talkpolitics | Honestly: the minimum wage does need to go up

This post got me thinking.

I am firmly in favor of:

A) A higher minimum wage in the whole US, and my home state of NY
B) Honesty in politics

While the OP I linked to is not exactly dishonest, it's not exactly honest either.
And this is not to put flak upon the poster there, but it's an example of political rhetoric that is used to leverage one side of a conversation, ignoring nuance.

the graphic in the linked to OP:

1) Doesn't seem to take into account state laws that raise min wage over fed laws
2) Doesn't take into account the vast difference in housing throughout a state

My objection is more with 2 than 1. 1 is easy to take care of, but 2 is not easy.

New York City is WAYYYY more expensive than Rochester or Buffalo, NY; or a large number of other places within the state I could name. Yet, this graphic gives us a number, presumably an average. But that average is way skewed. But how else should they do it? Give us on graphic for NYC and another for the rest of NY State? That wouldn't work either, because then you'd need to break it down for other cities and so on. So what do we do?

We must talk about things in the big picture without getting bogged down in details, otherwise we will have to talk for eons before we can understand what needs to be done. So while I agree that the min wage needs to go up, across the US, I have a problem with the info-graphics created to support that argument. They lack nuance, and as such, are deceiving. Even if they don't mean to be, and are honestly doing the best they can to compile and sort the data, the inevitability of misleading data is going to doom us all.

That said.
Happy saint patty's day.
Was I drunk when I wrote this? You decide.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, when you figure out what would work as evidence for you in this case, let me know and I'll help you out.

Explain to me, how do I know that what you've been saying here is actually what you believe? How do I know that you're not pulling a Steve-Potocin stunt?

It would first mean I've been running a 9+ year con. Like I said, you tell me what would pass as evidence for you, and I'll be glad to help you out.

You could be running a 3+ year con (because this forum exists for 3 years). The fact is, you cannot prove that you haven't.

I could if you told me what you'd need to hear.

An occasion that practically and unequivocally demonstrates that you do believe what you say.

Like what, exactly? I'm assuming years of blog posts aren't the thing.

That one single post doesn't count, nope. I've looked around and it still doesn't look fairly clear.

Edited 2012-03-18 22:34 (UTC)

I'm not saying one, I've got hundreds in my own archives. I have no problem showing you what you need, but you've got to explain what it is you're looking for.

Again, what you claim to believe in your posts is no proof.

Then, like I said, let me know what would constitute proof for you, and we can go from there.

The testimony of 3rd persons who can confirm that you act on your beliefs. I can wait.

Real life people who comment on my posts who I know? Will it be one of those "I don't know if this person actually knows you" sorts of things?

A video statement of a 3rd person would do. Sockpuppets or clappers who "comment" (read: back-pat) on your posts don't count, nope.

lol, you're being ridiculous. I could go onto fiverr and have someone do that quickly if it would prove anything.

Thanks for acknowledging that you can never prove anything, no matter the citations and evidence you'd be willing to provide. Please keep that in mind next time you question someone's citations after having demanded such.

(no subject)

badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com - 2012-03-19 12:55 (UTC) - Expand

I know how you could prove it!

Go to your boss, share your theories, offer to be a test study, let the chips fall where they may and then get back to us on how well you get by on less than minimum wage.

If we knew you'd be willing to walk your talk, I bet all of us would accept that as proof that you are not a Poe or a con or just a complete jerk. We'd need scans of pay stubs and proof of your bills being paid adequately on a sub-minimum wage, but that's easy enough to come by. With such proof, I for one would apologize immediately for always thinking the worst of you.

Worth a thought! :)

Sadly, your idea is not legal to pursue.

But what prevents you from moving to a place where it is?

Other responsibilities that are, frankly, more important.

So, again, you're just talking off of your ass without any factual support?

Dang it! The law always gets in the way of good ideas. :(

Which part of that was not legal? I mean, disregard the "sub-minimum wage" bit, cause that's silly.

It's perfectly legal for you to work for min wage, what am I missing?

Which part of that was not legal? I mean, disregard the "sub-minimum wage" bit, cause that's silly.

That's the part.

oh.

well, you could always do it for minimum wage.