Immigration Debate

[6thGen]

Very informative article!

However, it stated that the reason black men were employed at the same rate was that they worked for LESS money. Once they had to be paid the same amount, discrimination became a key factor and then the disparity in employment rates was seen. These examples were BEFORE the civil rights movement and the passage of laws outlawing descrimination.

I believe part of the problem in France is that such descrimination is not illegal and with such high unemployment rates, they are choosing to employ their countrymen rather than immigrants. Steps that are being taken to preserve the French culture are being seen as racist and are creating more rage like that shown in the Paris riots.

Scooterbug,
I'm not trying to be glib or condescending, but have you ever hired someone? If you have, you should know that it is virtually impossible to discriminate based on race. Further, it is in your interest to hire the best candidate for the job, regardless of race. I know that doesn't always happen, but in practice, race does not play a role in hiring. Blacks may have been employed because they work for less, but that's likely because they offered less to their employer. Setting a floor does not allow them to choose to work for less, nor does it allow an employer to hire workers with limited skill. As for France, I'd argue different based on what I've studied in economics, but I've met Frenchmen and I've been to Paris a few times, so I realize that race plays a part in hiring, more than it does here, but state regulation of employers is far more responsible for high unemployment.

 

[scooterbug44]

Scooterbug,
I'm not trying to be glib or condescending, but have you ever hired someone? If you have, you should know that it is virtually impossible to discriminate based on race. Further, it is in your interest to hire the best candidate for the job, regardless of race. I know that doesn't always happen, but in practice, race does not play a role in hiring. Blacks may have been employed because they work for less, but that's likely because they offered less to their employer. Setting a floor does not allow them to choose to work for less, nor does it allow an employer to hire workers with limited skill. As for France, I'd argue different based on what I've studied in economics, but I've met Frenchmen and I've been to Paris a few times, so I realize that race plays a part in hiring, more than it does here, but state regulation of employers is far more responsible for high unemployment.

That was my point - the examples in the article were prior to our anti-discrimination laws, when they were treated as second class citizens. The racial issues & disparities cited no longer apply here, but might in France.

 

[6thGen]

That was my point - the examples in the article were prior to our anti-discrimination laws, when they were treated as second class citizens. The racial issues & disparities cited no longer apply here, but might in France.

So are you satisfied with Dr. Sowell's explanation as to how minimum wage laws disproportionately affect black teenagers?

 

[NoHall]

Panama City Beach made Paul Harvey today. He was talking about how the local police is rounding up "bunches" of illegals by going out to job sites and parking the patrol cars and waiting to see who runs.

Not making this up.

 

[scooterbug44]

So are you satisfied with Dr. Sowell's explanation as to how minimum wage laws disproportionately affect black teenagers?

No. You just posted about how minimum wage laws might actually be hurting those they are trying to help (but they can't prove it) and then had another post on blacks vs. whites in employment w/ no examples after 1950.

If, as you stated in your pervious post, it is virtually impossible to discriminate in current US hiring, and they are all being paid the same minimum wage, I fail to see how they are disproportionately affected.

 

[scooterbug44]

Panama City Beach made Paul Harvey today. He was talking about how the local police is rounding up "bunches" of illegals by going out to job sites and parking the patrol cars and waiting to see who runs.

Not making this up.

See post #41...........wondered how long it would take for the broader media to catch on. PC must be so proud!

 

[6thGen]

No. You just posted about how minimum wage laws might actually be hurting those they are trying to help (but they can't prove it) and then had another post on blacks vs. whites in employment w/ no examples after 1950.

If, as you stated in your pervious post, it is virtually impossible to discriminate in current US hiring, and they are all being paid the same minimum wage, I fail to see how they are disproportionately affected.

Wow. There are fewer jobs if employers are arbitrarily forced to pay higher wages. Try this exercise, what do you think would happen if the minimum wage was $100,00 per year?

 

[NoHall]

See post #41...........wondered how long it would take for the broader media to catch on. PC must be so proud!

Oops--my bad. (I can't read these political threads all the way through. My prescription for Xanax is about out, and I try to save it for real issues...)

 

[DD]

Oops--my bad. (I can't read these political threads all the way through. My prescription for Xanax is about out, and I try to save it for real issues...)

Right on, NoHall!

 

[scooterbug44]

Wow. There are fewer jobs if employers are arbitrarily forced to pay higher wages. Try this exercise, what do you think would happen if the minimum wage was $100,00 per year?

No, your sources said that if employers have to choose between paying several highly skilled and highly paid workers and a large number of low skill and low pay workers to produce the same amount, they will choose the former. They did not say that raising the minimum wage to help people earn above the poverty level would cause massive unemployment.

It's not arbitrary, which is why it is reevaluated to reflect inflation at certain intervals. The minimum wage is just that - the bare minimum you can pay someone by law. The current minimum wage is $5.15. I used to make $5+ an hour as a seasonal agricultural worker w/o a high school diploma over 10 years ago. You can't live on that. The last time I saw a "hiring" sign at a local fast food restaurant they were offering $9-11 an hour to start, so $7.25 in 2 years isn't exactly the assinine $100K you suggested.