[jcommin]

Maybe the minimum wage is society's way of making us feel good for those who have minimal skills that work in the industry. The reality is we need cheap labor. Flint won't pay $200 to cut his lawn. I couldn't buy a head of lettuce if that farm worker was paid a living wage.

Most of you talk about your experience when you were young working part time. I don't know the statisitics but your part time job is someones full time job.

The minimum wage was $1.60 when I was a teenager in 1967. I later found a part time job that paid $30/day. By the time I was 20 -21, I was a member of the Teamster union making $5.41/hr. Those wages allowed me to save money that put me thru school. My parents had no money to send me.

That environment doesn't exist today. Factory jobs are gone - what is left is food service and retail - those working in those industries are just threading water, especially if it is your full time job.

I work in manufacturing and more than half of the factory labor force works 2 jobs. We also have a temp service that supplies labor to buffer the business cycle of our business. They typically are $9- $10/hr jobs. There is a revolving door every day of hires that come and go. Several years ago, we re-negotiated the contract with this temp service and agreed to a lower starting wage - it was a cost reduction. You also get what you pay for. Some of thse people are just down right scary.

History tells me there has and will be a demand for cheap labor - a harsh reality - the minimum wage just makes us feel better.