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hfojvt

(37,573 posts)

50. I don't buy it

Tue Sep 2, 2014, 12:16 AM

Sep 2014

although it seems hard to find historical data. The 1974 SAUS did not have any information about minimum wage.

Here's the best I could do from 1979-current.

The percentage of the workforce earning minimum wage has dropped, from a high of 15% in 1980 and as the minimum wage was NOT increased at all in Reagan's two terms the percentage fell to 5.1% by 1989.

After Clinton raised it a few time in his 2nd term, the percentage rose to 6.7% in 1997. Then Bush and the Republican congress did not raise it until Democrats won the House in 2006 so the percentage fell to 2.2% by 2006. Back up to 6% by 2009 and it has not been raised since, so the percentage has fallen to 4.3%.

http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2014/ted_20140403.htm

Most adults are still NOT working minimum wage jobs, but there is seemingly no data on the percent of the labor force making less than 140% of minimum wage. Since a 39% increase in the minimum wage would affect a lot of them too.

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The minimum wage debate is proof that Republicans have ultimately won. [View all] RandySF Sep 2014 OP

back in the day Skittles Sep 2014 #1

Now hold on ... knightmaar Sep 2014 #22

Yup tazkcmo Sep 2014 #39

you are correct Skittles Sep 2014 #41

I don't buy it hfojvt Sep 2014 #50

This is the legacy of the Reagan Era Chisox08 Sep 2014 #2

Clinton has a hand in it too. Unknown Beatle Sep 2014 #3

Clinton and Gore actually campaigned on NAFTA. Enthusiast Sep 2014 #11

A very big hand.... sendero Sep 2014 #13

It wasn't just Clinton though he was a big part of it. stillwaiting Sep 2014 #16

Of course it wasn't "just".. sendero Sep 2014 #17

I hope my post didn't seem like I was criticizing your post. stillwaiting Sep 2014 #25

Not at all.. sendero Sep 2014 #38

THIS!!!! tazkcmo Sep 2014 #40

Ironically :) sendero Sep 2014 #42

It is a shame that so many in society are into the truedelphi Sep 2014 #48

American protest culture is a joke, anyway Scootaloo Sep 2014 #52

I agree. sendero Sep 2014 #53

Well, I do think there are different protest cultures Scootaloo Sep 2014 #54

For some reason, i have a feeling nothing yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #55

ALL presidents since the late 70s have been Reaganites. immoderate Sep 2014 #37

There are a lot of the liberal Democrats who are very heavily educated who really see the LiberalArkie Sep 2014 #20

That attitude is simply not a liberal (egalitarian) attitude. stillwaiting Sep 2014 #26

I totally agree. I ran into quite a few of them when I was working. Always proud of the money they LiberalArkie Sep 2014 #31

I've witnessed the same Boreal Sep 2014 #44

Not from me, it ain't. Jackpine Radical Sep 2014 #30

Wasn't Clinton a Republican? RoccoR5955 Sep 2014 #21

HRC is already acting Unknown Beatle Sep 2014 #43

This is what really pisses me off. CANDO Sep 2014 #47

Well since Reagan, we have had 16 years yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #28

Sorry, I don't count Clinton as a Democrat. RoccoR5955 Sep 2014 #46

If you reduce the number of eligible employees, wages will rise. the_sly_pig Sep 2014 #4

Honest question -- Nuclear Unicorn Sep 2014 #12

Reference here littlemissmartypants Sep 2014 #15

Give me tired, poor and huddled masses..... the_sly_pig Sep 2014 #32

What do you mean by "amnesty"? alp227 Sep 2014 #34

Not to mention, the min. wage has not kept up with inflation. Quantess Sep 2014 #5

The unions have been gutted newfie11 Sep 2014 #6

Another Reagan disastrous achievement. B Calm Sep 2014 #7

Very true!!!! Nt newfie11 Sep 2014 #45

Elected DEMS are in service to the same 1% that the GOP serves. blkmusclmachine Sep 2014 #8

The Oligarchs, Corporations And Banks Own And Control The Politicians That Own And Control Us cantbeserious Sep 2014 #9

The minimum wage was not created quaker bill Sep 2014 #10

+1. n/t Laelth Sep 2014 #14

British philosopher Thomas Carlyle The Wizard Sep 2014 #18

And a large part of the country did not work (starting by married women) Mass Sep 2014 #19

I'm afraid you're right Man from Pickens Sep 2014 #23

Technology will eliminate most minimum wage jobs soon enough madville Sep 2014 #24

just because you had a minimum wage job as a teen doesn't mean the law was meant only for you. unblock Sep 2014 #27

I don't think those jobs were ever 'designed' to fund teenagers. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2014 #29

The 1% plantation owners got their country/world of slaves back. Who needs the south to rise again? L0oniX Sep 2014 #33

Minimum Wage Has Always Been the Great Lie daredtowork Sep 2014 #35

"Workers of the WORLD Unite!" Is still a damned good idea. Tierra_y_Libertad Sep 2014 #36

That's how it shook out in your growing up years. LiberalAndProud Sep 2014 #49

Can they really be said to have "won," when there was no fight? Scootaloo Sep 2014 #51