01-19-2021, 03:33 PM
(01-19-2021, 03:21 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: Truly, I'd prefer that route, as well. Our social safety net is far from adequate and what is there is often complicated to gain access to. I'd much rather have my tax money going to adequate health insurance, help for new parents, job training and education, etc. Unfortunately, though, these things have been demonized by certain individuals in government (I'm not just picking on Republicans, here, Bill Clinton holds responsibility, too). Plus, the minimum wage has fallen well behind inflation, which has its own problems. It's because of all of this that raising the minimum wage at the federal level is the most viable policy option at this point. Of course, it's only a short-term fix and we need to bolster our social safety nets for the long-term, as well.
Maybe we'll get there some day.
I still think a regionalized federal minimum would make everyone a lot happier than the blanket $15. It would require more work to establish but does cover some of the concerns of the agriculture and food processing industry which tends to be situated in lower COL areas than say a fast-food worker in a metropolitan area. We already know the federal government has per diem guides for reimbursement when working government contracts based on the area, that has been established off of some sort of localized cost structure. Use something similar and essentially set it up that you want $15 worth of purchasing power. So maybe $12 an hour gets it done in Cincinnati but in San Francisco, it's $24.
