[pkr2k5]

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Raised to at least $10. It's hard to live off of less than that, it's nearly impossible with children. With the vast majority of the world's wealth being controlled by the vast minority of the population, there is a lot of room for give before a small raise in minimum wage would have any measured effect on employment.

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I'm surprised it took this long to hear from the special ed class. I expect weatherman and the other idiots from the politics forum to jump on this thread any second.

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are you disputing the fact that the minimum wage in many states (and even more countries) is not enough money for someone to provide for themselves or their families?

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1 - Yes. I dispute this. You can live off minimum wage. You simply will not be able to live off minimum wage in the manner that you would like. If you're working a minimum wage job, then you don't deserve more because you haven't bothered to acquire any real skills and/or are not intelligent or ambitious enough to do so. If you want better for yourself and your family then prove it. Go earn it.

2 - If the only job you can get is a minimum wage job and you've started a family expecting to support them on that then you're an absolute moron.

3 - As a business owner it is not my responsibility to support your family. That is your responsibility. My responsibility is to earn a profit. You work and I pay you for that work. If you don't like what I pay you, then go someplace else. I don't lie to you. I don't cheat you. I pay you what I say I will, and you either decide to work or not. If I want loyalty from you, then I'll probably have to pay you more than the rock bottom wage that you'd be willing to work for. If there are 100 other people lined up to do your job, then I don't care if you're loyal or not.

4 - The minimum wage is immoral. If I own a business I should be able to pay people whatever I want to. If no one is willing to work for that then I'll have to raise my pay scale or go out of business, but to have the government effectively steal money out of my pocket and give it to my employees is immoral and is basically nothing more than theft. It's no different than someone robbing a convenience store because he's hungry. Just because the government has decided it's legal, doesn't change the fact that it's theft and it's immoral.

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There have been plenty of studies that demonstrate that many individuals cannot support themselves on minimum wages. I'm talking about rent, transportation, proper nutrition, etc. They obviously do not factor in money for entertainment.

I agree with your 2nd point. Unfortunately this does not change the fact that it happens.