So... Do These Numbers Actually Check Out?

[ordnance11]

Rev Dark wrote:

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http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/201 ... blogs&_r=0
Pretty much a point by point rebuttle of Logan's piffle.

Well said. Well said indeed.

It's grossly over-simplified and doesn't take into account the costs of living in other states. I find it interesting that they chose Ohio as their example. If they chose California, the costs per employee to raise them to a "living wage" given the overall more expensive costs of living in that state would be MUCH higher. Closer to $20.00 per hour, including all mandatory benefits.

California has mandated minimum living wage rate that are much higher than the rest of the nation. Now if you choose Missisipi, Louisiana or Alabama...you'd be at $7.25/hour.  At the low end of the totem pole. You can have made a better case. I suspect Ohio is in the middle, making it a reasonable case.

Another point to consider. Walmart, McDonalds, and other such jobs were never meant to be "living wage" jobs. These are entry level positions - training wheels for young people (or supplementary income for old people as in the example above). Basically - if you're working at Walmart or McDonalds past the age of 25 or so? You're doing something terribly terribly wrong with your life or you're retired and something has forced you to go to work again. (Again, likely health related)

And if it's the only job available during the great Recession and the aftermath and you're out of work, then beggars cannot be choosers. Have you considered that a retiree might have to work again because:
1) Their pension benefits either got slashed or evaporated because the company you retired from made it a priority during "restructuring"?
2)  They'ved outlived your retirement benefits.
3)  They suffered a financial catastrophe. Or their medical bills is outstripping their out of pocket expenses. Most peopple go for the cheapest medical premium available. Then they found out the deductables go through the roof. 
Or worse, their too "rich" to qualify under normal Medicaid and too "poor" to afford private help insurance.
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