inb4butth- oh wait

Minimum wage is/below poverty line for many and it doesn't make a difference if that's $7 or $17. More companies that pay their employees above minimum wage is what we really need right now but can't since people would rather save their money rather than spend it to move the economy. Once people start spending more then that money is then turned into profit which will let employers give raises or hire new workers. These increased wages/new workers are then able to earn more money to spend at places like a restaurant down the street. That restaurant is then able to hire more workers and/or increase wages to which they can spend money at different places and the cycle continues. But how do we get people to spend more in an uncertain economy? Well for starters, we can slash and reduce taxes in order for the people to have more money in their pocket to which will make them a bit more comfortable to spend knowing the government won't be taking a chunk out of paychecks that could be used for recreational use. Giving tax breaks to big business and oil corporations will result in the decrease of handing the consumers the cost in the form of decreased retail and gas prices. Lower prices will mean that a person can buy, say, 2 shirts instead of one. Even lower taxes/limited tax exemptions for the the poor and poverty could potentially do wonders It's not really rocket science when one uses plain, common sense.

It has to be raised every once in a while. It doesn't weaken the economy, it adds more money in the pockets of low wage earners who live paycheck to paycheck meaning they spend all their earnings, putting it all back into the economy. I'll wait for pseudo economists and fear mongers to cry about this (not that this is new anyways).

Good for California. Bad for everyone else who says it's bad and doesn't live in California.

As stated, any economist will tell you that producers look for a specific profit margin and when you increase fixed costs they are going to pass those costs on to consumers. Opportunity cost applies - if that price rise heavily affects demand for a good/service then the producer will cut back or move to a different industry. That being said, very few industries are affected by minimum wage increases other than food service and retail. Competition endures the same increase. Will consumers pay more for items like fast food and clothing? Yes. Will the cost be unbearable? No. I doubt Californians will notice their Big Mac costing $4.58 instead of $4.20. Will people lose jobs? Very few. The market will set a natural minimum wage on its own, which is not much higher than the new minimum in most cases. While this distorts free markets it doesn't do so heavily. Keep in mind it doesn't reach $10/hr until 2016.

This is in no way a turn for the better.

Niiiice, $10 an hour. It's $10.25 in Ontario so y'all are coming close.

I know that some people are going to use this as an excuse for businesses cutting jobs but in my mind it's an easy cop out for them since those businesses wanted to cut jobs anyways. And until the Feds do something to bring inflation down; which as I understand it, isn't going to happen, then wages continually need to be brought up to so that the jobs at minimum wage can afford a livable existence.

Raising minimum wage destroys job opportunity. just an fyi.

Jerry Brown needs the boot. Bring back Arnold.

The most embarrassing lie ever believed by the American people is Reaganomics. For a long time, the majority of people were honestly convinced that taking from the poor and giving to the rich was what would help our national economy the most. All because the same people who told the lie said God was on their side.

Good.

Let's see how many people get laid off now.