DonnaLeeDec 14, 2022
Robert Reich

The fact that the federal minimum wage has stagnated at $7.25/hour since 2009 is atrocious.

But in reality, it's actually far worse than that.

The federal minimum wage is worth 28% less today than it was worth in 2009.

It’s worth 41% less than in 1968.

An absolute disgrace.

Dec 14, 2022 at 5:39pmWeb
Show threadCarla MartinDec 14, 2022
@rbreich It really is and heartbreaking to expect anyone to live on that as well.
Show threadGeeden_Of_ArdenDec 14, 2022
@rbreich This year's inflation means that whatever the min is now, it's even more inadequate today
Show threadCarla MartinDec 14, 2022
@rbreich This would not be allowed had we stayed in the EU would it Robert? Best wishes to you and thank you for your informative posts.
Show threadSaint EddieDec 14, 2022
@rbreich yep. and they wonder why they have a hard time finding employees.
Show threadkrisallDec 14, 2022
@rbreich And I recall the doomsday predictions then of how expensive everything will cost when businesses were expected to pay a semi-decent wage. It astounds me that people forgot that the sky didn’t actually fall back then.
Show threadMachielDec 14, 2022
@rbreich I’m all for high minimum wages but isn’t this better determined at the state level?
Show threadFlorrieDec 14, 2022
@machiel @rbreich the federal minimum wage is the lowest legal wage that companies can pay their workers. So while states also set their minimum wage, it can't go below federal level. Unless you're a tipped worker. (I think?)
Show threadGurtbeef RobeDec 15, 2022
@machiel @rbreich no bc many red states will never have laws & policies to create a minimum standard of living that is acceptable. Many states still have a minimum wage of $2.13 for tipped employees. They still refuse to expand Medicare through Obamacare despite feds paying 90% and a huge cost savings to state. They refuse any standard of living improvements unless they are forced to enact them and are still fighting civil rights laws
Show threadMachielDec 15, 2022
@twitterreject @rbreich ah, I’m so naïve
Show threadGurtbeef RobeDec 15, 2022
@machiel @rbreich I don’t know if that is the right word but the trend of states shitting on their residents is very common when the feds don’t set a national standard, especially in gop run states. They always seem to want the lowest level or standards of any type of treatment, protection, or service that the feds don’t enforce. Ohio’s river used to catch on fire from all the toxic pollution until feds created epa to make safety standards.
Show threadLa NégresseDec 14, 2022
@rbreich US policymakers that accept increasing levels of poverty are the national disgrace. None care about the minimum wage because they never worked minimum wage jobs, if they held jobs at all. Moreover, those in the higher socioeconomic castes blame the poor for their suffering rather than equate structural economic flaws of capitalism with creating and increasing poverty.
Show threadGurtbeef RobeDec 15, 2022
@LaNegresseCanadienne @rbreich lawmakers also shift employers business’ costs to the taxpayers. In the early 2000’s, the average Walmart employee cost the Ohio taxpayers over $3000 a year in the welfare benefits bc Walmart was allowed to pay such poverty wages that the workers needed govt help to stay alive. When given the choice, state lawmakers will always choose to save $ for businesses rather than help people live better.
Show threadLa NégresseDec 15, 2022
@twitterreject @rbreich
Walmart presents the textbook case of how state governments collude with corporations to hollow out labor standards and suppress wages. Local politicians make lucrative deals with bottom feeding companies, such as Walmart, that purposefully siphon money from taxpayers to line the pockets of them and their corporate buddies.
Show threadKelsey Marie Bell She/HerDec 14, 2022
@rbreich #Wow ! I did not know! ❤️🙏🏻🕊🇺🇸✌🏻🇺🇦🇷🇺🇮🇷🇨🇳🇺🇸❤️🙏🏻🕊✌🏻🌎🌍🌏🙏🏻 #minimumwage
Show threadMikeDec 14, 2022

@rbreich It’s even worse than that!

If you adjust wages since 1900 — using only inflation — the average would be about $5,000/year.

You need to include productivity gains when adjusting wages!

Show threadgotklss2 / annetteDec 14, 2022

@rbreich

#MinimumWage

Show threadRealamericanDec 14, 2022
@rbreich
Show threadSFborn1940Dec 14, 2022
@rbreich This is a result of a dysfunctional Congress and a progression of presidents, each trying to undo the progress of a previous president.
When a system is broken this is the result.
Show threadSammyGalenDec 14, 2022
@rbreich As #aoc would say (and 99% of the working poor), Tax The Rich!
Show threadSammyGalenDec 14, 2022
@rbreich A low minimum wage also hits state / local governments harder since they are more dependent on sales taxes rather than income taxes for government revenue. Increase minimum wage, increase working wages will help out local governments far lot more than corporate tax cuts.
Show threadSophieDec 14, 2022
@rbreich a job that pays less than a living wage is simply privatized #slavery It should be officially categorized as such.
Show threadBig Head TalesDec 14, 2022

@rbreich But, the filthy rich are doing great!

Trickle Down worked exactly as the GOP designed it.

Show threadExiled New Yorker- ConnieDec 14, 2022

@rbreich
I keep telling everyone I can that!
I lived on $2.10 as long as I had two part time jobs or overtime in 1977.

Now you’d have to have two full time jobs to live on $7.25 in the cheapest of cities.

Show threadQuestDec 14, 2022
@rbreich
It seems strange that in a labor market with such a high labor demand that there would be any unemployment. Something is out of balance. I sure hope those 6 figure talking heads figure it out before disappearing into the revolving door of the private sector.
Show threadDaniel TurnerDec 14, 2022
@rbreich Poverty breeds fascism.
Show threadCharDec 14, 2022
@rbreich That is outrageous for a wealthy nation like the USA. New Zealand’s minimum wage is $21.20, even with the exchange rate it’s more than double that of America!
Show threadhdb's rockin rehab gameDec 14, 2022
@rbreich. It’s taken as anti immigration but it’s about exploitation when donut and coffee shops that can’t find locals to pour coffee for the overtired workers, tired and willing to pay 2 dollars for a coffee worth that went for 10 cents in 1968, do we need more immigrants to do the work that lazy spoiled us won’t do. The fast fool industry was build on child labour, as many of the other minimum wage sectors are, but demographics are changing, and people are learning the tricks.
Show threadGordon1956Dec 14, 2022
@rbreich By comparison, the minimum wage rate in Ontario, 🇨🇦 is $15.50 an hour. Students under 18 earn $14.60 per hour. Homeworkers — those who do paid work out of their own homes for employers — $17.05 per hour.
Show threadMark PearsonDec 14, 2022
@rbreich it is appalling the minimum wage here in Australia is the equivalent of 16 to 17 us$. And this includes 4weeks paid leave 10 paid sick days, maternity and paternity leave, long service leave, carers leave. American employee working conditions are medieval
Show threadRoryDec 14, 2022
@rbreich For real... How anyone is expected to live on such a wage, is beyond me... And for those that do: You're superheroes...
Show threadMatt SDec 14, 2022
@rbreich True that. And…. In my small town in rural Wisconsin no business here can find anyone to work for less than 11$. Most teenagers can get 15$ jobs without too much trouble. I pay 17 year olds 18$ or 20$ to work with me on carpentry gigs. It’s like the “market” has abandoned the constraints of the min wage law and moved on without it. I normally bristle at the “invisible hand of the marketplace” mumbo-jumbo, but in this moment…well yeah.
Show threaddownixDec 15, 2022
@rbreich When I entered the workforce, the minimum wage was $4.25. It has only gone up 70% in 30 years. This is unacceptable.
Show threadThe Evaporated KidDec 15, 2022
@rbreich
And Democratic senators who voted against increasing the minimum wage in 2021 are still in good standing as if what they did was completely reasonable.
Show threadSilentwolfDec 15, 2022

@rbreich

The Congress should raise minimum wage to $15 per hour nationwide, period.

Show threadSifuDugDec 15, 2022
@rbreich minimum wage needs to be tied to an economic marker to that it rises automatically with the cost of living