Raising the minimum wage

So what are your thoughts on this?

Typically a job that pays minimum wage is an entry level position or one that does not take a lot of skill to accomplish. These positions are not meant to support a family but are to be used as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

I have read many of the comments on the news sites about the walk out of the fast food workers and I guess I would have to say I don't think they should raise the wage because a single Mom with 4 kids can not live on what she makes there.

I know I am opening a can of worms but really, when I was just entering the work force I flipped burgers and hated it so I work on getting an education so that I could get a better job.

I use to babysit for $1.50 per hour (up to two kids) and each kid extra cost 0.50 more. Now teen sitters are getting $8.00 an hour.

When I started working my first job at Burger King I made $2.35 an hour and I was basically told that unless I became some sort of manager I would never make more than $4.00 but I would have to be there for like 10 years to get that.

If they are up front and honest with where the job will take you why do people expect more?

I do not see how a small Mom and Pop business would ever be able to open if minimum wage was at $15.00 an hour. Imagine how many places would close if this was to happen you think unemployment is bad now.

IMO

$15/hour is just too high.....

I was the youngest of 8 and when I was in 5th or 6th grade my Mom took me to the bank to open a savings account (she did this for all of the kids). When we got birthday or Xmas money we were expected to put 1/2 in the account and the rest we could use for whatever.

I did not get an allowance I did extra chores so that I could go to the movies or whatever I was into at the time.

When I turned 16 I had about $1500.00 in my savings which I used to buy my first car. I had been working after school and weekends since I was 15 (besides baby sitting). I paid my parents $50.00 a month to go toward my car insurance.

When I was 19 my car died I had been living on my own since 18 my choice no one kicked me out. I wanted a new car but had to prove to my Dad that I could make the payments and the higher insurance which by then since I was not living at home I was paying on my own.

It was only then that he agreed to co-sign but I did have to call him each month to tell him I had put the check in the mail. If there was no call he was calling me to ask what was up.

My Dad did not do this for all the kids because frankly they did not go out work and get an education etc. we were all brought up with the same values but we did not all turn out the same and it was not because any of us were their favorites you just take different paths in life.

As an adult now I am glad they did what they did and I can now help them out as they are pushing 90 and needing a little extra help with medical issues and well just plain being old. The still live in their own home and get around pretty good but some thing are hard for them like yard work and snow removal so we have a guy that helps them so they can stay independent.

I truly believe that what you learn when you are young helps you be a better adult.

When all entry level jobs pay a "living wage", prices will go up on everything and that living wage will no longer be enough imo.

Plus, I feel like it's part of what made this country great in the first place... to not be satisfied with the bottom rung of the ladder... to strive for a better life through hard work and education. The more people advance in life, the better standard of living we all will have. If a kid out of high school can make enough flipping burgers to get by, the need to better himself becomes less and less urgent.

No one needs to look any further than the Occupy movement to see that too many people today believe that the Gubment owes them an education, a "living wage" job, and anything else they'd rather not work for. There are fewer and fewer people left that truly believe that they are responsible for their own mistakes, well being, and should hold themselves accountable, let alone solve their own problems. If you want the Gubment to solve your problems then get ready to settle for a Socialist solution that solves nothing and dilutes everyone's quality of life.

At $7.50 an hour, you can afford to hire and train more people. For $15 an hour, you are going to only want to hire experienced workers and you will attract a higher class of applicants. Those people striking might find out that if they win, they will actually lose.