Thursday, January 11, 2007
Chapter 27
This chapter discusses cotton picking as good work for good pay until there are too many workers and the pay is dropped. In our world today, we also have many jobs that are outsourced to other countries or to people here in America who are willing to work for less. Discuss why this is both good and bad for America. What do you think of the current minimum wage? Should it be raised or remain the same? Why? How does the economy drive wages? Post your own answer to all of these questions and then respond to one other classmate's answer. Dig deep, folks. You are the economic leaders of tomorrow. How will you lead?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
25 comments:
Outsourcing jobs to other countries is definately a win/lose situation. The owner of a business that outsources jobs is the only person who comes out on top with a win/win situation. The owner has a larger profit margin because his work costs less and he sells more product because its sold cheaper. Americas economy and the average American worker get a win/lose out of a businness that has been outsourced. It is great for the working class to be able to go to Wal-Mart and buy their goods cheap because they can not afford to buy anything else. However, by outsourcing the company Americans in the working class lose their jobs or oppurtunity for jobs. Americas economy needs to be majorly adjusted in some way, but i do not think raising minumum wage is the way to do it. There are many people who work in fast-food who don't earn their minimum wage anyway. The debate over wage increase is to do increased cost of living around the nation, which can be solved in a better way than paying more money to employees. Communists had a good idea in complete governmental control of bussiness.
When there are to many people and few jobs it is bad for the people and the economy. If jobs are scarce then more people are unemployed and they are forced to rely on the government for help which weakens the economy. Like Jordan said, the businesses are the only ones who come out on top. If businesses can pay less for the same amount of production then they will do it. The minimum wage should be raised because then less people would have to rely on the government for help, it would be easier to support themselves. If the economy is doing well then most likely wages will be higher than if the economy was doing bad.
This situation is a double-edged sword. Immigrants come to America to earn money to support families and to get a fresh new start. The good part is that they actually put more money into circulation which helps to stabalize our economy very quickly in case of another disaster such as 9/11. On the other hand, they are taking the jobs of a little less than half of the American population. But the way I see it, if Americans aren't driven enough to work for certain job positions then they don't deserve them. The current minimum wage has been increasing in the past and needs to level off and stay the same. Improvements to our country's economy are not going to be made by increasing the wages of fast-food workers.
The payment of workers affects the price, if the payment is low the price can be low, so the outsourceing of jobs helps lower the cost of production thus lowering the cost of the product. However the less people who have jobs in America the less people who can buy items so the comsumer rate goes down raising the price of the goods in a suppy-demand circle. The minimum wage of today was appropriate other years, but today it is too low to feed a family on even with over time. Kendra had a point with the pay variing with the success of the economy. If a company cannot afford to pay someone in bad times then the wage drops.
Outsourcing provides more jobs for people, but these people are usually provided with extremely low wages. I think the current minimum wage is outrageous and should be raised. The main reason I feel this way is because I'm 17 and the majority of jobs I can get right now will pay minimum wage.
America is dependent on those who are willing to work for less money. For example, jobs such as fast food restaurants, and Walmart do not pay much, if at all over minimum wage. Like Jordan said, it is a win/lose situation. The corporation itself, and those of us who consume products from the corporations win, however those who are working jobs such as those are put into a situation where working a 9-5 there still may not even make enough to support a family, like in the novel where even though they were working it was still very hard for Ma to feed her family. Minimum wage most definately needs to be raised. I don't think it has been for years, and as our economy grows, and prices raise, as should the minimum wage, especially because the only jobs offered to teenagers are those that pay that amount.
Although I agree that some government regulation of the economy is necessary, I disagree with Jordan in his defense of communism. The government should help stop economic corruption by placing checks on company's power and also forcing them to be honest and fair with customers. However, a free market economy as currently advocated by the United States is better than communism, because it stresses the importance of individual involvement in the economy for survival. The U.S. economy relies on some communal programs, such as Medicare and Social Security, but for the most part, each citizen is responsible for their own economic wellbeing. Without this idea, citizens would have no incentive or reason to work. Outsourcing is good in that it allows cheaper products for the consumer, but detrimental in that it takes away jobs from the domestic market and often promotes harsh working conditions for those in foreign countries that have fewer labor laws than the United States. Although outsourcing has its disadvantages, it is difficult to figure out where to draw the line, as nearly all manufacturers outsource to some degree. The minimum wage differs greatly from state to state, as does the cost of living. Although minimum wage has a precedent of being set by the federal government, individual states have done a tremendous job of adjusting laws and legislation based upon their cost of living and corporate outlook. In my opinion, comprehensive federal legislation to raise the minimum wage would be ineffective because inflation varies between different states, and in those states that have a lower cost of living, a higher minimum wage could mean huge job losses and unemployment.
As stated above in previous posts, many immigrants are coming to America to start new, improved lives for their families. They are rapidly filling simple jobs for very small wages. Obviously, large coporations would rather hire those willing to work for less, or outsource work to other countries at a lower price. What these people need to understand is that America has its own poverty issues in large cities, and with newcomers and outsourcing to provide all the work, the poor remain jobless. As a teenager, working for minimum wage isn't that big of a deal to me because I don't have a family to support, but for those who need to pay for food, clothing, and shelter to survive, $5.15/hour is not sufficient. As the value of a dollar decreases, the need for higher wages grows. Tyler makes the point that increasing the wages of fast-food workers won't increase the economy. While this makes sense, I would still like to point out that some fast-food and factory workers come from poor families who can't afford to pay for a decent education. Their fast-food job is all they've got, but they still need money to survive. Some of them, though, if paid more, might spend more money on more valuable possessions, and therefore boost the economy. I know that this would not permanetly fix the problem, or even come close, but increasing minimum wage by even a dollar and a half might make more difference than it would appear.
The good in jobs for little pay is that there are always men and women willing to do those jobs. This is reasonable because most of the time those people are either immigrants, or lower class. They need what they can get. Unlike people who have worked hard to receive pay like they do. This does not mean lower paying jobs are not difficult, they are alot of labor, but requite less education, or experience. The bad part of this is the money really does not support the struggling people, to get them out of a slump. When they start refusing these jobs, who will pick fruit? Or work outisde in the heat doing construction? They are all under appreciated, and occasionally under paid. If you make too much money youre looked at with a negative eye, and if you do not make enough money, we are again viewed with a negative eye.
Being a teenager with a job, i feel minimum wage is just fine, but if I was being expected to support others, it would be like receiving nothing. It should be raised to workers over the age of 18, or students while working. Usually at an age younger than 18, teens are not always expected to support themselves fully.
In repsonse to Parker, I do not feel the amount for minimum wage is "outrageous," maybe more along the lines of unreasonable. Because like you said, you are 17, you do not have to support anyone but you. Most of your money goes towards gas, clothing, and video games. Your parents take care of the rest.
The outsourcing of jobs is good because it gives us cheap goods at a high output, but by going to other countries and paying horrible wages, we're leaving Americans without jobs and we're not really supporting the people from other countries. Then we look back at America and see that the minimum wage is too low. When one is paid $5.15, they present $5.15 worth of work. So, if the wages are raised the workers will be happier and therefore produce a higher quality product. On top of that the minimum wage has not effectively been altered for inflation and so people are falling farther behind.
I agree with how Tyler has responded to this discussion question, but I still believe the minimum wage should be raised.
It seems that the outsourcing of jobs is continually on the incline in America today and has its pros and cons. On the bright side of things, by outsourcing jobs to other countries it is possible to get these tasks done at a lower cost than it would be to have the same task completed in America. However, this situation also decreased jobs in the US at the same time. Although unemployment rates have declined in the 21st century, those who are unemployed currently would have the option of utilizing these jobs if they were available. Therefore, this example alone shows that outsourcing has both its pros and cons.
As the price of living increases, minimum wage seems to be staying the same making “living the good life” more difficult. It is my belief that if the price of living increases by ways such as the rising (and falling) of gas prices or the increase of citrus fruit and strawberries after the massive freeze in California, then minimum wage should increase as well. However, I do realize that this theory is not as easy as it sounds. This extra money must come from somewhere and typically is derived from extra taxes. Therefore, an increase in minimum wage may lead to an increase in taxes making this situation a double-edged sword. There has, however, recently been talk of an increase of minimum wage to $7.25 from the current $5.15.
To be honest, my impact in the American economy in the future is not one of the top things on my mind. However, in the back of the cluttered brain I carry, it has come to my attention that I am a future economic leader. The shape the nation’s economy will be in when I am settled down after college is unknown to me. My generation is the future of America and hopefully we can come up with a solution to the current employment issues surrounding outsourcing and minimum wage.
It's unfortunate that the severe suffering of some perpetuates the suffering of others by lowering the prices, but it is the sad reality of the world. When there are people desperate for jobs, they will take the jobs at any price, which in turn lowers the wages of those who are not as desperate. This cycle keeps people on this same economic level in a continual stage of desperation. The reality is however, that there is nothing that can be done to change such a thing. The business of course does come out on top like Jordan and Kendra stated, but the way our economy functions makes that possible. This cannot be shunned without shunning our entire economy. Moreover, for those who desperately need money and would not be able to get it in other ways (like immigrants for example that only have unskilled labor as an option), this is probably a necessary evil. A change in the minimum wage would help the American citizens. The minimum wage should be raised to correspond to inflation. The point was raised that minimum wage should stick at one level, but this is flawed logic because our economy cannot stick at one level, so our wages should not either. This explains how our economy guides wages: an abundance of people wanting the jobs lowers the wages but wages at some level have to follow the movement of the economy.
American companies currently use job outsourcing as a method to decrease costs and increase profit. This benefits the company that is outsourcing because the cost of producing and manufacturing in another country is significantly less than United States. Companies use cheap labor in third world countries to decrease the cost of producing their products. While it is beneficial to the company, it can be detrimental to America. Job outsourcing is taking away thousands of jobs from Americans. In January of this year the unemployment rate was 4.6%. The unemployment rate could be significantly lowered if plants and factories that are outside of the United States were brought into the United States. Although bringing in American factories would create jobs for Americans, it would also raise the cost of everyday items. Because companies are able to use cheap labor, the cost of their product is reduced. If their factory was moved into the United States, that product’s cost would increase. Therefore the price which they are sold at would also increase. The price of a simple pair of shoes could possible double because of these extra costs.
Currently the minimum wage is $5.15 an hour. It has not been raised in a significant amount of years. The minimum wage should be raised throughout the country, more notably in Kansas. When researching for this discussion question, I found out that according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Kansas has the lowest minimum wage out of all the states, and it is lower that the federal minimum wage. In Maryland the minimum wage is $6.15, in Colorado it is $6.85, and in Connecticut it is $7.65.
Allison, I agree with the point you brought up about the economy's inflation. The fact that the economy never stays in a steady place is reason enough not to have a set minimum wage. I also disagree that minimum wage should stick at one level, for it would only hurt our workers if inflation rose.
Jessica and Allison bring up good points. Because of inflation, there should be no set wages. Also, it was mentioned of immigrants coming in and working for low wages just for money to start a new life for their families. Also, people who just want jobs and do not care what they get, or how much they get paid to do the job, will work for low wages.
Personally, I could care less what minimum wage is. I work seven hours a day six times a week, and get paid minimum wage. It's enough to live by. If you dont have to support others, that is.
To create economic stability in America, there have to be those who are willing to work for less. Although poverty is a serious problem, those who accept lower pay are necessary to keep our economy working. If this group of people were eliminated, we would have an inflation because pay would have to be increased. With the increase in pay comes the consumer product producer's increase in product prices. Regarding the minimum wage, it should probably be raised. This is because prices are constantly steadily rising. Although this is true, it is very possible to live minimum wage. It is not a necessary move.
I agree with Tyler. Those who work and earn the job are the ones that deserve to have them. If they are willing to do the dirty work for the bad pay, then let 'em have it.
This is a truly complicated question, and it is hard for me to comprehend the enormity of the situation. If we raise the minimum wage, then all prices go up. If we stop outsourcing jobs, then we may have an increase in immigration, legal and illegal, to gain more jobs. Say we continue to outsource and give all people in other countries jobs that are willing to work for less. Prices will go down, but so will the amount of jobs for people in America. Then there will be more people willing to work for less in other countries, more jobs are lost. The gap between the poor and wealthy will grow wider. Highly skilled workers will maintain their jobs, and poorer people will become unemployed with jobs outsourced to other countries. With no jobs available they will have little or no income widening the gap. I agree with Kendra and the idea that raising the wages will help people become less reliant on government aide.
Our economic future looks dim. America as a country is in debt from the War on Terror, our dues to the United Nations, and numerous other costly events. Jobs are decreasing as the population is increasing. Wars, poverty, and dreams are driving people to immigrate to America, the land of oppurtunities.
What happens when those oppurtunities run out? Who will win the race: immigrants and outsourcing to third world countries, or native-born Americans?
The silver lining of this situation with the jobs and immigrants would have to be that they are willing to take the jobs that no one else wants.
On the flip side, they are still human beings who are being subjected to inhumane working conditions that do not fulfill their rosy dreams of gold and silver by the handfuls.
Minimum wage is not high enough to support the costly living conditions of America today. I do believe that the minimum wage should be raised, just as they are planning to do if that new Bill gets passed by Congress...
However, if that bill passes, we will be faced with many small businesses going out of business thanks to lack of money to pay for wages for workers. The price of products will dramatically increase by the day and we will be stuck wondering whether or not passing that bill was a smart thing to do.
The outsourcing of jobs to other countries not good for America because the living expenses here are not like they are in these other countries and Americans cannot compete with the wages of these foreigners. Minimum wage is fine these days as long as it is enforced. Those people that work for less than minimum wage are often illegal aliens and that is just another situation that must be addressed. Wages dont necisarily need to be set but their must be a minimum or we will have people getting fired because someone else is willing to work for less and we will have mobs of people looking for work because they cannot support their family under such low wages.
On one hand, it is beneficial to the company owners to outsource to those who are willing to work for the least amount of money possible. In that case, Americans are definitely at an advantage. However, with experience working in a minimum-wage job, I have seen the dramatic drawbacks that employees face while working in these jobs. They work long hours and rarely see their families or children and often purely homesick. However, their life is their under-paying job simply because that is the only means feasible to support the people whom they love. In this instance, I agree with Cassie that the current minimum wage is not sufficient for the today's growing demands. As our economy grows and flourishes, the minimum wage needs to continue to increase as well, and it simply has not.
In today's society our economy is growing everyday and we have millions of jobs that are needed to be done. In some cases we need other countries to fill the need for employees but in other cases its not so helpful. In America, their is already a surplus of people that are on unemployment wages that takes up or tax payers money. So if we filled up those job positions first with the unemployed then it would be a good deal. Unfortunately, some of the people that are on unemployment wages enjoy getting paid to do nothing and don't have the motivation to get a job. And in that case its good to get other countries to sent us good workers that are willing to work for their money. The current minimum wages is pretty good right now, however there are ways to get around it. Like in a restaurant you can get paid 2.13 an hour just because you make tips. It is very unpredictable because if it right after Christmas you don't get tipped as much or if its a slow night you don't get as many tables so you end up making only the minimum wage and its not possible to live off of that. If we quit and refused to work for that it would do much good because their are so many people that apply for jobs that they would just rehire and fill our positions again. Its a tough cycle but thats how it is and thats how the economy works.
The outsourcing of jobs is beneficial in that is lowers the production costs of items, therefore making the price the consumer pays less. The negative to that is the many Americans who lose their jobs and are forced to work for sub-par wages at other jobs. The current minimum wage is reasonable, but I don't believe a national minimum wage can ever be perfectly fair. Because of inflation the current minimum wage needs to be raised to reach at least where its real worth is equivalent to that of previous years. Why, the real worth of the dollars you're getting paid is what matters, not the numbers on your check. Supply and demand...
Lauren said "Although this is true, it is very possible to live on minimum wage." What about when you need to support children. A single mom providing for two or three children on minimum wage sounds very difficult.
I am completely against outsourcing jobs, or anything in general. If we can have Americans make our products, instead of India, China, and Malaysia, we can keep our profits within the United States. Granted, we will not make as much since we cannot pay our workers a few cents a day, but I think it will be worth it. We can provide Americans with more jobs, and when more Americans have jobs, they are able to spend more money, which in turn helps our economy flourish, and we would be able to enjoy a higher minimum wage. In response also to Lauren's comment, I don't think it is possible at all to live off of minimum wage. As a previous earner of minimum wage, I know I would not have been able to support myself off of that. After they deduct taxes and social security, you are left with about 4 dollars an hour. If you work 40 hours a week, thats just 160 dollars. How are you supposed to live off of that?
There are many situations in which cooperation is essential for the good of all. I am involved in many things in my church, like reading the lectionary and psalms on Saturdays or Sundays. I also play the base every other Friday when many people from the church gather to pray and sing. We do it for the good of the people and it boosts my self esteem up as well as the others. I think my participitation is important because it encourages other teens to get involved.
The American economy of today relies heavily on low production costs that make possible a low price for the consumer. If the production cost of goods increases, the population will purchase fewer goods, which will further raise the price. The only way for many companies to achieve and maintain these low production costs is by outsourcing the jobs to populations where an extremely low wage can be paid. The people receiving these low wages are usually on the lower end of the economic scale, and often have a difficult time feeding their families on the low income. Raising the minimum wage that these workers must be paid would make it easier for these families to live on such an income. However, raising the minimum wage would raise the production costs of generally all good produced in the United States, which would raise the prices of the goods and cause the American population to purchase fewer goods and to be more frugal with their money. This would not necessarily be a bad thing for the nation because it would somewhat put a stop to the ever increasing trend of needless consumption that has been observed in recent decades. The one economic group that would be negatively affected by this change would be the owners of the companies that are producing and selling goods. Due to the higher production costs, they would have lower profits and would make less money overall. This would slightly narrow the current economic abyss that separates the poverty stricken from the wealthy; a result that would also be a positive benefit for the nation as a whole.
Post a Comment