Some great points have been made in this thread, it's nice to see no silly labels and insults being thrown out over a controversial & somewhat sensitive issue.
I'm personally very concerned about where this country is headed due to Congress rejecting MW raise. That is a key sign about the widening rip between the rich & poor. IMO, the only thing MW really should do is at least try to keep up with inflation in order to protect a minimal adequate standard of living for the low end blue collar worker.
With the continuing erosion of the middle class, the lower class will grow significantly and any "replacement costs" will only go lower and lower as that labor pool gets flooded. That is where the MW will become important because it is a measure of the earning power of the population.
And I correct myself, free market wages will not result in financial slavery, the proper term is SERFDOM. With MW at its current state, that is exactly what you become earning $5.15/hour.
One more thing, you cannot blame corporations but only the system. A corporation legal duty is to make and grow profit first and foremost. What most corporations end up doing in terms of outsourcing, cutting benefits is logical and expected. I have some serious issues about the people making these decisions and the corruption involved, but on the surface it is the correct move for a Corporation to evaluate these opportunities.
Don't hate the players, hate the game.
I'm personally very concerned about where this country is headed due to Congress rejecting MW raise. That is a key sign about the widening rip between the rich & poor. IMO, the only thing MW really should do is at least try to keep up with inflation in order to protect a minimal adequate standard of living for the low end blue collar worker.
With the continuing erosion of the middle class, the lower class will grow significantly and any "replacement costs" will only go lower and lower as that labor pool gets flooded. That is where the MW will become important because it is a measure of the earning power of the population.
And I correct myself, free market wages will not result in financial slavery, the proper term is SERFDOM. With MW at its current state, that is exactly what you become earning $5.15/hour.
One more thing, you cannot blame corporations but only the system. A corporation legal duty is to make and grow profit first and foremost. What most corporations end up doing in terms of outsourcing, cutting benefits is logical and expected. I have some serious issues about the people making these decisions and the corruption involved, but on the surface it is the correct move for a Corporation to evaluate these opportunities.
Don't hate the players, hate the game.
