I think the minimum wage should be set at the minimum a person is willing to work for. Artificially inflating this figure helps no one.

quote Originally posted by ls3mach: I think the minimum wage should be set at the minimum a person is willing to work for. Artificially inflating this figure helps no one.

I concur, up to the individual person.

I would love to hear other peoples thoughts or rebuttals.

Nope...in a truly "free" market, maybe--but in the global world we live in there are WAY too many companies with the mentality of low-bidder and "If you wont work for 1-cent an hour, the Jack.A.Wad in Timbuktoo will"--they want to keep the market share, but forget that unless staff earn enough to buy the product they wont be around long.

Henry Ford understood.

In fact, I am in favor of regional minimum wages rather than provincial/ federal. THAT would straighten out the economy pretty quickly.

Using Ontario as an example, Toronto is the highest cost of living (or Ottawa). Where I am (London) COL is about 65-75% and further west (Windsor area) is 50-60%...YET, the minimum wage is the same in all 3 areas. (I wont get into "up nort" since that involves long-distance transportation and is an entirely different economy/logistic/dynamic). I'll just stick to the close-to-the-border corridor.

Regionalize the minimum wage, and companies will migrate to the areas with the lower wage bringing jobs with them (and population). THAT takes the pressure off of high-density areas (Toronto) bringing prices down there, while bringing increased employment to the lower-density areas...Which in turn results in decreased demand on social services (and savings) all around.

YUP !...MeM's oversimplified social-engineering at its finest but to me it makes a whole lot more sense than blowing billions on a guaranteed minimum income. (Which is where we are headed)

Here is the concept in action. When I worked at Toronto Airport (Living in T.O.) in the late 90's/ early 2000's, I would get my groceries in Hamilton when I went to visit Dad, and saved about $50 a week doing that due to regional pricing..so why not incorporate reginal wages as well. Retailers already know regional pricing works.

[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 05-11-2018).]

quote Originally posted by MidEngineManiac: Nope...in a truly "free" market, maybe--but in the global world we live in there are WAY too many companies with the mentality of low-bidder and "If you wont work for 1-cent an hour, the Jack.A.Wad in Timbuktoo will"--they want to keep the market share, but forget that unless staff earn enough to buy the product they wont be around long. Henry Ford understood. In fact, I am in favor of regional minimum wages rather than provincial/ federal. THAT would straighten out the economy pretty quickly. Using Ontario as an example, Toronto is the highest cost of living (or Ottawa). Where I am (London) COL is about 65-75% and further west (Windsor area) is 50-60%...YET, the minimum wage is the same in all 3 areas. (I wont get into "up nort" since that involves long-distance transportation and is an entirely different economy/logistic/dynamic). I'll just stick to the close-to-the-border corridor. Regionalize the minimum wage, and companies will migrate to the areas with the lower wage bringing jobs with them (and population). THAT takes the pressure off of high-density areas (Toronto) bringing prices down there, while bringing increased employment to the lower-density areas...Which in turn results in decreased demand on social services (and savings) all around. YUP !...MeM's oversimplified social-engineering at its finest but to me it makes a whole lot more sense than blowing billions on a guaranteed minimum income. (Which is where we are headed) Here is the concept in action. When I worked at Toronto Airport (Living in T.O.) in the late 90's/ early 2000's, I would get my groceries in Hamilton when I went to visit Dad, and saved about $50 a week doing that due to regional pricing..so why not incorporate reginal wages as well. Retailers already know regional pricing works. Click to show

Just with whom are we speaking to, and WTF did you do with our MEM?!

At worst I think it creates more joblessness, increases capacity for more handouts and in turn less individual responsibility and less individual freedom.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH40knsxyNY


If you look up the full unedited video, they still have no decent replies or ideas for what Ben says.

What is sad is at 2:44, his exaggeration, is actually being pushed for in real places.

[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 05-11-2018).]

quote Originally posted by 2.5: Also don't you think discrimination by postal code (or whatever Canada uses) would be an issue in liberal land?

Meh...why not. They do it to us when it works in THEIR favor (sending social-program money to poorer postal codes), so frack 'em if they don't like it when the same concept is used against them.

Speaking of evils, the ones that REALLY drive me insane are "charities"...they demand free labor (volunteers), free product (donations)....yet just WATCH upper management and the board rake in the 6-figure salaries.

THEY are exactly why minimum wages are needed. The entire planet would be running on that model if they had their way. IMHO they need to be outlawed (or conversely, pay for management/ executive outlawed--they can "volunteer" too). We went a long way towards that here by banning unpaid internships a while ago.

One of the worst industries for it is aviation, especially at the lower end. Your flight hours logged are considered part of the pay package.

[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 05-11-2018).]

quote Originally posted by MidEngineManiac: Speaking of evils, the ones that REALLY drive me insane are "charities"...they demand free labor (volunteers), free product (donations)....yet just WATCH upper management and the board rake in the 6-figure salaries. THEY are exactly why minimum wages are needed. The entire planet would be running on that model if they had their way. IMHO they need to be outlawed (or conversely, pay for management/ executive outlawed--they can "volunteer" too). We went a long way towards that here by banning unpaid internships a while ago.

I don't understand your argument. If they didn't get the volunteers they wouldn't survive, they don't make people volunteer.