What is the position of the other 8 on Gep's Global Minimum Wage idea?

[papau]

Gephardt's Revolution Begins With a Global Minimum Wage

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-outlook12jan12,1,2949307.column?coll=la-headlines-politics

<snip>...The idea is simple. Gephardt says that as a condition of membership in the World Trade Organization, every nation should be required to adopt a minimum wage. The level would vary from country to country, depending on productivity and the level of development. But everywhere, he says, workers should be guaranteed a wage high enough "to allow someone to live like a human being."

The International Labor Organization estimates that at least 85 countries have a minimum wage on the books. But in many places, it is honored more in the breach. Gephardt, who has always valued the practical over the prophetic, is preaching a revolution: the idea that any country seeking to participate in the global economy should be required to pursue a decent level of existence for its workers.<snip>

A better alternative, Sachs argues, would be to increase foreign aid to improve health and education — thus generating the productivity that could eventually justify higher wages — while reducing tariffs and quotas that inhibit poor countries from selling agricultural or light manufacturing products like textiles to the U.S.

But Gephardt, correctly, doesn't see such an agenda as incompatible with his own. As president, he says, "I would go to the WTO meeting myself" and present developing countries a grand bargain: more foreign aid and lower tariffs in return for a commitment to lift wages. "You've got to cut a deal," he says, the diplomat as legislator.<snip>

[quispquake]

1. This is one of Gep's best ideas...

There will be no stop to the flow of jobs overseas until we get Fair Trade, not just Free Trade...

I hope other candidates pick up on it...

[papau]

2. I agree - I just have not heard the others jump on it - YET!!! :-)

But I hope they will!

:-)

[aquart]

3. Lovely. It IS what the world needs. Well, what WE need.

Enforcement is what? Impossible?

[mopinko]

4. tax sweat

i totally, totally agree with this proposal. especially the part about going himself. but as i recall, clinton tried to get this through in nafta, and got clobbered in congress. labor and environmental standards were relegated to side agreements.
but what i have thought for a long time was just that tariffs should be set according to the wages and working conditions in a country. if you tax sweat, it is no longer an economic advantage.
i have "tax sweat" in my 'buttons in progress' file, but i figure no one would get it. there is a fine line between a button that starts a conversation and a button that nobody gets.

[LimpingLib]

5. Lots of insincere politicians (almost always Democrats) ..

... have really muddied the waters and cheapened the meaning and value of the vital proposal called the minninum wage.

By constantly proposing ever weaker minnum wage legislation ( far far worse than the proverbial day late and a $ short saying)the issue has been relegated to near irrevelance in our nation. Democrats are the insincere ones here (except Gephardt whos admits its "just an example to set for the rest of the world" and the $6.65 proposals for our nation are joke)as any proposal they have made this century has always been at the current McDonalds/Burger King hiring average of $6.50-$7 an hour and thus would have no effect.

Now we have cryed wolf so many times (Gephardt is as guilty as anybody in times past)over a none issue (and lets face it it IS a none issue if the proposal is such a low $$ amount ) that no American even realized how vital a strong minninum wage protection to workers is to our nation and the world even more. Whats even worse is the bad example it has set for other Democratic politicians. Lets face it , they are almost all out of touch (not as bad as GOP but close)and if they dont have other leaders in their party (moderate or progressive)educating them on the issue then they wont be aware of its importance.

Howard Dean has shown the greatest ability so far to listen and learn (albeit its a long slow process lol). Contrary to my concern that he will move right once he wins the primarys he has so far proven that he is listening to progressive voices in our party (as evidenced by his media reform plans , right out of the John Podesta manifesto lol)and he even seems to be getting somewhat in touch with average and poor Americans though still Gephardt is ahead of the curve (and Kuccinich and Sharpton of coarse). Dean has already said 6 months ago that workers rights as well as basic human rights should be vital to being a trading partner , in stark contrast to the old Howard Dean (who was severly out of touch in times past).

Anyway I used to be a Gephardt suporter (after it became apparant Liebermann wasnt a threat , when Liebermann looked strong in the early days I leaned towards Dean) but now I realize that Clark might be strong if Dean looses Iowa. Clark is a severe downgrade from Dean and Dean isnt even great to begin with. Lets progress as Democrats. Dean isnt bad at all (well....lol much better than Clark). I hate to ditch Gephardt but Dean has improved enough that he is nearly as good on workers issues in many ways.