LogFAQs > #947450673

Given how wildly cost of living varies across the country, a flat federal minimum wage doesn't make much sense to me. Rather, minimum wage for a given job should scale based on local cost of living. The suite of criteria for determining that can be defined federally (i.e. 40 hours/week should be able to afford 1/3 of a 3-bedroom apartment within a half-hour walk of the workplace in question plus utilities and food), but defining a single number for the whole country is silly.

That said, $7.25/hour isn't enough to live off of in most of the country, so if they are going to stick with a flat number, it should be increased.

BADoglick posted...

The majority of those making less than fifteen an hour depend on public assistance. Welfare, food stamps etc. Essentially corporations are passing the responsibility of compensating their employees onto the taxpayer, and half this country (ironically the ones who bemoan public assistance) are the ones arguing against raising minimum wage

Pretty much. The government is effectively subsidizing any corporation that pays its employees a sub-living wage by picking up their slack, which is just absurd.

Krow_Incarnate posted...

Cost of living needs to come down.

Also this. The fact that cost of living is inflating faster than wages is the primary reason wealth inequality is becoming such a problem (to say nothing of the fact that inflating real estate values are a major source of income for those who had the capital to invest in it).

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