I have a new proposal about wages

[Indiana_Dem]

Maybe a bill could be made that says something like this:

set the minimum wage at let's say $10/hr. But: also set percentages above the minimum wage pertaining to each occupation as a cap for that profession. Then, if they raise the minimum wage, then the other wages could not be raised any higher than the determined percentage from the base minimum wage. Also include outsourced workers and temporary foreign workers in that wage.

It's probably a bad idea with glitches I can't see but it's the only thing I can think of to solve this issue.

I think everytime the minimum wage is raised then everyone else's wage goes up and so do all products. I think just raising the minimum wage itself isn't effective. We could raise the minimum wage forever and not catch up to the growing gap of pay.

Does this sound like too much control??

I think Kucinich would support something like this. It's progressive.

[cthrumatrix]

1. this should be a campaign election issue...my gut is the repugs are just

as mad...repug/dems both need good paying jobs

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

22. Kucinich would never, ever, accept wage caps

Never. Of course Democrats support a basic living wage, and I'm glad that Gephardt has proposed an international living wage.

Minimum wages don't cause general price increases anyway, so I don't see what your point is?

[Cleita]

2. What and take the freedom out of the marketplace?

After all you should be able to negotiate your own salary and raises.
<sarcasm>

[Deja Q]

3. No, it is not too much control!

While there is nothing wrong with going for profit, any society that neglects or exploits its own isn't worth surviving.

Period.

[NoMoreRedInk]

4. What would be the wage for successful entrepreneur?

or, more specifically, unsuccessful entrepreneur?

[Cleita]

5. The same that it's always been, zero.

If you can't pay your help and yourself, maybe you need to go back to the drawing board.

[Indiana_Dem]

13. Well, there would have to be studies & research

on occupations such as an entrepeneur or maybe his profession can be an exception or based on previous yearly sales or something like that--there has to be a way. Think!:pals:

[mopinko]

6. adding this plank to the platform of the grown-up party.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=82164&mesg_id=82164

i think the race to the bottom on wages, in order to pump up profits is the stupidest policy on the planet. thank st ronnie.

[Indiana_Dem]

7. i don't understand what you're saying n/t

[Indiana_Dem]

11. Oh okay I gotcha--I read the thread all they way through n/t

[Buffler]

8. Wage caps?

No thanks.

[David_REE]

9. Wage caps = Bush takes 70% of the vote and 50 states.

[Indiana_Dem]

10. I don't think everybody is understanding what I'm trying

to solve. Don't many of you agree the minimum wage just in turn raises everyone else's wages and prices of products to pay the higher wages? What is the solution?
They pay illegal immigrants and outsourced workers lower wages but they don't lower the prices either. If there was a percentaged cap of a wage for a CEO, maybe we wouldn't see prices go up.

Someone told me that a Doctor in Australia can only make so much. After he makes his wage for the year, he is basically done working the rest of the year--he has a vacation I guess. He can't make anymore. At least that's what one of my co-workers told me. I probably don't know all the facts about this....

[David_REE]

12. Umm....

They don't lower the prices? Can you say Wal Mart?

Yes, raising the min wage would raise prices. Wouldn't raise other wages--perhaps lower them.

Would also increase unemployment-- the two have been proven to be closely tied.

But the real controversy here is wage caps: America would react against that like you can't imagine.

[Indiana_Dem]

16. That's what I'm saying

If the minimum wage is raised per the government then equally the other professions employers have the option to equal the proportion to the minimum wage percentage set by the government, thus other professions' wage caps are raised in proportion to the minumum wage if an employer so chooses to.

Do you have any other ideas you could share?

I admit I'm not a whiz at economics. I'm just trying to think of a way to solve the outsourcing and replacement of U.S. jobs with foreign workers.

[Yupster]

23. I must be thick, but I'm

having trouble fllowing what you're trying to do?

Is the idea to limit the amount one worker can make more than another worker? Someone help? Is that the idea?

[Silverhair]

20. And there is the problem. Look closely at what you said.

Let's say I reach my income cap in September. So after that I am not making anything for my work. So why work? But if I take off the rest of the year, that is the same as being unemployed. I AM NOT PRODUCING - I AM NOW A NET CONSUMER. At any time that a person becomes a net consumer, the economy suffers. You want people to continue to work and be productive.

And that is just one of the many things that are wrong with that.

[alwynsw]

14. Nixon tried wage and price caps similar to that

and it was a miserable failure.

He did not do this: set the minimum wage at let's say $10/hr. But: also set percentages above the minimum wage pertaining to each occupation as a cap for that profession. Then, if they raise the minimum wage, then the other wages could not be raised any higher than the determined percentage from the base minimum wage. but I can't see that it would work in any case. Capitalism just doesn't work that way. Communism as experimented with (and failed) in the USSR and China cap all wages in ways similar to this. Not a good plan IMO.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

15. wage caps? I don't think so

We certainly need an international living wage, simply a minimum floor for human beings around the world - obviously it will be priced in the local currency at the local rate. We'll probably have to phase it in.

There's no need for anything crazy like wage caps. Inflation has little to do with it.

[Indiana_Dem]

17. I guess it does sound a little communistic but

I can't think of what else to do.

Maybe if at least the foreign workers would be required to make at least the minimum wage it would help. But IT outsourced workers make above minimum wage yet they are paid lower than an American IT worker. How can you combat this?

[Silverhair]

18. A little communistic? Try a lot communistic.

You are opposing a basic freedom. I would personally take up arms to overthrow a gov't that tried to do that. Might I recommend that you study at least a basic course in economics. I can reccomend a good basic book if you like.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

21. it's not communistic at all, it's Nixon style capitalism

This is basically what Nixon did - are you saying Nixon was a Communist? Isn't that what the John Birch society says?

[Muddleoftheroad]

24. Bad strategy

Sure, let's do what Nixon did.

THAT'S NOT why I'm a Democrat.

[Silverhair]

27. LOL. Love the response. n/t

[Silverhair]

26. It was stupid of Nixon when he tried it. n/t

[Cleita]

19. My little bit of wisdom.

We need to empower the labor unions again. They are the ones who do the bartering for the worker. The government really has a problem setting wages other than a fair minimum wage, but the unions can take it to the level it needs to go. I favor closed shops again. Some regulation is needed because we know the unions can be as abusive as any corporation if they aren't regulated, but this is what we need.

[Buffler]

25. I disagree

I favor closed shops again.

Why should I be forced to join a union to obtain a job? My skills and ability are mine to trade for wages with an employer. I should not be forced to join a union to obtain employment.