General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPlease, help me to figure this out.
If 70% of the GDP is composed of consumer spending, any increase in wages for the bottom 90% will lead to increased GDP, higher revenues for government, lower debt and deficits, and better long term outcomes for business.
And even what is not spent directly on goods and services could go to reducing indebtedness, and increased savings for short and long term purchases. All positive things.
And it is true that higher wages will mean that a prototypical greedy sociopathic capitalist, call him Beff Jezos, does not get as rich as fast, but this is a good thing because there are not enough greedy sociopaths to stimulate the economy.
What I need help with is not the economic benefits of an increased wage, and call it a living wage, but with understanding why so many workers keep siding with the 1% who are attacking the rest of us?
patricia92243
(12,807 posts)guillaumeb
(42,649 posts)SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)Back in the McCain v Obama race?
He was working class (and if I recall not really a plumber)and voted against his own economic interests.
At the time someone said republican voters are in two categories: the rich and the soon to be rich.
They have bamboozled these poor schmucks into thinking they will soon be millionaires and therefore want low taxes for when they become rich soon.
guillaumeb
(42,649 posts)And the GOP also has the racist vote.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,951 posts)But mostly it's because their brains are susceptible to brainwashing by the right wing media that tells them to hate all things Democratic.
guillaumeb
(42,649 posts)And the prosperity Gospel brainwashes many into seeing wealth as a sign of divine favor.
Hugh_Lebowski
(33,643 posts)Which is pretty good money in a lot of fields.
And suddenly the zit-faced 16 y.o. working the register at McDonalds is going to be making $15, without having to pay any dues. Almost as much as you!
And you figure that means your lunches at McDonalds are gonna double in price or close to it. And you have no reason to think you're gonna get paid any more than you are just cause he's making more.
Does that help at all?
guillaumeb
(42,649 posts)but it is obvious that many GOP voters have no real grasp of history or facts.
They cannot understand that union busting and tax cuts for the rich help no one but the rich.
BlueSpot
(965 posts)That's a GOOD thing.
Do you think the people who grew up having to read by candle or lantern light resented the invention of the light bulb because, once that happened, everyone had it easier than they did?
But, hey, you can still tell your kids how you had to walk two miles through the snow to get to school, uphill both ways.
Do you not see how silly that sounds?
Hugh_Lebowski
(33,643 posts)I didn't comment on whether it's silly or not.
Probably is indeed, now that you ask my opinion on that subject
When teh light bulb was invented, everyone benefitted. Not just 'new users of light'.
And thus in that analogy, EVERYONE gets a raise. Not just everyone earning less than $15/hr.
BlueSpot
(965 posts)When I read it, I thought it was YOU making the argument. Hence my dismay.
Apologies for the misunderstanding.
Hugh_Lebowski
(33,643 posts)Totally understand, in retrospect I see how I was (unintentionally) cryptic there WRT my intent.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,951 posts)"trickle" down to them. There is no understanding the repuq mind. NONE.
Hugh_Lebowski
(33,643 posts)have mentioned the things ... I just mentioned.
I'm sure there's a number of 'mentalities' both for and against, but that's one I've heard in the 'against' camp.
They think 'price of everything goes up but they don't a raise'.
Donkees
(32,382 posts)guillaumeb
(42,649 posts)Wounded Bear
(60,607 posts)WhiteTara
(30,143 posts)it does something. It does something far greater than other laws, so it has that going for it. We'll see how good Bernie is at pulling together the votes he needs to pass his signature legislation.