US minimum wage map

[Emsworth]

Emsworth is just a radical libertarian, and like all radical libertarians has trouble finding a home in the two major parties.

That is mostly true. The Democratic Party's economic policies are atrocious, as is the Republican Party's right-wing component (neoconservatives and fundamentalists). The Libertarian Party is too extreme, and, moreover, has a poor foreign policy.

Incidentally, if you think that I'm a radical, how would you label Bono?

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I would argue that boom-and-bust cycles are not a result of the free market. The business cycle is not a feature of a free market, but is rather produced by governmental involvement in the first place. In particular, I would suggest that it is the government's monetary policy which is responsible.

[Cubby]

If we could get back to the map on page 1 for a second....

Why are Kansas and Ohio allowed to have lower minimum wages than $5.15?

Connecticut's minimum wage is like $7.40 or something. You should all move here..........wait not so fast, we're a tiny state!!

HTML Don doesn't sound like LBJ but I would never suspect from his quotes here that GWB is his favorite President. I agree with him nonetheless.

[opebo]

I would argue that boom-and-bust cycles are not a result of the free market. The business cycle is not a feature of a free market, but is rather produced by governmental involvement in the first place. In particular, I would suggest that it is the government's monetary policy which is responsible.

How ridiculous.  Your type has such a nonsensical faith in 'markets' Emsworth.  Why?  They are merely manifestations of human psychology.

It is always relevant that people are living in poverty.  We will never be able to win the war on poverty, but we should always fight the battle to ensure that those who work hard are able to put food on the table for their families.

With the greatest possible respect, htmldon, the fundamental purpose of government should not be to wage a war on poverty.

Why not, Emsworth?  It may serve your interests to prefer this, but it does not serve the interests of most people.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Interesting, although most of the higher than minimum wage law states were won by Kerry, Alaska has $7.15 an hour, and in addition is guaranteed at least $1 per hour more than the federal minimum wage. It ranks number 3, beating states like NY, MA, and CA.

Alaska has the unusual situation of having, in general, higher priced (due to transportation costs).  I'm not entirely sure that this is a "real" higher minimum wage.

How would it be fake? Also, San Francisco, Manhattan, and Boston aren't exactly the cheapest places to live in.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I have no issues with a minimum wage, provided it doesn't get out of hand. No matter what side of the fence one is on, I don't think anyone wants to see the return of the Jimmy Hoffa days. Grinding poverty is probably worse overall for the country than the fact that there is a minimum wage, so a baseline wage on which people can get by until they can work there way up does not bother me at all. Should it be 8, 9, 10 $ an hour? Heck no.

BTW, if no one has seen the Jack Nicholson/Danny DiVito/JT Walsh movie Hoffa made around 1992 - it is a fantastic movie. Blistering performances.

In Feb. 1968, it was $1.60 an hour for most people.
http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/chart.htm

Adjusting for CPI, that is $9.17 an hour.
http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/data/CPIAUCSL.txt

As for the non-farm amendment parts, those were $1.60 an hour in Feb. 1971, which gives $7.86 an hour.

As for the farm amendment parts, those were $1.30 an hour in Feb. 1969, which gives $7.12 an hour.

[Emsworth]

They are merely manifestations of human psychology.

That is correct. An assumption that a business would behave in a rational manner (i.e., in a manner best for the owner) is all that is necessary, really, to determine why capitalism is the best economic system.