Once Again, We The People LOSE!

Posted on by under Economic issues, Global Issues, Law and justice, Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, Rants, Social commentary

Yesterday, the Louisiana state legislature voted on a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage.  Currently, Louisiana’s minimum wage is the same as the federal minimum wage rate:  $7.25 per hour, or $15,000 per year.  After taxes and other payroll deductions, the minimum wage earner likely brings home around $10,000 per year, less than $1,000 per month.  Care to guess how they voted on the bill?  Keep in mind that Louisiana is south of the Mason-Dixon line, sitting between Mississippi and Texas.  Yep, they rejected the bill.

The failed bill would have gradually increased the state’s minimum wage to $10 an hour in 2024 and to $14 an hour in 2028. Louisiana has the second-highest poverty rate in the country, with nearly 19% of the population impoverished, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.  The state has a Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards, but a majority Republican legislature.  One of the legislators who voted against raising the minimum wage, Beryl Amedee, issued this utterly stupid statement:

“We’re trying to improve the lives of our residents in our state, especially those who have lower incomes. But I believe that the free market is taking care of this by offering jobs with higher wages. The real problem we have is that we have a lot of people in the state who are not qualified for higher skilled jobs, better paying jobs.”

Bullshit!  Of course they’re not “qualified for higher skilled jobs” … they can’t afford to go to college and they’re too busy working three jobs!!!

Oh … but wait!!!  The legislature did pass one bill to increase pay … their own!!!  Now, admittedly their rate of pay was jaw-droppingly low:  $16,800 per annum, not much more than the minimum wage.  But they voted to raise their own pay by 238%, to $40,000 per year.  So, the person pumping their gas, serving up their burgers at McDonald’s, or manufacturing their cars will continue to work three jobs just to feed their family, while the legislators will suddenly see something of a windfall.  I sure am glad I don’t live anywhere in the southern half of this country!

This, my friends, is why it is criminal for the U.S. Congress to keep refusing to raise the federal minimum wage rate from $7.25 where it has stagnated since 2009, despite a rising cost of living.  About 30 states have raised the state minimum wage, but obviously we cannot count on state legislatures, particularly in the south, to treat the average worker fairly.  Take a look at the minimum wage rates for the 20 nations with the highest minimum wage:

Top 20 Countries with the highest minimum wage in 2020 (US$):

  1. Australia – $14.54
  2. Luxembourg – $13.67
  3. New Zealand – $13.18
  4. Monaco – $11.88
  5. Ireland – $11.54
  6. France – $11.46
  7. United Kingdom $11.37
  8. Netherlands – $11.21
  9. Belgium – $11.06
  10. Germany – $10.68
  11. San Marino – $10.55
  12. Canada – $10.33
  13. South Korea – $8.99
  14. Israel – $8.17
  15. Japan – $7.52
  16. Spain – $7.30
  17. United States $7.25
  18. Andorra – $6.72
  19. Slovenia – $5.84
  20. Taiwan – $5.26

We fall into 17th place … the United States that claims to be one of the best, most democratic countries in the world?  HAH!!!  It is time the United States Congress gets off their fat, overpaid arses and do their job!!!

29 thoughts on “Once Again, We The People LOSE!”

  2. $7.25 is appallingly low. My wife is paid £11.50 an hour in her part time job here, and that is considered very low. by UK standards. I cannot imagine how those people on that wage in America can possibly make ends meet.
    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 1 person

    • It is appallingly low. How do they make ends meet? They work 2-3 jobs, else they live with family or … worst case scenario, they live on the streets or in homeless shelters. We are not the “great” nation some would claim.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. How long until Congress votes themselves yet another raise? When the inmates run the asylum, you can bet they are getting paid more than the workers. Congress is a ragtag collection of perverts, psychopaths, and sociopaths.
    When are the Republican voters going to realize they are voting for their own continuing poverty. Maybe they have no idea what their legislators are taking home, not to mention all the perks of the job, like a lifetime pension after serving but a few years in state congresses.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I don’t know when their next pay raise will come up for a vote, but yes, they make considerably more than the average worker. Most senators and representatives earn $174,000 per year, with party leaders earning a bit more. And … they get perks, like travel, meals, insurance, retirement plan, etc.

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  4. Oh this is just depressing. When you fund education, social programs and a livable wage, it leads to a crumbling society. How very infuriating, Jill.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Fully one half of this country, those who vote Republican, are stupid enough to believe that. They have been fed a line of b.s. and have bought right into it, so they will live in poverty and blame someone else. Sigh. Yes, my friend, it IS infuriating … and depressing, for it never changes.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Jill, and this is one of the reasons we have such a horrible income distribution relative to that of other countries. When shown graphs, Americans almost always pick a graph that looks better than what we do in practice. The other telling comment is to whom you were born is more important than merit in determining your income level. Keith

    Liked by 1 person

    • Which could be a part of the reason that Denmark ranks #2 on the World Happiness Index! Unions here have relatively little power and many industries and businesses refuse to even allow them to be formed.

      Liked by 1 person

      • The unions are old tradition here, and I don’t think it would be possible to forbid the forming of a union here. But as far as I can see, all jobs are covered. If one is not member of a union, one is looked at with scowls from the coworkers. But in Denmark, if you are not member of the union, you are not covered by the agreements. You are on your own.
        In Germany everybody is covered who works in a certain group of industry, member of the union or not. Which I personally find is not right; if they want the benefits, they should be members.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Unions are tradition here in certain industries, but definitely not all! And even where the unions were once strong, they are now a mere shell of what they once were. The most recent case is Starbucks, who have resisted allowing their employees to unionize, but there are many others. One supermarket chain, probably among the largest 2 in the nation, has recently cut the hours of all employees, and is now hiring high school kids at minimum wage (or less?) to pick up the slack.

          Liked by 1 person

            • Indeed, sometimes I think the UK tries to emulate some of our less-desirable practices and policies! Most everything I’ve ever heard about Denmark, as well as Finland and Sweden, has been positive and focused on the average person rather than the uber-wealthy. That is how it should be everywhere. I’ve often said that if the wealthy keep on killing us all, who’s going to keep producing the products that give them their wealthy, or building their mansions, jets and yachts, or even cleaning their houses and cooking their meals?

              Liked by 1 person

  7. I’m not sure how other countries have fared since 2020 but after six years of no change, Canada increased their federal minimum wage to $15.00 [$11.08 US] late 2021, then $15.55 [$11.48 US] April 2022, and now $16.65 [$12.30 US] as of April 1, 2023. Several provinces have higher min wages. Increases are pegged to the inflation rate — I can’t imagine a wage still set at 2009 rates!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Canada is among the best on the globe for taking care of its people, both with minimum wage and universal health care! Every year, raising the minimum wage comes up in Congress, and every year it is struck down. Why? Because half the members of Congress are bought and paid for by large, wealthy corporations who say it would hurt their bottom line if they paid their employees a living wage. Awwwwww … we wouldn’t want to reduce their multi-million dollar profits, now would we? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr …

      Liked by 1 person

  8. ‘gets off their fat, overpaid arses and do their job’!!! And on a much more minimal wage too until they can be shown to be earning their money.Or maybe they should be sacked like other underperforming employees are by their employers.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I fully agree … less money, fewer perks, or better yet, fire the whole lot of ’em and start over! Hire only people who have no personal wealth, no ties to industry, at least an average IQ, and can pass a lie detector test! That last criteria would eliminate more than half the people in Congress today!
      Cwtch

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Oh but doncha’ know? These politicians make such VITAL decisions for their constituents that they NEED to be paid outrageous amounts. I mean, c’mon! Voting against the good of the people is HARD WORK! 🤬

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Pingback: Once Again, We The People LOSE! | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

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