Could a $15 minimum wage be a winning issue in 2016?

[eric82oslo]

The Seattle venture capitalist - born to "progressive, atheist Jews in New York" - Nick Hanauer, who built his vast wealth as one of the founding investors of Amazon.com back in 1995, has recently been busy with building a local and national movement for a raise in the minimum wage, which through steps would ultimately lead to a $15 minimum wage nationally. He is busy tailor-making the actual details of the plan these days, in co-operation with the state government, and his final plan to increase the minimum wage is likely to be handed over to Washington voters for a ballot vote sometime in the future. At least that's what's happening with his last policy initiative to enforce background checks for every gun purchase in Washington state, which voters will vote on in November as Initiative 594. He's also had several meetings with national politicians, including a recent one with North Carolina's Senator Kay Hagan, discussing an issue such as income inequality and how to best approach the issue. He doesn't shy away from calling himself "one of the world's best strategists". Besides being a venture capitalist, he also used to be the CEO of a local Seattle-based pillow firm, which has gone nationwide and today has factories all over the US.

Do you think his initiatives towards income inequality will ultimately succeed, including this most ambitious of them all, a dramatic raise in the minimum wage? I must say that I personally find his arguments very compelling, realistic and trustworthy. He seems to be the ultimate Robin Hood of US politics right now - since unlike Elizabeth Warren and Bill de Blasio, we should not forget that he is insanely rich. He has his own private jet plane and 5 really grand mansions, just to put things into perspective.

Could this be a winning issue for Hillary and her running mate in 2016?

Seattle Times: "Seattle 1-percenter a leader in push for $15 minimum wage": http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022920936_hanauerprofilexml.html

[henster]

It barely passed in SeaTac... The business lobby would go insane over this I can't even imagine the amount of money they'd spent destroying the candidate who supports it nationwide. Small gradual increases in the mininum wage is fine but a big jump like that would put so many small businesses out of business.

[Mister Mets]

$15 is too much. It's easier for Republicans to paint democrats as radicals, and to suggest that this will have a detrimental effect on employment.

[MadmanMotley]

This will only eliminate jobs for those whose work is worth less than $15/hr.

[Indy Texas]

This will only eliminate jobs for those whose work is worth less than $15/hr.

This guy makes his money in technology. If you have a $15 per hour minimum wage, you're going to have a lot of demand for machines and computer programs that can replace most of the people who were making less than that up to that point.

[Comrade Funk]

This will only eliminate jobs for those whose work is worth less than $15/hr.

This guy makes his money in technology. If you have a $15 per hour minimum wage, you're going to have a lot of demand for machines and computer programs that can replace most of the people who were making less than that up to that point.

Don't forget it could cause some inflation. Demand goes up, prices goes up. That hurts anyone making more than $15.

[Mr. Illini]

I'm more moderate on this than I am on the safety net/welfare state, but most Americans seem to support it, so maybe go with $10-12 instead and it could probably be a winning issue.

[RTX]

If raising the minimum wage from where it is now to $15 benefits the economy, why stop at $15 and just make it $25? Or $50?

Adjusting it for inflation on an on-going basis could be a worthwhile argument though.

[morgieb]

Not at that extent surely?

[Mordecai]

This will only eliminate jobs for those whose work is worth less than $15/hr.

This guy makes his money in technology. If you have a $15 per hour minimum wage, you're going to have a lot of demand for machines and computer programs that can replace most of the people who were making less than that up to that point.

Don't forget it could cause some inflation. Demand goes up, prices goes up. That hurts anyone making more than $15.

Inflation is going to happen anyway.

If raising the minimum wage from where it is now to $15 benefits the economy

There's the argument that people wouldn't need to tip their waiters and that those who earn a low income spend a higher percentage of their pay check than high income earners. This is why programs like foodstamps tend to pay for itself in the economic growth it produces.

Also, Australia has a national minimum wage over $15 ($16.37!) for employees that aren't covered by an award or agreement. They seem to do alright and McDonalds hasn't gone out of business.

Edit: Although I think Democrats should stick with the $10.10 minimum wage proposal.

[Potatoe]

If raising the minimum wage from where it is now to $15 benefits the economy, why stop at $15 and just make it $25? Or $50?

Except instead of making ridiculous sayings like that, maybe provide a worthwhile argument? 'Cuz no one is arguing for £50 or £25 or something like that.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Uh ... let's start at $10, guys.

[Cobbler]

$15 is far too high.  $10-11 could be though.