[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Locke

Do you even understand what you're arguing for? You're saying that everyone should be able to live at a comfortable standard without earning it. That if you just 'put in the time' thats enough.

Do you still proudly revere that trophy you got from the Bowling Alley on your 11th birthday? Is it still on the mantle next to a loved ones' ashes?

A standard 'Living Wage' is like being given a car, an apartment and spending money because you managed to keep breathing this month but were out of your Government Allocated apartment for a minimum of 8 hours per day doing...whatever...as long as you were gone.

The whole going into work and providing a service that is in demand isn't earning it? Under the current minimum wage with the way EI is paid, if you are laid off from your "good" job, you are actually given incentive to not go work a minimum wage job if one is available because you collect more sitting at home.

For the record, I agree with Resolute. I think minimum wage jobs should suck, they should pay the minimum, they should be opportunities to earn some money and transition yourself to something better. You should hate them. Because if you like them and 'this is fine' then I think thats a terrible message to be sending to anyone.

And overly compensating them reinforces the idea that 'this is fine.'

I think a country like ours should want to encourage its people to aspire to more than flipping burgers or mowing lawns.

Some people don't have other options and who really gets to judge which jobs make what? I agree with your point about being given opportunities to earn and transition to something better, but under the current structure it is beind made more and more challenging. Sure the government could create some programs, but why cant businesses do their share as well? They are the ones currently profiting off that worker.

If you love flipping burgers or mowing lawns then great! Own your own restaurant or own your own lawn-care business, dont just get paid enough by Government decree and call that 'good enough.'

Granted, the Government will tax you to death at the moment, but at least you can try!

Again it is very challenging to do this when you are living in poverty, banks don't just hand you cheques to go out and start your own business when you're currently earning $11/hour working 28 hour a week. And I'm not sure why the taxes would be a concern, we are all paying extra now as is.

And before you spout off about immigrants and the disadvantaged go through this thread and read my posts, I have unequivocally stated that we need to help these people. Immigrants and disadvantaged people are among the hardest working people I have ever met and I know and serve a good chunk of them.

But they're a small demographic that I have advocated strongly for helping specifically through targeted Social programs rather than my usual joke of:

Raising minimum wage is a hilariously Capitalist solution to an inherently Socialist problem. "Throw Someone Else's Money at it."

So why dont we do it? Because figuring out social programs that actually solve the problem that you say you care about is hard and spending other people's money is easy and generates Social Licenses and Political Capital. Things that really help...immigrants and the disadvantaged?

So you get the credit for caring about a problem and 'solving' it without ever having to actually do any work.

Sounds about right.

You are advocating to help these people but you don't want to see a raise to minimum wage? They are a small demographic? Seriously? I know you to be a knowlegable individual but claiming immigrants are a small demographic period, let alone as it relates to minimum wage is frankly one of the most inaccurate claims a person could make. Again with the social programs, you have a problem with a carbon tax yet have no issue with a let's pay people so their employer doesn't have to tax? Is that a fair assessment of what your view is? Because that is what I'm reading.