Sad

[OnBackground]

Does it seem somehow pathetic that progressive activists are cheering the Maryland legislature's increase of the minimum wage to <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.legisbriefs25mar25,1,3301275.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines">$6.15</a> an hour? Congress is unlikely to make even that much of a move this year. $6.15 is nothing. It's not a living wage, it's not a sustainable wage, it's just sad.

It's said that Marylanders and Americans and the people of wealthy nations all over the world are willing to allow broad swathes of society to just barely get by, even if you ignore the wrenching poverty in the rest of the world, which we often do. I am appalled by our complacency, our willingness to tolerate hardworking people going hungry and doing without in the richest country in history.

[classof56]

1. The awful realities of our time. Sad, indeed.

Glad you recognize them and can articulate them so well. Welcome to DU.

Blessings.

[KlatooBNikto]

2. I agree. This is what happens when the Pseudo argument of cost

benefit analysis is applied to every public issue. What is the cost and the benefit of letting children go hungry? Or older people go without the medicines they need? Who is to determine these things? And how?

[DaveinMD]

3. it may be sad

but its still a good thing to get the wage raised. Kudos to Progressive Maryland.

[Zuni]

4. ANY increase is better than what our GOP Federal Gov has done

plus the legislation they are pushing against Wal-Mart is quite good.

The minimum wage should be at least $7.50 by now.

[aintitfunny]

5. They do not want to hurt business

Why even this paltry increase McDonald's could realize less of a profit. You are right, it is sad. But I will cheer some increase over no increase.

[LiberalEsto]

6. Georgetown U. students just won living wage for U. staff

The WashPost reported last week that GU kids staged a hunger strike and won a living wage for university custodial staff. Bravo to them!

[Mutley]

7. yes...

6.15 is nowhere near a living wage...

and it is horribly sad and pathetic that the fact that MD raising the minimum wage to 6.15 is so applauded... the minimum wage should be at least 10 as far as i'm concerned... in my experience that is the bare minimum one can make and still survive around here...

[dcfirefighter]

8. Hack away at the branches of inequity

The left has it's heart in the right place by fighting for living wages, minimum wages, healthcare rights, etc.

But to get at the root of such inequity, we need to share the commonwealth.

Man-made wealth, the products of labor, can be reproduced. Taxing the products of labor is a tax on labor. Taxes on labor reduce the amount of labor employed. Reducing the amount of labor employed decreases the scarcity of labor, and reduces wages.

Conversely, reducing taxes on labor, and reducing the taxes on the products of labor, increases the amount of labor employed and raises wages.

Additionally, increasing the taxes on natural capital causes it to be put to highest & best use. Putting it to highest and best use also raises employment, and thus wages. Putting it to highest & best use also decreases housing costs, making those wages go further. Another neat side-effect is that it reduces sprawl, encouraging high-value areas to be built to the limits of their zoning laws. Reducing sprawl decreases the amount of money (and oil) spent on moving people and goods around.

So, while we keep hacking at the branches, and I love the Wal-Mart bill, call Erlich's office and let him know, we also need to begin the shift.

We, as Marylanders, have the opportunity to do so this year.
HB 842, HB846, HB1075

HB842 shifts the very small state tax off of buildings and on to land assessment, with an exemption for principal residences and agricultural land.
HB1075 gives the option of shifting property taxes to the counties and Balto City
HB846 is a new tax earmarked for education, that taxes the same things as HB842

These are very progressive, I urge you all to contact your delegates and express your support for them.

[DaveinMD]

9. the Walmart bill

is the best piece of legislation to come out of Maryland since I've been here. Of course, the idiot governor will veto it. We'll override the veto next year.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. I agree with your sentiment

It seems that even the most modest of progressive gains is cause for applause these days. While this probably doesn't go far enough, it is far betterb than staying still.

I'd like to see a minimum wage pegged to cost of living indexes or the poverty line (say, 10% above it, or whatever makes sense), either by region, by state, or ideally, statistical metropolitan area. A minimum wage that might be at the poverty line in one area could well be a living wage in another area.

[dcfirefighter]

11. Minimum Wages

Minimum wages are tricky. It feels good to have them, but I don't think they necessarily help those who need them. The real key is increasing employment so that employers have to compete for employees.