Gas is down

[tigger398]

Here in Jan. min wage is gonna go go up to I think $10.00 an hour.

 

Is this a good thing.

[Guest shiloh357]

 

Here in Jan. min wage is gonna go go up to I think $10.00 an hour.

 

Is this a good thing.

 

Not really. When employers are forced to pay more, they have to take that money from some place else.    Keep in mind that this money doesn't just fall out of thin air.  Since the employer is having to pay more even if they don't have a budget that can absorb the higher cost, they have to offset the higher wages, by decreasing the number of hours the employes can work, and in some cases, they have to let some employees go.  I will also likely no longer pay into the employee's health insurance plan and the employee is on their own when it comes to paying for health insurance.

 

There are many businesses owners who are beholden to share holders who demand a certain profit margin.  That margin has to be maintained.  So if I have to pay more, then I will cut your hours, or fire you, and I will eliminate some goods and services and  raise my prices for other goods and services, and pass that higher cost on to the consumer in order to keep that bottom line in the black to keep my bosses happy.

 

Those who push for higher min. wages don't understand the matrix of economics very well.  Employees are the single biggest expense and so that is where the biggest cuts will come from if the min wage goes up significantly.

 

Forcing min wage hikes is just a bad idea.  Businesses need to be allowed to give raises based on merit and based on affordability.  You get better employees who will work harder and will be more loyal  to you.

[Keith]

 

Here in Jan. min wage is gonna go go up to I think $10.00 an hour.

 

Is this a good thing.

 

Actually, I think it is.  In principle, integrity, conscience and biblical authority, it's without a doubt a very good thing.  The scriptures are plum full of warnings to employers to treat, and pay, their employees fairly or they'll answer for it.  Even at $10/hr, how is anyone supposed to live off of that?  I have a friend, who is a single mom, who works two jobs and is STILL on food stamps.  That's all kinds of wrong.

 

The only way it's not a good thing is because of how companies will react to it.  To keep their own pay (and bonuses for some) up there, and to keep the investors happy, it will all get taken out of Joe and Jill Taxpayer trying to get by.  Benefits will decrease for employees and insurance payments will increase. 

 

Proverbs 22:16, "Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty."

 

These two actions reflect the selfish attitude of withholding from the poor in order to keep what you have.  These are unacceptable to God. 

 

Sadly, it will hurt mom-n-pop businesses the most who are just trying to get by most of the time, too.  But, when you examine the reasons for this, there are two main ones. 

 

1.  Big companies have always done everything possible to undermine and destroy small businesses.  Again, this falls into the Proverbs 22:16 category.

2.  Bad choices of businesses to start in the first place.  Those that are viable in the community would not only survive, but thrive, if it weren't for the Walmarts, Targets, Barnes & Nobles, and now, places like Amazon. 

 

At the end of the day, it's the poor that pays the price.

Edited December 27, 2014 by Almost Home

[Fez]

Russia supports Syria. Russia is in a depression because of falling oil prices (helped a little by sanctions), Syria is an enemy of Saudi Arabia.

 

The lower the prices the Saudi's can keep oil while they can afford to, the more it hurts Russia, and the more Syria suffers ( and is not so much of a threat to Saudi Arabia).

[missmuffet]

 

 

 

I notice that gas is down. Is that a good thing. Do you think our economy will boost back up to normal again.

Nope. 

 

 

Really.    Did our debt go up or down. The new said that it's getting better and there is more jobs now then was before.

 

Well the whole story on that is that the jobs numbers went up over the holiday season.  The jobs people are getting are part time jobs, temporary jobs and minimum wage jobs.   Not really anything that is going to boost the economy.   Lots of jobs will be lost this weekend after the Christmas shopping season is over and people are done making gift returns.

 

People are getting jobs, but they are not getting the jobs they lost.   People who used to have six figure incomes are now working minimum wage jobs at Walmart.

 

Yep.....

[other one]

Russia supports Syria. Russia is in a depression because of falling oil prices (helped a little by sanctions), Syria is an enemy of Saudi Arabia.

 

The lower the prices the Saudi's can keep oil while they can afford to, the more it hurts Russia, and the more Syria suffers ( and is not so much of a threat to Saudi Arabia).

Relatives tell me that if it goes much below $70 most of the smaller companies will stop drilling.   Two of my cousins tell me the people they work for will just shut the doors sell their rigs if they can and change careers.

[Guest shiloh357]

 

 

Here in Jan. min wage is gonna go go up to I think $10.00 an hour.

 

Is this a good thing.

 

Actually, I think it is.  In principle, integrity, conscience and biblical authority, it's without a doubt a very good thing.  The scriptures are plum full of warnings to employers to treat, and pay, their employees fairly or they'll answer for it.  Even at $10/hr, how is anyone supposed to live off of that?  I have a friend, who is a single mom, who works two jobs and is STILL on food stamps.  That's all kinds of wrong.

 

 

 

No, that is not true.  The Scriptures speak to masters of slaves to treat their slaves fairly.   Employees are not slaves.   Employees come to the employer and agree to work for the wage the employer offers, therefore, minimum wage is not unfair.   If a person can't live on a particular wage, they need to apply for job that is paying what they can live on.  Or they need to go back to school and get an education that will open more doors for them to get better jobs.  I know single moms who have been able to do exactly that.

 

The only way it's not a good thing is because of how companies will react to it.  To keep their own pay (and bonuses for some) up there, and to keep the investors happy, it will all get taken out of Joe and Jill Taxpayer trying to get by.  Benefits will decrease for employees and insurance payments will increase. 

 

Proverbs 22:16, "Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty."

 

These two actions reflect the selfish attitude of withholding from the poor in order to keep what you have.  These are unacceptable to God. 

 

Business is business.  People are not in business to be charities or to engage in social experiments.  Business is about profit.  That's why people start businesses.   There is nothing ungodly about being rich or profting from one's business.  Again, those who work there do so voluntarily.  If they don't like it there, they can go work somewhere else.

 

Sadly, it will hurt mom-n-pop businesses the most who are just trying to get by most of the time, too.  But, when you examine the reasons for this, there are two main ones. 

 

1.  Big companies have always done everything possible to undermine and destroy small businesses.  Again, this falls into the Proverbs 22:16 category.

2.  Bad choices of businesses to start in the first place.  Those that are viable in the community would not only survive, but thrive, if it weren't for the Walmarts, Targets, Barnes & Nobles, and now, places like Amazon. 

 

Actually it is the Walmarts and Targets and B & N's that pay minimum wage.   Businesses that can't adapt will suffer, but that is the nature of the free market.  The market decides who will or will not be successful.

 

 

At the end of the day, it's the poor that pays the price.

 

Actually the poor in this country are often poor by their own self-destructive choices.  I know a lot of people who are poor because they can't manage their money.   It wouldn't make a difference how much money someone makes;  it's what they do with it that often makes them poor.   Again, here in the US there are all kinds of avenues for people to go down that will result in a better standard of living.

[other one]

 

Here in Jan. min wage is gonna go go up to I think $10.00 an hour.

 

Is this a good thing.

 

There are a lot of negative things that happen short term when that happens....     after things stabilize prices usually compensate for the rise and prices go up along with it so it mostly evens out in the wash.   People make a little more and pay a little more and the government gets a little more tax from the higher wages and prices.   People in the lower end of the wage market end up paying a bit more tax for the same things and in the end loose a bit of earning power.

[LadyKay]

I notice that gas is down. Is that a good thing. Do you think our economy will boost back up to normal again.

My life will never be normal again.

[Keith]

@shiloh357 - I can only agree to disagree then, brother, since this is a non-salvation issue.  My thoughts on the subject come from the scriptures about fair wages, not oppressing the poor, "hired workers," "laborers" and through general godly principles of living according to the scriptures.   It's the non-believing world's ways of doing business that I don't agree with.  The big corporations mentioned are paying minimum wage, yes.  That's why I blamed them.  They pay minimum wage, even only hiring part-time people so they don't have to pay benefits, while the suits rake in millions plus bonuses.  I don't care if that's the way of the free market or not.  It doesn't make it right.  It's wrong.  Period. 

 

While I agree that if a person isn't happy with their wages, especially if they agreed to them before being hired, they shouldn't complain and have the option of looking for a new job.  I'm also considering those who don't have the opportunities to get better jobs.  Not everyone has access to higher education.  There are many circumstances that can prevent folks from getting better jobs like illness, disability, age, education.  The free market may operate one way, but my viewpoint, as a Christian, must be scripture-centered, and not conformed to the ways of the world.

Edited December 28, 2014 by Almost Home