Robert Reich On Why Raising The Minimum Wage Is One Of The Smartest Things We Can Do

[Playinghardball]

2 minutes and 25 seconds from now, you will have new knowledge about why it should happen immediately.

A MoveOn original.

[midnight]

1. The quickest way to raise the minimum wage to keep up with inflation is to tie it to congressional

salaries rates of no more than twice the amount of minimum wage...

[tclambert]

2. Congress members currently make about 11 times what a full-time minimum wage worker makes.

$165,200 versus $15,080. Of course, that calculation included no days off for the minimum wage worker, whereas Congresspersons get quite a few "recesses."

I think you might have the germ of a good idea there, though, linking the minimum wage to something else like Congressional wages. I'd kinda like to link it to CEO compensation. Say, CEOs cannot make more than 100 times minimum wage. Right now, CEOs make about 1000 times minimum wage. (Those poor, tired CEOs must work really long hours.)

[midnight]

3. Minimum wage initiative on ballot to say congress can't make more than double minimum wage..

If that initiative passed it would probably mean at least 16.50 an hour as it should be to keep up with inflation.. and with all the perks.... they don't need more.... and if they do.. they need to go work in the private sector....