Is the minimum wage racist? One guy thinks so

[kent]

I just caught part of an interview on Fox Business. The guest, Walter E. Williams (Race and Economics: How Much Can be Blamed on Discrimination?) makes an argument that the minimum wage is discriminatory.

His point is that, if the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour but a potential job applicant is really only worth $5.00 per hour due to lack of education or experience, then there is no reason for an employer to hire him/her when there are others more qualified that can produce $7.25 per hour worth of work.

So the upshot of this is that, if you get rid of the minimum wage then more disadvantaged people could gain employment.

I had never thought of this concept until he brought it up but after thinking about it, I don't think it's that far fetched.

Your thoughts?

[Mad Dawg Wiccan]

I like Williams, he's usually right.

[chiver78]

that makes my head hurt, actually. and I already had a headache.

one question comes to mind right now, I'm sure I'll have more later. how does he tie that in to the requirement that someone not decline "suitable employment" while they receive unemployment benefits? by this, I mean if the employer is offering only below formerly-known-as-min. wage positions, would that be deemed "suitable" for stopping UE?

ETA: another question - there is nothing in your OP that talks about race, just the productivity of the worker. how about a title that isn't intended to inflame anyone?

[dancinmama]

May 11, 2011 14:21:12 GMT -5 kent said:

I just caught part of an interview on Fox Business. The guest, Walter E. Williams (Race and Economics: How Much Can be Blamed on Discrimination?) makes an argument that the minimum wage is discriminatory.

His point is that, if the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour but a potential job applicant is really only worth $5.00 per hour due to lack of education or experience, then there is no reason for an employer to hire him/her when there are others more qualified that can produce $7.25 per hour worth of work.

So the upshot of this is that, if you get rid of the minimum wage then more disadvantaged people could gain employment.

I had never thought of this concept until he brought it up but after thinking about it, I don't think it's that far fetched.

Your thoughts?

I get the point, but is there not ONE THING that one can talk about these days that IS NOT considered racist?

[billisonboard]

Seems to be.

[gawgagranny]

Thank you, dancinmama!! Living in the Deep South, particularly, I sometimes really get tired of the "race card" being an issue every time you turn around!!

(I am not weighing in on the min. wage issue, jsut wanted to put in my 2 cents' worth on dancinmama's comment...)

[kent]

May 11, 2011 14:24:34 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

that makes my head hurt, actually. and I already had a headache.


ETA: another question - there is nothing in your OP that talks about race, just the productivity of the worker. how about a title that isn't intended to inflame anyone?

I guess I should have noted that HE, Williams, makes the racist allegation. I don't post things with intent to inflame.

[chiver78]

sorry, but that's not clear from the OP. can you edit to include a link to the interview so we can hear/read those words from him?

[floridayankee]

His point is that, if the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour but a potential job applicant is really only worth $5.00 per hour due to lack of education or experience, then there is no reason for an employer to hire him/her when there are others more qualified that can produce $7.25 per hour worth of work.

Still not seeing what experience and education has to do with race.

So the upshot of this is that, if you get rid of the minimum wage then more disadvantaged people could gain employment.

Still has nothing to do with race...unless you assume that minorities alone are disadvantaged.

[dancinmama]

May 11, 2011 14:33:00 GMT -5 gawgagranny said:

Thank you, dancinmama!! Living in the Deep South, particularly, I sometimes really get tired of the "race card" being an issue every time you turn around!!

(I am not weighing in on the min. wage issue, jsut wanted to put in my 2 cents' worth on dancinmama's comment...)

Hey, I live in liberal CA and I get tired of it too. Geez, I though we were getting beyond this. I even checked the wording of my post to make sure that my comment on racisim didn't appear to be racist. Even if someone does not consider themselves to be racist, they are constantly reminded that they MIGHT BE; they just don't know it.

[thyme4change]

I don't post things with intent to inflame.

Come on - you didn't even mention race in your post, nor did you link to any text or video or audio of someone who did.

Why not just change the title? The subject could stand on its own, without race being brought into it.

[kent]

May 11, 2011 14:31:24 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Seems to be.

Cheap shot and you know it

[kent]

May 11, 2011 14:50:19 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I don't post things with intent to inflame.

Come on - you didn't even mention race in your post, nor did you link to any text or video or audio of someone who did.

Why not just change the title? The subject could stand on its own, without race being brought into it.

Come on yourself. Ther is no "link" to a TV program. Go find his book on Amazon (I supplied the title) and check him out on your own.

[kent]

May 11, 2011 14:43:35 GMT -5 floridayankee said:

His point is that, if the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour but a potential job applicant is really only worth $5.00 per hour due to lack of education or experience, then there is no reason for an employer to hire him/her when there are others more qualified that can produce $7.25 per hour worth of work.

Still not seeing what experience and education has to do with race.

So the upshot of this is that, if you get rid of the minimum wage then more disadvantaged people could gain employment.

Still has nothing to do with race...unless you assume that minorities alone are disadvantaged.

That's his position - Blacks and Hispanics, in general, are more likely to fall into the"disadvantaged" category.

[fairlycrazy23]

His general idea is correct, that employers aren't going to pay more than someone is worth; but even if Blacks and Hispanics fall into this disadvantaged category does not make it racist.

[kent]

There! Title changed so some can quit whining and get off their PC platform

[thyme4change]

Ther is no "link" to a TV program.

Really?

Here is one:

www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/mon-may-9-2011-lupe-fiasco

Here is thousands:

www.hulu.com/

Maybe it is somewhere on this website:

live.foxnews.com/

But, no, you just want to make an accusation with a total inflammatory title, and then tell us to go out and buy a book and read it to back you up? Why not just summarize why race is important here - or leave it off all together?

I have plenty of back-up to signal that you are trying to get a rise out of people - just go research my reasons for yourself.

[kent]

May 11, 2011 15:02:08 GMT -5 fairlycrazy23 said:

His general idea is correct, that employers aren't going to pay more than someone is worth; but even if Blacks and Hispanics fall into this disadvantaged category does not make it racist.

Well stated.

[chiver78]

May 11, 2011 15:07:26 GMT -5 kent said:

There! Title changed so some can quit whining and get off their PC platform

thank you. but you still haven't answered my first question.

[kent]

May 11, 2011 15:08:17 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Ther is no "link" to a TV program.

But, no, you just want to make an accusation with a total inflammatory title, and then tell us to go out and buy a book and read it to back you up? Why not just summarize why race is important here - or leave it off all together?

I have plenty of back-up to signal that you are trying to get a rise out of people - just go research my reasons for yourself.

Talk about trying to get a rise out of people.

[thyme4change]

That's because he is a piece of poop and a troll.

[billisonboard]

May 11, 2011 14:53:52 GMT -5 kent said:

May 11, 2011 14:31:24 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Seems to be.

Cheap shot and you know it

If a person connects lack of skills and education to race, don't consider calling it racist a cheap shot at all. Far from the only one here who sees it that way. You have disowned the title since I typed this and put it on Williams so let him wear the crown.

[kent]

May 11, 2011 15:13:43 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

That's because he is a piece of poop and a troll.

COC reminder

The short version: Treat your fellow posters with courtesy and respect. This means no personal attacks

[kent]

May 11, 2011 15:20:57 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

May 11, 2011 14:53:52 GMT -5 kent said:

You have disowned the title since I typed this and put it on Williams so let him wear the crown.

Bill, Bill, Bill. I didn't disown the title I just had to clarify the whole darn thing ad nauseum because some people couldn't fully understand the OP. I guess I gave more credit than deserved.

[Deleted]

So the upshot of this is that, if you get rid of the minimum wage then more disadvantaged people could gain employment.

They would also gain something just as valuable as employment, a work history & experience. Also employers just might discover that they have hired a $15 per hour worker & promote them.

Of course the easy way to kill this thread is to brink up that dreaded word ......... WalMart. Some of those part timers stay with & progress up the company. Before they could do that though, they had to be hired in the first place.