Economy
Do You Support Bernie Sanders’ Proposal For a $17 Minimum Wage?
Do You Support Bernie Sanders’ Proposal For a $17 Minimum Wage?
Here’s the Scoop
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has ignited a heated debate with his proposal to incrementally increase the federal minimum wage to $17 by 2029. This bold plan, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), would significantly reduce poverty, lifting 400,000 people out of impoverished conditions. However, it comes with a stark trade-off: the potential loss of approximately 700,000 jobs across the economy.
This proposal marks a dramatic shift from the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which has not seen an increase since 2009. Sanders, a long-time advocate for a higher minimum wage, argues that $17 is a necessary adjustment considering the high inflation and the diminished purchasing power of the current wage.
“The federal minimum wage has lost nearly 30% of its purchasing power since it was last raised in 2009,” according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Yet, the CBO’s analysis reveals complex economic implications. While the plan would boost wages for millions – “8.9 million workers whose wages would otherwise be below $17 per hour would be directly affected” – it also warns of a larger budget deficit, with an increase of nearly $60 billion over the next decade.
Critics of the proposal contend that such a significant wage increase could lead to reduced employment opportunities, particularly for lower-skilled workers, and might fuel further inflation. This debate touches on fundamental economic issues: the balance between fair wages and job availability, and the role of government in mandating wage standards.
As this topic garners national attention, we turn to you, our readers: Do you support Bernie Sanders’ proposal for a $17 minimum wage? Is this an essential step towards economic fairness and combating poverty, or does it risk exacerbating unemployment and inflation?
Your voice is crucial in this debate over the future of America’s workforce and economic health. Vote now and share your perspective on one of the most significant economic policy questions of our time.
What do you think? Let us know by participating in our poll, or join the discussion in the comment section below!
Walter Baade
December 20, 2023 at 6:28 pm
It would immensely increase the use of robots
Roger Schroeder
December 21, 2023 at 6:58 am
The government has no business setting hourly rates.
Bill Mullins
December 21, 2023 at 8:26 am
I think when the minimum wage increases, it helps NO-ONE. All of the prices increase for everyone including the poor and the elderly causing more problems for everyone. Not to mention the loss of jobs.
HAROLD MELTON
December 22, 2023 at 11:20 pm
Why not, if not the government, then who? We citizens are paying many female head of households supplement incomes, snap, welfare, etc. If the minimum wage was raised about.09 percent per year, it would be very little of a raise compared to the big raise the politician vote for themselves each year. ALL American citizens should also receive healthcare. However, the unions are demanding from employers $15.00 to $25.00 to the employees to flip hamburgers or make coffee.
Good Luck
December 21, 2023 at 7:23 am
Bernie, needs to retire . He has made his million and now like Biden , they come up with their ideas that do not help the American people. When you raise the wage,then prices go up and you end up using the self-check out. So you get less people working and higher prices.
Donald R Cook
December 21, 2023 at 7:51 am
he should have to spend a whole year, without His money, so He can see how the real world lives.
James Harold McElreath Jr
February 17, 2024 at 8:25 pm
It is easy for those in Congress to make financial comments and economic decisions regarding what those below their financial status are required to live and ink out an existence! It is time that those in Congress receiving too much money are held accountable. It has been many years since many of those in Congress were held responsible for doing the job that they were hired to do! If it were not for the Dem-Socialist Party Members covering for their criminal activity, many of their names have never been mentioned, and many of them look like they have been removed from their coffins to attend any vote counts. It is time for term limits, even if the votes have to take place at the state level by the people.
Tarheel
December 21, 2023 at 8:11 am
Once again, the government creates a problem and then comes up with a solution that never solves the problem. It just makes it worse.
Joseph L Sexton
December 21, 2023 at 8:23 am
This I agree, Bidenomics has hurt a lot of people, fortunately I planned ahead as one should.
Sylvester John Hotze III
January 5, 2024 at 7:00 pm
If people are upset about $16 McDonald’s hamburgers Bernie’s idiotic proposal would make that much worse!!
FRANK RANDALL
December 21, 2023 at 8:55 am
THE HOURLY WAGE EARNERS MAKE THE COMPANY AND WITHOUT THESE WORKERS CEO’S WOULD NOT HAVE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR SALARIES JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE THE FIGUREHEADS.
Q
December 21, 2023 at 9:12 am
17 bucks an hour to cook pre-made frozen patties & drop pre-cut fries in grease, a monkey could do these jobs for food & be very happy about that. Good grief, Bernie is a brain-dead moron!
FRANK RANDALL
December 21, 2023 at 9:26 am
SIX PERCENT COMMISSION ON A REAL ESTATE SALE JUST FOR SHOWING IT, 70 MILLION TO PLAY BASEBALL FOR 6 MONTHS, 177,000 A YEAR (congress) FOR DOING NOTHING, CEO;S MAKING MULTI MILLIONS FOR BEING FIGUREHEADS ETC ETC ETC….WHERS’S THE PARITY???
Crankyoldone
February 17, 2024 at 7:19 pm
Are you yelling or can you just not see ?
Don
December 21, 2023 at 9:50 am
I support nothing from this commie trash.
Denise
December 21, 2023 at 10:07 am
Yes, but only if we put limits on how much corporations can raise the costs of goods. The increases need to come from the ridiculous amounts of increases the top people gave to themselves and to their shareholders (record profits the past few years), not from increasing prices which make wage increases meaningless. Corporate greed needs to be restrained!
Mark Smith
December 21, 2023 at 11:52 am
That’s what’s nice about a FREE Market System we have, if the price is to high for you DON’T buy it, NO one is forcing you to buy anything, the prices are tied to market demand, Unions and these stupid High Minimum wages increase costs to the business so their prices must go up to reflect the cost to keep the doors open. You have never been in business or you would understand the costs to keep doors open.
Mark Smith
December 21, 2023 at 11:45 am
Bernie Sanders the guy that has NEVER EVER had a JOB outside of being in the Senate, he is a BUM, he got kicked out of his Commune because he did NOT pull his own weight, Always mooched off of everyone else, had his Honeymoon in Communist Russia, what a pile of Sheet he is, why is this loser still in office?
Scotty P
December 21, 2023 at 12:18 pm
For someone who started working (full-time) for less than $3 an hour, I think that’s ridiculous! I’ve been working since I was 12 (basically full-time), my parents “granted” me room and board (and I BETTER do my chores) and not much else, shrug). I felt lucky to get that (oh, and I felt well-off, since I was given a 15 year old car, that had been in 3 major accidents already. My folks didn’t/wouldn’t/couldn’t pay for any gas or repairs (or clothing after 16 years old), but they DID cover my (liability) insurance! PROBABLY (not surprisingly) am retired (disabled) military, who owns my home and “several” vehicles (I bet you could already guess – I was a “baby-boomer), “MY generation, PAID THEIR OWN WAY!” We were “thankful” for it too! I ALSO agree with several other people, who’ve commented already – HE’S a commie and there isn’t hardly anything, that we WOULD agree on!… and yes, of course, I’m a Trump voter too, lol!
Jerry C.
December 21, 2023 at 4:16 pm
“Enjoy your $12 Big Mac & $5 medium fries. Want a $6 large drink to go with that?” Thanks, Bernie!
Wyatt Earp
January 4, 2024 at 8:26 am
Bernie has no idea what he talking about. He never held a job outside of government! Vermont people were stupid enough to keep sending him back to DC! This SOCIALISM supporters need to move out of America. His idea is not that of America people! Say why don’t these politicians just return their STOLEN MONEY? I do recall how they gave themselves a pay increase, when all America were having a hard time during the downturn in the economy! He need term limit and a laws to STOP these politicians from increasing their salary while we all suffer. Never heard or seen anything POSITIVE FROM A DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS!