What are your thoughts on the "Fight for $15?"

If your raise the minimum wage the cost will be passed on the consumer. A lot of people will lose their jobs and the one's left will now work harder for the minimum. If prices go up unless everyone else gets a comparable wage they will be punished by this action. The rich wont feel it as much, but the middle class will be squeezed. This will punish the middle class more than they realize.

I honestly think that Burger McFlips-a-Lot protester doesn't understand basic economics. They believe that prices will remain the same, but they will have more money. It doesn't work that way. I like to point out that if a farmer now has to pay his employees $15 an hour to pick tomatoes, the cost of tomatoes will go up. If tomatoes go up, ketchup will go up. If ketchup goes up, burgers go up. Their $15 is now worthless. I also enjoy the argument that countries like Denmark pay more than $15. I quickly point out that a dozen eggs cost over $20 and a pair of jean is about $600. Lack of money normally isn't the problem with people living paycheck to paycheck. Over spending is the problem. No one ever got rich by spending like they're rich.

I educated my kids and told them when they move out, do not expect to live as comfortable as they do now. Plan on Ramen and PB&J not steak and shrimp. I spent 22 years to get where we are now.

Too much money for folks who can't count back change. Those jobs are entry level and were never designed to support your family on. Work there and expect MINIMUM wage for a minimum job. All it will do is drive the cost of fast food through the roof. Owners will have to pass the increase on to YOU, and you won't be able to feed a family of 4 for $20. Tirade over! LOL

Most industrialize nation has a higher minimum wage than the U.S. Countries such as Denmark, Germany, France, and Australia. Yet their country is thriving, how can that be possible? According to the Big Mac index, it give a good idea of the purchasing power of those country which is on par with the U.S. except their people have more money to spend. Perhaps the CEO needs to stop making more money than all of his minimum wages workers combine.

I think employers will cut back their hours

Absolutely not! Minimum wage laws were put in place to prevent employers from taking advantage of workers, especially the younger workers, and essentially paying them slave wages. It was also meant to prevent child labor.

Minimum wage jobs were not meant to be a permanent job, they were for those just starting in the work force.

If a worker at Wendy's wants to make more money then they should take that up with their company and not petition the government to increase the minimum wage. Not only will this have a devastating affect on cost of goods sold and the economy, it sets a bad precedence. What happens in a year or two when workers decide they want a raise and there employer doesn't give it to them, no problem! fill the media with sob stories, get the politicians on their side and bam...twenty dollars an hour.

If they want to complain about the cost of living, then ask someone on social security, or disability how much their cost of living increase, if they get one, is.

Minimum wage should be incentive to further one's education, or to seek better paying jobs. I have worked in the maintenance and mechanics field most of my adult life, after getting out of the Marines. The most I made was thirteen dollars an hour, and I was able to live pretty good. I received formal training in certain fields.

Now, the government wants to make unskilled labor fifteen dollars an hour. Not just no, but Hell no!!!

I am not against raising minimum wage, but what I am against is raising it 100+ percent over the federal 7.25 set in 2009, I can see 10 dollars a hour that reasonable, but to double it to 15.00 and hour is simple ridiculous, If you want that kind of money get some training and stop working at mcdonalds and walmart. In addition to that raising it to 15 and hour is going to crush small business, I feel this is going to do a lot more harm then good.

I don't know if $15 is the Magic Number but it most definitely needs to be raised to keep pace. Having worked both sides of the Railroad Tracks I have a much better understanding of the Debate. You are all Great and well trained individuals and deserve to be paid well as was I. Retired went to work for a Major Telecommunications Company but then the Tech Bubble burst and guess who they dump early on in the thinning process, You got it anyone over 40. If your over 40 and a Tech they don't want you. What Industry will always love Military Training but they are part of the "Service" Industry, Private Security. Which pays half of what a Senior Network Operations Specialist is worth. So you are damn right skippy I think it is High Time we started paying those in the "Service" Industry More and to say otherwise you may be spitting on a lot of Older Veterans.

By what right does the government impose a minimum wage requirement on any privately held business? Answer that question first. Sure, there is a legal precedent. "They did it before and they can do it again." But, does that make it right.

The whole premise to a minimum wage law is flawed. It violates the Fifth Amendment by forcing us to make a contract against our will.

Minimum wages are counter productive. Just read many of the comments already made. I don't have to pile on with more examples of the inflationary pressures created by minimum wage laws.

Finally, (for sake of time - I could go on and on), it is another case of legislation based on "good intentions" - Remember, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions"

I will approach this from a company owner perspective. It would make absolutely no sense to me to hire a basic, general, position &amp; pay $15/hr nor could I afford to do so. If the basic minimum wage is set at $15/hr then in little time every single consumable will rocket up in price to attempt to balance the cost of labor. Minimum wage is meant to be a starting point for meager skill tasks. It was never meant to be a wage that would support a family for an extended period of time.<br>Starting points are only meant to be just that - you do not stay at that level for very long because you work and progress beyond it. How fast or slow is totally dependent upon yourself and no one else. There is no rationale or logical fact that supports raising the minimum wage beyond where it stands presently. If someone finds themselves earning minimum wage, they need to improve themselves, their knowledge base and their performance to rise above that minimum level. In a nut shell it boils down to personal responsibility - no more, no less.<br>Taking a devils-advocate approach, are there situations where companies 'take advantage' of minimum wage laws and drag their feet on advancing employee wages *YES* I would certainly hope these companies are few and far between in the civilian sector.<br>I also apologize for being late to this party .....<br>