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titan22

As of today, I live in Washington State. Washington is going to have the highest minimum wage in the country. January 1, 2007 minimum wage goes up again. Alaska has a statute where they stay $1 above the federal minimum wage. Minimum wage has an effect across the board on the cost of goods and services in a given state.

I have mixed emotions about the raise in state minimum wages. Since I don't earn minimum wage, I don't want it to increase. When the minimum wage increases, employers are forced to raise the cost of whatever they are selling. This came more true to life when i was getting lunch today. I stopped by subway, and got a footlong cheese steak sandwich and a 20 ounce bottle of coke and it cost me $9.64. Should it really cost that much? I was disturbed at the cost of this. It made it even worse having the old woman who is a "sandwich artist" tell me that january 1, prices are going up.

As much as increasing the minimum wage helps those not earning a large income, the higher wages will lead to less hours available for employment, and a higher cost to goods and services. The people hurt by raising the minimum wage are those that actually earn minimum wage. There is a gross misconception that raising the minimum wage is a good thing when it really isn't.

When it comes down to it, the only way to progress in society is to either work harder and get promoted, or get educated. Earning minimum wage will hurt you in the long run. States start a vicious cycle that is confusing to most people. The first thought is, "hey, i got a raise." well, I hate to break it to you, but you have more income, but you are going to have to spend more and get your hours cut. Below is a list of the new minimum wages.


List of U.S. state minimum wages: Information from Answers.com

briansol

Agreed.

CT has the 2nd highest min wage in the country.
I don't eat steak, but a typical combo meal at subway here is like $8.50.

Evenone always complains about tax breaks for the rich, but those are the ones that make the most sense. The rich then have more money to put back into their businesses and even hire more people, or give them a raise without the min. wage going up at all and prices staying realtively the same.

The one thing i've been buying on a regular basis for ever, is Dunkin Donuts coffee.

When I was in high school, I could get a med coffee, and a bagel sandwhich for about $2.25.

when I had the del sol (2000 ish) i recall getting medium coffees for 1.34
min wage was 4.50/hr back then i beleive.

Now, a med. coffee is $1.80

a tub of coffee at the store hasn't gone up much over the years, but the price of getting a cup at the store has nearly doubled.


i don't know where i'm going with this.... lol but i think you catch my drift.

titan22

i wrote this after being up all night. i posted it at 6:32 am west coast time. anyways, with an increase in minimum wage, the cost of goods and services increase.

I didn't even get the chips with my subway meal. that would have put it way over $10. I think if I eat olive gardens soup/salad/breadsticks. i could eat for less than subway cost.

now if you eat somewhere tips are included in wages, you can eat better food for the same price because the actual hourly wage will go down. i think it's going to lead me to sitting down at restaurants more.

also, the hours that employees work will get worse to. some companies spread out hours to many employees to keep from paying them more or risking overtime costs. this happens a lot in retail. instead of being balanced, hours are spread thin.