graduated scale say for the type of business. a small business person just starting up cannot afford much but soem giant like say McDonalds can damn well afford living wage.
Minimum wage for a single adult never mind an adult trying to support a family is a joke and an insult.
I tend to think that like many other things a “one size fits all” approach is usually the wrong one. Maybe we can take certain factors into account to have folks get paid fairly. For one thing a company that makes gazillions of dollars a year paying minimum wage is obscene..
even tho in most cases i despise kennedy in this instance he (gulp) may be right.
I Agree 100%!!!
June 20th, 2006 at 7:48 pmCompare:
what you reap you will sow
and
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap
They’re not the same quotes. I can only research what you give me
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 20, 2006 @ 7:31 pm
LMFAO, Ok dude whatever.
Just keep in mind usually when people paraphrase FAMOUS quotes from the bible, they don’t need to provide exact syntax.
June 20th, 2006 at 7:55 pmI never claimed to be a bible scholar. Just a Shaman.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 20, 2006 @ 7:31 pm
So a Shaman means someone who doesn’t know the bible?
:D
June 20th, 2006 at 7:56 pmI’m just clowing around with you btw.
Don’t take me seriously. And in all fairness there was an obvious typo in my original paraphrase.
It should have just read you reap what you sow.
Its such a common phrase I just thought you would’ve heard it, thats all.
June 20th, 2006 at 8:03 pmNo, no, no, that is a load of bull, and you should know better.
The extra cost for a Disneyburger (there’s gotta be a joke about what kind of meat that would be, right?) is corporate profit, they are NOT getting paid three times as much. Average union wages are 29% higher than non-union, across the board. Even if they were getting, say, 50% more, you’re still talking Disney making 5X the profit compared to McD’s for a similar meal.
Jeez.
June 20th, 2006 at 8:26 pmActually I think they’re Goofy Burgers.
June 20th, 2006 at 8:34 pmHey, they get paid millions because TV revenues as well as tickets/concessions/parking provide large revenue streams for owners.
These same owners also turn around and cry poverty when trying to get corporate welfare (BUILD ME A STADIUM WITH TAX DOLLARS OR I’LL MOVE TO (pick a city, usually Portland or Vegas [grin]).
For movie stars, they generate a ton of interest in a movie, the movie makes a ton of money (or the last movie did, anyway *coff*Gigli*coff*bomb*coff), and they get paid for that allure. There is a large market of potential workers in the field, but elite skills (or bodies, woo hoo!) get a premium. A studio gets $100M for a blockbuster, and the talent shouldn’t get some of that?
These same folks also spend a good bit of time doing charitable work, which is more than I can *I* have done, as a wage slave. Does my $500 in old clothes to Goodwill count? Many of them have the free time some or most of the year, and the visibility to be effective spokespeople in some cases, so they do help charitable causes.
June 20th, 2006 at 8:35 pmeven tho in most cases i despise kennedy in this instance he (gulp) may be right.
Comment by moonbat patrol
Are you ok? I know that had to be hard for you. ;)
June 20th, 2006 at 8:36 pmYou have some good ideas, moonbat patrol. Since we have so much trouble with one minimum wage level, I wouldn’t want to think about the fight over several minimums. Scary…
Ha! Reminds me of the comedian talking about how cruel it is that they sell fish sandwiches at Sea World.
“Am I eating a slow learner?”
June 20th, 2006 at 8:37 pmAnd Mickey Mouse Mcnuggets.
June 20th, 2006 at 8:39 pmI agree Troy.
Just look at Angelina Jolie.
June 20th, 2006 at 8:50 pmNo I mean it, just LOOK at Angelina Jolie :D
June 20th, 2006 at 8:51 pmI held back my bile for kennedy, sometimes even folks you don’t care for have good ideas .
June 20th, 2006 at 9:03 pmyou say that a graduated minimum/living wage might be a challenge but I say that it might not be much more of a challenge than the graduated income tax system. Instead of taxes which got into the government pot and then are redistributed a graduated wage initiative would directly help folks that need it. even tho something might be difficult it would lead to more fairness and equity in helping people out of poverty.
I support helping people get ahead and part of my complaint with kennedy and other liberals is that even tho i believe that their intentions ( paved highway to hell next exit!) may be good it seems sometimes that some of their programs have put people in a postion to stay impoverished.
i cannot sse the fairness in some big mega corp like wal mart and McD’s who annualy rake in billions pay anyone minimum wage and no health benefits. That is obscene. And face it when the intelligence- minimum wage issue comes up that is a moot point. unfortunately all folks are not created equal when it comes to IQ and some people unfortunately will be relegated to jobs that are menial and do not require much mental fortitude. are they to be designated to the status of “untouchables” like india? No they work hard and should be given a living wage adjusted for locale. This is not socialism this is just plain human fairness.
my problem with the minimum wage is that it seems to be a race to the bottom for people who cannot raise themselves up for one reason or another . It almost becomes a form of indentured servitude for people at the bottom of the pay scale. It starts folks at the bottom and then leaves them there with no way out. companies need to stop thinking of their employees in terms of just cheap labor and consider them maybe not as partners but important factors in running a business.
One.
Minimum wage should have been raised ages ago. That it hasn’t, serves business agenda. No-brainer.
Two.
Ol’ Swan Dive is hardly the champion of minimum wage. Number one, he’s too insulated rich. Number two, he’s never, ever, EVER going to be taken seriously, except by a select, willfully deluded few. The “man” has earned himself an immortal reputation as a sleazeball, and not only by right-wing-nuts — by anyone who has a hard time swallowing what he did to that poor girl, and every other anti-human debauchery he’s known for, and who knows how many he’s not. I’m a lifelong, staunch Democrat who happens to believe that this man has been more a liability to our party than Karl Rove or any other evil-doing puppeteer.
Jesus, God. Come ON, Democrats. Stop preaching old gospels. Stop whingeing about old grievances.
JETTISON THE OLD. TAKE CHARGE OF THE RIGHT.
And I mean RIGHT. Not right-wing.
I mean RIGHT.
June 20th, 2006 at 9:10 pmVery few people make minimum wage anyway. The few that do live in economically deprived parts of the country. If you live in a small town in the desert of Arizona or a mountain town in Appalachia, jobs are hard to come by. If you drive minimum wage up two dollars you can kiss most of those jobs goodbye. Ted Kennedy has a very poor understanding of economics, much like many of his colleagues. He is much more familiar with finding ways to avoid paying his taxes though. No one should try to control market forces. If everyone was guaranteed a great paying job, how many people would decide to go on and become doctors? No one would because sacrificing 8-10 years of a person’s young life sounds anything but enticing when you know you won’t be getting paid much more than the average Joe. Then you might as well forget about health care all together, much less the high cost of it.
Also, when you raise minimum wage, you don’t hurt big businesses that much. The ones you really hurt are the small businesses. Big businesses are able to adjust well to changes in labor costs(layoffs, cutting back on hours), small businesses on the other hand do not take the change so well. Many are forced to shut down. Why is this? Most large corporations are located in large towns and cities, so they are already paying close to the minimum wage level Kennedy is proposing because of the higher standard of living in these places. Small businesses are almost exclusive in rural areas. These businesses can include everything from a local grocer to a McDonalds franchise owner. High school and college kids depend on jobs like these to help them make it through the school years. Do we want to take that away from them?
Many of you have brought up the high price of health care as a problem. So why is health care so pricey these days? It’s simple if you look at it in a supply-demand aspect. When demand is high and supply is low prices will rise. So fewer doctors cause an increase in the price of health care because of demand is always steadily increasing. So why are there fewer people wanting to become doctors? Maybe I should ask another question first. Why would anybody want to become a doctor? I mean, If you are a doctor these days, you are the number one target for lawsuits. Thanks to lawyers like our friend Jon Edwards who has made a career out of sueing the health care industry, fewer people are able to take their children to the doctor when they are sick. Low and middle income Americans often skip going to the doctor which often leads to more serious medical problems down the road. Because of lawsuits, doctors are performing extra tests on patients that are unnecessary but protect the doctor from the risk of a lawsuit.
If you want to see an example of government controlling market forces take a look at Mexico. Or how about Germany? Germany is a perfect example of this. For more than a decade now, the German government has put strict regulations on companies. Regulations that establish a high minimum wage and make it harder for management to fire problem employees. Because of this, the unemployment rate has shot up to 11% from a once stable 6%.
The more restrictions you put in place, the more you start to resemble a commnist style of government, and we all know how well that has worked in the past for the countries who have adopted it.
June 20th, 2006 at 9:12 pmAlright Troy,
Good stuff Maynerd, yes and sure I would, Angelina Jolie.
June 20th, 2006 at 9:15 pmSo the staduim thing with sports team owners is in other places besides Phoenix, good, that make s me feel better that other places take it up the butt with the new stadiums, uless you speak of Phoenix?
June 20th, 2006 at 9:18 pma lifelong, staunch Democrat who happens to believe that this man has been more a liability to our party than Karl Rove or any other evil-doing puppeteer
Comment by waiting2C — June 20, 2006 @ 9:10 pm
Really?
Well maybe you’d better take a look at the roll call for HR 114, cause Mr Kennedy was one of the FEW, REAL Democrats on that fateful day.
He has the same vision and wisom as his brothers, and he is a strong advocate for the ture liberty in this country.
Show some respect.
June 20th, 2006 at 9:32 pmNo I mean it, just LOOK at Angelina Jolie :D
Comment by CLUBBER WORFEUS
She even looks good knocked up AND days after a C-section — Bitch. :P
June 20th, 2006 at 9:50 pmWe need a HUGE raise in the minimum wage to do any real good, but this effort is a t least a start. I can’t believe that the GOP blocking any raise since, what, 97, is not a bigger issue than it is. That’s not very “pro-family”.
http://www.sunstateactivist.org
June 20th, 2006 at 9:51 pmCheck out the BRAND NEW SSA:Blog
Only on SSA
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gruel glorius gruel
please sir, may I have some more?
More?????
June 20th, 2006 at 9:59 pm[…] Think Progress guest blogger, Senator Ted Kennedy posted this on Tuesday… Yesterday, I offered an amendment on the Senate floor to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour in three steps over the next two years. This increase will help almost 15 million Americans rise out of poverty. This vote is critically important, and I need your help to win this fight. […]
June 20th, 2006 at 10:04 pmShe even looks good knocked up AND days after a C-section — Bitch. :P
Comment by Zookeeper — June 20, 2006 @ 9:50 pm
Sorry, but I think AJ is rather unattractive. Her enormous lips scare the hell outta me, and her eyes are freaky… I thought Jennifer Aniston was much prettier. But, hey, to each his own… And I’d rather talk about hot guys personally … :)
June 20th, 2006 at 10:09 pmHey Ted — any chance we can index the minimum wage for inflation? Would save you guys from having to pass a new law every 9 years. Doesn’t strike me as so difficult — how come this wasn’t done years ago?
June 20th, 2006 at 10:14 pmby your litmus test Seixon a minimum wage increase would pass as a non political stunt. You tell one person that the gay marriage ban was a bit of a gimmick, then in the same post you tell me it’s not. Which is it?
LOL don’t worry I don’t expect consistency in thought from you.
June 20th, 2006 at 10:19 pmDoesn’t strike me as so difficult — how come this wasn’t done years ago?
Comment by Dave — June 20, 2006 @ 10:14 pm
That’s how the House and Senate get their yearly increases - automatically.
June 20th, 2006 at 10:29 pmThe problem with raising minimum wage is that it will cause inflation, so that everything will in the end cost more, which will raise the living wage, which will counteract the whole entire thing in the end. I really want to fight poverty as much as the next person, I just don’t know the best way to go about it. I suggest reading some of Robert Kennedy’s writing (the best of the kennedy’s in my opinion)… there definitly are ways to end poverty- we just need to explore them
June 20th, 2006 at 10:43 pmFor an absolutely GREAT clip of Lou Dobbs ripping into everyone and anyone on minimum wage check out:
http://www.hotpotatomash.com/2006/06/lou_dobbs_goes_.html
June 20th, 2006 at 10:49 pm#99- moonbat patrol- good post. I truly appreciate the thought you put into it. But I really need to address a perception I have seen in several posts, not just yours, so please don’t think that I am picking on you. I’m not at all. My issue is the connecting of people working for minimum wage, and their intelligence, IQ, lack of education, or a skilled trade to offer. I do not doubt that there are those who will never advance beyond a certain level, but it cannot be assumed that it is all due to the personal failures of all of those individuals. It is next to impossible to lift yourself higher in life when you have someone standing on your neck all the time. And of course you can leave anytime you want, but if the other employers in your field are all offering a similar payplan, it would be pointless to leave one job for the other, and risk looking like you have difficulty keeping a job. Examples of how Corporations will conspire with each other to limit your ability to make a choice, by all offering the same, or close to it, to the consumer, creating the ‘illusion’ of choice, while being anything but, are plentiful. Airlines, Big oil, and so on. Even though they are competitors, they will put that aside when they have to. Them against us. then when the ‘danger’ is past, it’s business as usual. My own situation was similar, But when the company I worked for was finally forced to pay it’s employees more, it was state law, they had to, I was excited because the new wage was exactly what my hourly pay already was (seniority) and knew they would HAVE to pay me more, or a new hire would be making what it took me 12 YEARS to get up to. I was working on an hourly+commission basis at the time. Did I get a raise? Nope. Instead they revamped the commission scale, new hires would have to bring in a higher service dollar total, before they would get any commission, and their percentage would be smaller. In my case, my percentage went up, but so did my service dollar amount. But wait, they said, we are going to raise our prices, so it will be easier to reach the commission point. So I did not get a raise, and my “rent” went up too. I ended up making LESS than I had before, and had to work harder to do it. I went a bit crazy and wrote a scathing letter to the owners of the company, telling them that I was aware the were screwing me more than ever, even though they tried to make it look so great. I got a “sorry you feel that way, you can always go somewhere else” reply. But that would have been worse still. And one day I decided that I had had enough, and decided to become self-employed. Scary as hell, but I had no other ‘better’ place to go. That was 8 years ago. I have been struggling for the last couple, Bush’s handling of the economy has definitely hurt my business, less money for all those things that used to feel like ‘needs’, now are looking like ‘extras’, that can wait a while longer or are just plain unaffordable now, just the basics of life, thinking, maybe next month… and I cannot do anything about that. So, don’t be so quick to judge others. Without knowing their stories, it is very unfair. Golly, sorry for going on so long but this one is personal for me.
June 20th, 2006 at 10:58 pmGood posts everyone on here including Seixon who sounded reasonable about sharing profits in corporations with their employees > a good idea and something I do agree with completely!
June 21st, 2006 at 1:50 am#89- 90, Worfeus - I understand you were just clowning around. however, in the future, please remember to include a link, ok? I’m the type of person who likes to see quotes in context. Even though I may be familiar with the phrase, I don’t know the bible chapter and verse. And if you go to biblegateway.com, you will see there are several different versions of the bible that may be searched rather quickly, if you have the exact phrase, or chapter and verse.
Actually, a Shaman may be versed in one or more theologies, or only in his/her native culture. It varies with the individual. Being a Shaman is a calling, a way of life, not a theology.
June 21st, 2006 at 1:56 am#113 -
That argument rings hollow when gasoline has increased nearly 300% in the last 4 years and oil companies are making billions of dollars in profit each quarter. Even a 10% increase in the minimum wage pales in comparison with the effects of this kind of inflationary push.
Besides, the inflationary push of raising the minimum wage really lies in the Corporations. They can absorb the costs and reduce dividends or pass the costs and raise prices. In other words, to say raising minimum wages causes inflation is a falacious argument. It only causes inflation if Corporate America wants it to.
June 21st, 2006 at 2:03 amI understand you were just clowning around. however, in the future, please remember to include a link, ok?
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 21, 2006 @ 1:56 am
No.
I don’t post links everytime I paraphrase the bible. Particularly with quotes as famous as you reap what you sow.
If you are that unfamiliar with the bible, yet call yourself a holy man or spiritualist, I suggest reading the most famous holy book in the world, at least once. Also I’d advise a few synoptic companion books, to further your spiritual knowledge.
Or at least watch more television, cause reap what you sow is about as common as turn the other cheek.
Know what I mean?
June 21st, 2006 at 3:20 amAnd if you go to biblegateway.com, you will see there are several different versions of the bible that may be searched rather quickly, if you have the exact phrase, or chapter and verse
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 21, 2006 @ 2:03 am
I am well aware of that site, as well as about 3 thousand others.
I had no problem finding it there.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:23 amEven though I may be familiar with the phrase, I don’t know the bible chapter and verse.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 21, 2006 @ 1:56 am
Neither do I. Who memorizes every chapter and verse?
Thats why there are concordences.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:26 amIn other words, to say raising minimum wages causes inflation is a falacious argument.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
Maybe you should take a few economics classes buddy. #13 is right, raising minimum wage does cause inflation.
You also may need to take a few math classes while you’re there. Gas has not increased 300%. If that were true and the original price was a dollar(which is a low figure), then we would be paying four dollars right now.
June 21st, 2006 at 7:59 amcyra - obviously you took my post wrong. There are some people who are not as smart as you are who get trapped in minimum wage for life and I feel sorry for them. You can, with your level of intelligence move up on and up and work for yourself but some folks just do nothave the smarts to do so. From reading your posts summarily you have found the ups and downs of a free market economy. When you work for yourself you give up the” security ” of earning a wage working from somebody else to the “opportunity” of working for yourself. It ain’t all roses either way , i know I have done both .
June 21st, 2006 at 9:03 amEverybody is dufferent with different attributes and liabilities , there are Bill Gates, and then there is the poor bastard bagging groceries for minimum wage forever. Some people will neve rise above the bottom of the heap unfortunately but they should not be destined to work their entire lives just to stay impoverished. I guess my whole point of all my posts is I get pissed when i see some big company making billions and then having the audacity to pay someone, anyone minimum wage. My suggestion was to have some sort of a graduated minimum wage .
Gas has not increased 300%. If that were true and the original price was a dollar(which is a low figure), then we would be paying four dollars right now.
Comment by Tommy — June 21, 2006 @ 7:59 am
No, mathematically, he’s right…
$1 x 3 (the numerical form of 300% by moving the decimal point to the left 2 places and removing the % sign, wich you must do to wind up in terms of dollars) = $3
He didn’t say increased by 300%, or that would be:
$1 + ($1 x 3) - $4
June 21st, 2006 at 9:45 am$7.25 is hardly enough, but it is a start. Go Teddy, go!
June 21st, 2006 at 10:04 ama global minimum wage would have a stronger rippling effect.
June 21st, 2006 at 10:58 am#119 Worfeaus,
I know what you mean. You presented a paraphrase “you reap what you sow” as a biblical justification for “the sky’s the limit” when it comes to astronomical compensation for a few individuals. I wanted to see the phrase in context, but was unable to do so because what you wrote initially was a paraphrase. When you reposted, I as able to find the context.
Your justification for astronomical wealth turns out to be a condemnation of sinners. And being coveteous is sinning. According to the very verse you paraphrased, Christ’s teachings are against astronomical wealth.
I call myself a Shaman. And I am familiar with the bible. I also know that paraphrases run the risk of changing the original meaning. That’s why I prefer direct quotes. You initially posted a paraphrase. I was not familiar with your particular wording and tried to look it up as a direct quote and could not find it.
And thank you, but no, I don’t care to watch more Television. I don’t find it to be the most accurate source of information.
Frankly, I don’t think you can find an argument, in line with the teachings of Christ, that supports astronomically high wages. I certainly don’t recall anything from the New Testament to that effect. But I admit it’s been years since I read through the New Testament, and there may be something in there I have forgotton. I just seem to remember things like the rich man who turned away from Christ because he could not sell all he owned and give it to the poor to follow Christ. Or the statement about how it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it would be for a rich man to get into heaven.
On the other hand, somebody posted a reference to Bill and Melinda Gates. I heard on the radio the other day about Bill stepping down from his day to day activities at Microsoft in order to spend more time with his foundation. I believe someone made the point that had he not given away so much of his fortune, he would be wealthier than the Walton (WalMart) family. So, yes. There are some wealthy individuals who chose to use their wealth for the betterment of mankind. They are to be commended.
June 21st, 2006 at 11:00 amHow many states already have laws that have a higher minimum wage then the federal one?
June 21st, 2006 at 12:04 pmKeep up the good work, Senator. You have my vote (literally).
Now, can we also index this to inflation? Perhaps every Nov 1st it could be indexed to inflation to the nearest 25 cents. The change would kick on on Jan 1st.
Jeremy White
June 21st, 2006 at 1:31 pmNeedham, MA
It seems that the entire Congress has sold out. There is no more outrage. There is no more integrity. Just greed, greed, and more greed. Why can’t Congress be taken to task because of this travesty? Congress perpetually votes itself grandoise pay hikes, and then has the audacity to deny a poor struggling worker what amounts to pennies. Add to this all the fringe benefits afforded to all of you in Congress and it merely compounds the crime.
June 21st, 2006 at 2:34 pmSincerely,
William Branch
It seems that the entire Congress has sold out. There is no more outrage. There is no more integrity. Just greed, greed, and more greed. Why can’t Congress be taken to task because of this travesty? Congress perpetually votes itself grandoise pay hikes, and then has the audacity to deny a poor struggling worker what amounts to pennies. Add to this all the fringe benefits afforded to all of you in Congress and it merely compounds the crime.
June 21st, 2006 at 2:35 pmSincerely,
William Branch
They shot it down… Of course. Greedy bastards.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:11 pm[…] Before this vote, Ted Kennedy guest blogged at Think Progress, and told us what we could do to help win the battle. Despite our efforts, Congress year after year has refused to give working men and women the raise they deserve. Yet Congress keeps giving itself annual pay raises—it’s the height of hypocrisy. […]
June 21st, 2006 at 3:35 pmand there may be something in there I have forgotton. I just seem to remember things like the rich man who turned away from Christ because he could not sell all he owned and give it to the poor to follow Christ. Or the statement about how it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it would be for a rich man to get into heaven
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 21, 2006 @ 11:00 am
Actually Jesus never said that. I know its there in your King James Version, but a reading of the Codex’s clearly shows it was added by scribes later, most likely to help push the virtue of poverty for the Fransiscan order, and of course to subdue the masses into accepting their lot.
In truth Christ NEVER condemned wealth, as long as wisdom accompanied it.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:37 pmI agree with #65.I’ve read that in Japan,the CEOs receive 10-20 times the compensation of the average employee of their companys–not 300-500 times,as so often occurs here.
June 21st, 2006 at 4:16 pmThe obscene inequities in the US corporate system clearly demonstrates,imo, that something is seriously out of wack.
Changes are in order…perhaps we should start with our voting procedures and devices.
#18 - Sexion… He’s asking for the $7.25 in THREE STEPS over two years! It’s not just one big leap. So in a way, he IS starting off with a smaller raise, and then working upwards.
June 21st, 2006 at 4:44 pm134 - cites? I’d really like to check out your claims with independent sources.
June 22nd, 2006 at 2:25 am134 - cites? I’d really like to check out your claims with independent sources.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — June 22, 2006 @ 2:25 am
Well first you would have to do some reading. I didn’t just “google†this for you so as to impress you. While I realize you are accustomed to always having a “link†to everything you say before you can even begin to process the information, this is one you’ll have to learn on your own.
Being a Shaman, I would assume dedicating some daily time to study should not be too far outside of your realm.
In truth I was being overtly facetious in that Christ did have the encounter of which you speak, albeit he never said what you claimed he said. It’s a common misconception the parable taught in most protestant Sunday Schools that the eye of the needle was some supposed gate in the wall of Jerusalem that never actually existed, and that merchants had to force their camels to their knees, (do camels have knees?:), and strip their baggage, then drag them through.
While that makes a great analogy for a rich man casting off his wealth, it nonetheless was not what Jesus said.
I will share with you that a good place to start, is looking at a good copy of the Codex Vaticanus with scribe notes. Duplicates are expensive, around 2,500 dollars is the going rate, but one with a good English translation is irreplaceable in any real study of the bible.
Reading the Codex Vaticanus, or for that matter you could also compare the Codex Sinaiticus also from the 4th century CE, the Ephraemi or Cantabrigiensis Codices from the 5th Century. Doing so will show you interesting things like the original word translated from the Greek was kamilos which does not mean Camel.
It does mean ROPE. Just plain old rope.
Also the word for needle is often misquoted as indicating some supposed gate in the wall of Jerusalem that in reality never existed. There was no gate called the eye of the needle during or prior to the life of Christ in the wall of Jerusalem.
The word used for needle was simply that. A needle.
In the Codices in both Matthew and Mark we see the Greek word, Rafic, which translates into Needle. However we also see the word Belone, which refers to a needle strictly used for sewing.
This does not necessarily defeat your argument as he was implying that there is some difficulty with a rich man (what he meant by rich man will be in our next lesson) entering into the kingdom of heaven, or the kingdom of Jaweh as he actually said. In truth it is important to remember, once you understand the actual words spoken by Jesus, that a rope is after all but many threads, woven and intertwined. Certainly a single thread can travel through the eye of a needle, one at a time.
There was a specific meaning to this saying, particularly for who was the targeted audience, and I will show you plenty of other instances where Jesus demonstrated respect and piety towards people of wealth, power and influence in our future encounters, should you so desire. I will not however tie up a thread with it.
As I said, since you are a Shaman, I am sure it would not be out of character for you to make the sacrifice to serious study of the bible, and I’m not talking about Falwell University.
Read the Codices, read some serious commentary’s like Farrar or Roberts. Definitely get your hands on an English translation of the Masoretic text, (unless you speak Hebrew) and by all means indulge in the Gnostics. While the Dead Sea Scrolls