>
> On May 18, 2009, at 7:06 PM, joseph noonan wrote:
>
>> And WTF with comparing the *average* wage with a minimum?
>
> I really don't get the question. Our min wage, $6.55/hr, is 35% of the
> average, $18.51/hr. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was 45-55% of the average.
> Taking it up to 50% of the average - which is just Good Ol' Days levels -
> would bring it to $9.26, a 41% increase. The Left Party's proposed minimum
> for Germany would leave even that in the dust. Isn't that a valid point to
> make?
In a roundabout sort of way. It might be helpful to know what the German average is to compare it with the proposed minimum. And I guess I misread somebody's tone, because I got the distinct impression you and shag were dumping on German proposed min. And since the German min would be significanty higher than some *collectively bargained* wages in this country, I didn't see the point in dumping on it.
> By the way, the Brit min wage is £5.73/hr - or about $8.70/hr, at last
> Friday's exchange rate.
Exactly -- 6.55 is shit. $13.whatever is a vastly better, esp since it comes with health care.