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Extra Credit assignment

12/9/2015

46 Comments

 

Online philosophical chairs

Read the except from the Declaration of Independence below and write a response that agrees of disagrees with the following statement:
  • The founding fathers would view the current minimum wage situation as an abuse by the government.
In order to get credit, you must write a statement that lays out why you agree or disagree with the statement. You must also respond to two other people's statements. Make sure to include your name and teacher's name. If we don't know your name, we can't give you credit.
 
Excerpted from The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

46 Comments
Manuel H
12/11/2015 03:49:46 pm

They would be fine with the way things are right now.
The minimum wage rises every year, it was meant for teenagers and young adults. 48.3% of workers who work at federal minimum age are ages 16 to 24.
In Seattle, the $15 minimum wage law has been passed. Restaurant owners have reported they will need to raise menu prices, use poorer ingredients, reduce operating hours, cut the amount of workers, and/or more.
Restaurants are closing at higher than normal rates, a Washington restaurant already averages 3 fewer workers than the restaurant national average.
The founding fathers would be disappointed in our citizens, now that Seattle workers have a $15 minimum wage, they are asking for fewer hours so they can still qualify for government benefits.
This is not government abuse, the government should increase minimum wage, but $15 is an extreme hike
-Manuel H.
Warner
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/23/5-facts-about-the-minimum-wage/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2015/03/16/we-are-seeing-the-effects-of-seattles-15-an-hour-minimum-wage/

Reply
Jaime Rincon
12/12/2015 03:32:32 pm

it depends on what you view minimum wage if you went to a university and hard to get paid a certain salary its not abuse but if you are the person who works on minimum wage it is an abuse. I feel that everyone has to earn their salary. Mrs.Warner

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Manuel Hurtado
12/12/2015 05:48:14 pm

There is a standard of what minimum wage has to be set by the state.
There are many people who have a degree and work a minimum wage job, sadly. I wouldn't call it government abuse though.

Amy Espinosa
12/12/2015 06:08:44 pm

I agree... Because some people are satisfied with what they earn so they wouldn't see it as an abuse but if you believe that you are earning too little and think you should get paid more then it is abuse

Aylin Serrato
12/13/2015 10:12:56 pm

I agree with Jaime, on how it all depends on how you view it, because there are people who don't deserve the minimum wage but they keep insisting and that is abusing it. Where on the other hand the people who are okay with how much they are getting payed are the ones who often deserve that minimum wage. (Mrs.Warner)

Jaime Rincon
12/12/2015 03:36:56 pm

I agree with manuel 15 is a huge spike in money but that may also help businesses because people are getting paid more their should be a higher expectation for a worker thus making businesses more efficient

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Manuel Hurtado
12/12/2015 05:52:01 pm

There will be a higher expectations for workers, but it'll still be someone working a minimum wage job, productivity will still be the same.
Raising it to $15 will cause prices to jump a couple dollars, which will add up when you're buying multiple things. It's too steep
But if its raised slightly to something like 10 or 10.25. Prices will raise by a few cents, and we can all spare a few cents for someone to live more comfortably

Julie Valdez
12/12/2015 08:39:08 pm

However, the downside to that is that prices will go up as well, and some families getting financial support will most likely lose most, if not all, of it. And those few extra bucks isn't going to make up for that loss.

Christopher Figueroa
12/13/2015 03:22:17 pm

Yes, $15 an hour would be a big jump. But like everyone else said, businesses would probably just raise their prices as well and i personally don't think it would help as much as a lower jump. Small businesses wouldn't be able to pay their workers $15 an hour so many might shut down. The ones that would benefit are the well established larger businesses.

Nicholas Garcia
12/13/2015 04:13:29 pm

If the government were to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, then employers will have a higher expectation of their workers. This means that several workers shall be layed off, due to the fact that some will be more efficient than others. We will then on have another crisis with unemployment in America. My teacher is Mrs. Warner.

Gabby Manzo
12/13/2015 08:31:12 pm

I agree with you guys however buisnesses may go out of buisness and the workers would get layed off and those people would be without a job.

Aylin Serrato
12/13/2015 10:18:54 pm

Yes $15 is a lot for a minimum wage because again, in my opinion you have to work your way up to earning that kind of money and now with the high minimum wage being $15 people who tend to be lazy will most likely be getting paid that when they don't deserve it, but sooner or later they would be fired. I agree how you guys are saying there will be higher expectations for the workers that is true, and also that it is better for the business and the workers but then again a lot of business get caught up with making more money and they often decide to let go of some workers so its not always a good thing.

Amy Espinosa
12/12/2015 06:14:53 pm

But the way I see it, if the government is the one who is raising the minimum wage, then they are the reason why restaurants need to raise menu prices, use poorer ingredients, and so on. Most of the money that the citizens give in taxes is the money that the government takes from them. And where does that money go? Usually to the prisons which in fact shouldn't need if the men and women who are there don't deserve the good quality of stuff and food they have. So I do see the raise in minimum wage an abuse from the government.

Reply
Amy Espinosa
12/12/2015 06:15:46 pm

Mrs. Warner

Julie Valdez
12/12/2015 08:40:28 pm

Interesting point. But doesn't money that goes to the government get invested in financial support program such as food banks, federal scholarships, homeless shelters, and public schools as well?

Nicholas GarcĂ­a
12/13/2015 05:29:49 pm

I agree with Amy because restaurants use this as an excuse to make their plates with less quality. As soon as people think that a raise in the minimum wage will make their lives easier, they are forced to think again.

Jessica Z link
12/13/2015 10:26:47 am

I agree but even if the wages are fine right now some people all over the world are struggling a lot when it comes to their earnings and I n general high prices that they struggle to pay

Reply
Jaime Rincon
12/13/2015 08:39:53 pm

i agree that people are struggling but sometimes that is the life that some people choose not all people but we cannot satisfy everyone and sadly there will always have to be someone at the top and somebody at the bottom. History repeats itself sadly

Jessica Z link
12/13/2015 10:28:00 am

My teacher is Mrs. Warner

Reply
Kimberly Gastelum
12/13/2015 03:13:11 pm

I agree with Manuel H. Businesses will change the way their business runs by changing up the prices so that they can be purchased. Like he had implied, if restaurants are spending too much on helping their business run, they will use less of what they used to. If their business is still not cooperating with the changes, they will eventually change things up for the attraction of customers.

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Jasmine Valle link
12/14/2015 11:41:02 am

America's Founding Fathers established, what was hundreds of years ago a new form of government, one where the people maintained the power and had a voice. Yes, their beliefs still stand, yet we have to keep in mind we are in a new era where things don't necessarily apply the same way. The controversy regarding the issue of minimum wage is a touchy subject. Although one would think that taking a stance further emphasizes the logic behind their point, it also deemphasizes it. You see, with the increase on minimum wage, there are just as many pros as there are cons. Today, the Founding Fathers would view the minimum wage situation as one that can sway either way

The most crucial point to cover are the rights of the people, which in this case have not been violated. Change, especially one that affects a whole nation cannot be expected to be made over night. Minimum wage is slowly increasing every year at the demands of citizens. The reason the minimum wage has not been increasing at a more desirable rate is due to the fact that other citizens are concerned of the long term effects as well. Raising the minimum wage would aid in lifting 44 millions from poverty(Par. 7-8). Many wrongly believe that those who earn less than $15 an hour are mostly teenagers or early adults, but 8.4 million people who are between the ages of 25-54 earn less than $10 (Par. 9). The people disagreeing with the increase of minimum wage are worried about the loss of jobs in the long run because businesses will have to conform to the higher wage requirements (Par. 12). I agree with Manuel H.'s evidence that with the increase of minimum wage, restaurants have to cope by providing less quality service and raising prices. Like Julie Valdez pointed out: with benefits also comes the reduction with already existing benefits such as "child-care subsidies or public aid for food, housing and medicines" and so it is up to the individual to determine which they rather give up (Par. 10). Also, it will be more difficult for smaller cities than larger ones. The minimum wage situation is not an easy one because as something is gained, something is also lost.

Through the Declaration of Independence, our Founding Fathers gave the people the gift of governing their own country. The flaw in that is that our nation consists of billions of voices, not just one. Therefore there will never be a one-hundred percent consent on any subject matter, which is why laws may take years to pass. Yet, it does not mean change is not happening. The creators of the revolutionary document were intelligent men who would understand that since America has grown profusely, there are more opinions that make it hard to conform to one.

Jasmine Valle
12/14/2015 11:46:57 am

My teacher is Mrs. Warner

Julie Valdez
12/12/2015 08:36:57 pm

I disagree that the Founding Fathers would feel that the minimum wage state is abuse. Frankly, this country doesn't have enough money to go around, so lower minimum wage is really the best thing that can be done. On top of that, low income families can receive financial aid and supporting services, making up for economic loss.

If the government raises minimum wage, that isn't abuse either, since it doesn't directly negatively affect most people.

Reply
Julie Valdez
12/12/2015 08:41:44 pm

My teacher is Ms. Warner.

Reply
Manuel Hurtado
12/12/2015 09:12:09 pm

But it would affect us, prices will increase and you're paying for that. Shorter business hours for places you go to.
Minimum wage jobs are usually entry level jobs, we're teenagers in high school. Less jobs for us
Smaller businesses suffer, and we sort of do have enough money to go around, but it's distributed poorly, rich people keep all that money for themselves and they just get richer.

Reply
Jessica z link
12/13/2015 10:30:28 am

Reply
Jessica z link
12/13/2015 10:34:30 am

Sorry I messed up but I agree with Julie but even if it doesn't effect everyone it still effects some people all over the world which is a problem because a lot of people don't wish to struggle moneywise but to me if you are not earning what u deserve then it's abuse because your working sorl hard and your not getting credit for half of what you work
My teacher is Mrs Warner

Kimberly Gastelum
12/13/2015 03:06:12 pm

I agree with Julie's statement because there is not really a right or wrong in this situation. If the minimum wage raises, businesses change their value of goods and services because of this and people pay for these things if it is really necessary. If they see that their business is not running correctly, they will most likely change the way their business works. In another case, if the minimum wage decreases, goods and services are reduced so that they are able to be purchased.

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Michelle Rojas
12/17/2015 02:10:06 pm

I agree that the minmum wage state is not an abuse. However, this country doesn't just make money for us aids like welfare, food stamps etc. come from the working people. There are people working that get taxed yet can't even provide for their own families. There are also people who work two jobs who barely even get to see their family because of this and still aren't getting by. I feel that we should raise the federal minmum wage to $10.10, as Obama intends because the goal of this country is to provide opportunities and by raising the wage to $15 more jobs will be lost and prices will skyrocket.

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Jessica link
12/13/2015 10:20:25 am

I disagree with the founding fathers , if you are working and earning what you think you think you deserve then its not abuse because you are okay with the earnings that your receiving on another hand if you are working more than what your earning than that to me is abuse because you are working so hard for a pay that is not satisfying . in other words aif the government raises minimum wage then its still kind kind of abuse because even if it does not effect everyone it effects some people that would struggle a lot if theminimum wage raises.
My teacher is Mrs. Warner

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Kimberly Gastelum
12/13/2015 03:02:31 pm

(Mrs. Warner)
I disagree that our founding fathers would view the current minimum wage situation as an abuse because even though we are all different and worked differently, like go to college, to get that job, at the end of the day we are all doing the same labor. Lets say someone works less hours than you. They went to college and you did not, but are working there and earn much more than you with just a few hours while you spend more hours to get the same amount. Yes, they did work more by studying, but it is the same job and the same labor you are putting into it.

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Christopher Figueroa
12/13/2015 03:17:58 pm

I feel people that went to go college should be earning much more than people who didn't even if they work the same job. The ones that went to college took the time to go to school and get a well paying job. They're entry level jobs, they don't require much and I don't think they should be getting payed as much unless they work long shifts. This is just my opinion.

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Christopher Figueroa
12/13/2015 03:11:21 pm

I agree with the founding fathers, the current minimum wage is abuse, minimum wage is meant for teenagers...entry level jobs right? I personally don't think people should be getting payed $15 an hour to flip hamburgers. The jump to $15 an hour would make people stay in their jobs longer, which would make it harder for other people to find jobs. It would just make storeowners raise their prices and money would loose its value, it would help the economy for a while but not fix it permanently. If people want to make good money i feel they should have to get a college degree. The jump to $15 would have many positive and negative effects on the people and the economy. I think people forget that minimum wage is meant for entry level jobs, they expect to buy a new house and car working at places like taco bell. In my opinion they should leave the minimum wage at $10 an hour and pay more to people who have good jobs and actually try and worked hard to get their job.

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Christopher Figueroa
12/13/2015 03:18:40 pm

My teacher is Mrs. Warner

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Nicholas
12/13/2015 05:21:08 pm

The way that I see it, raising the minimum wage is not an abuse, since doing so will not change much. If the minimum wage changes to 15 dollars the hour, then the price of other things shall certainly change as well. Companies will adapt to this change by raising the price of their products. This is how companies get used to change.

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Nicholas G
12/13/2015 05:23:25 pm

Forgot to write my last name sorry

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Yessica Gonzalez (Warner p.3)
12/13/2015 08:01:14 pm

" Raising the Minimum Wage"

In this article , they are disagreeing with raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Personally , I do think that $15 is a bit high , but most workers are struggling with the minimum wage of $7 . Most workers have family , maybe 2 or 3 kids, including themselves and their spouse, and 7 dollars just doesn't cut it . If we do the math , gas is $2.67 per gallon , but if what if their work is far from where they live , that's at least 20 bucks , now gas, electricity, and water, that's $200 ( minimum) , what about their child's and personal needs ? 7 dollars just doesn't cut it for workers .

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Gabby Manzo
12/13/2015 08:40:42 pm

i agree with you , however if they raise the minimum wage to $15 than all prices would go up. This will just put us in the situation we are in now. I honestly feel like our economy system is just messed up and there is so pros and cons in trying to fix it.

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Manuel Hurtado
12/13/2015 09:20:35 pm

Chances are those people are on welfare, its not much but it'll give them more.
You're forgetting about the drastic effects of an increase to $15
Minimum wage is no longer $7, in California it's $9, but it should increase to about $10-$10.25
Someone working minimum wage could find time to go to a community college and earn an associates degree, which will give them more opportunities

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Gabby Manzo
12/13/2015 08:34:28 pm

I believe in both arguements however i lean more towards not raising the minimum age. If prices were raised to $15 buisnesses would go out of buisness and workers would lose their jobs. Also all buissnesses would just raise their prices so we would basically be in the same place we are now.

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Michelle Rojad
12/17/2015 01:57:56 pm

I agree with not raising the Federal minimum wage by almost $8 however something needs to be done about America's poverty. To take care of this we should Obama's minimum wage change. Which is raising the Federal minmum wage to $10.10 which can not only benefit the working class greatly but can also bring in more taxes so that we can have more benefits such as for disabilities or even just going through a rough time. If this law is passed there is an estimated growth of $22 billion dollars in America's economy and create 85,000 new jobs.This isI agree with not raising the Federal minimum wage by almost $8 however something needs to be done about America's poverty. To take care of this we should Obama's minimum wage change. Which is raising the Federal minmum wage to $10.10 which can not only benefit the working class greatly but can also bring in more taxes so that we can have more benefits such as for disabilities or even just going through a rough time. If this law is passed there is an estimated growth of $22 billion dollars in America's economy and create 85,000 new jobs.This is because raising minmum wages increases the income of poor workers & causes them to spend more.

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Manuel Hurtado
12/13/2015 09:42:32 pm

To emphasize my previous point, in Australia, the minimum wage is $16.37
Consumer prices in aus are 6.14% than those in the US
Rent prices are 8.54% higher than in the US.
There are many things that contribute to this price gap, but high wage is one of the big ones.
McDonalds in australia still makes a profit, though.
There are minimum wage standards set by age group (teens will less than adults), which we should follow,a high schooler doesn't have a family to support.
This is a case for McDonald's though, a giant multibillion dollat corporationcthe fact that smaller businesses would suffer immensely doesnt change

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Aylin Serrato
12/13/2015 10:28:53 pm

(Mrs.Warner) I agree and disagree with this, i agree with this because the government sometimes does take abuse of this by taking away a pretty big amount of taxes and imagine if the minimum wage was raised higher it would only mean he would be taking away more money for taxes. With this money the government uses it to give it to people who don't really deserve it meaning the people who could work but rely on the governments money or to prisoners like Amy said, they don't deserve better quality things for they things they have done. At the same time i disagree with this because then again with all the money being taken away by the government he uses towards military or building parks, schools, shelter homes, and helping families who are in need. So the government can abuse his power at times but not only with money in other ways he abuses his power, but then again it all depends on how you look at things.

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Manuel Hurtado
12/13/2015 11:04:22 pm

The amount of money that goes to each, prisons, roads, schools is up to the government and will most likely remain the same no matter the min. wage.
The quality will drop though when everyone makes less money and there's less money to go to them

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Michelle Rojas
12/17/2015 10:01:51 am

The founding fathers would view our current minimum wage system not as abuse of the government but as an unfair situation that would need tweaking. The current $7.25 minmum wage is ,in some states ,unfair because if you live in low income states e.g Texas & Oklahoma , you are easily able to live off of this wage, however a person living in California or New York would be barely getting by with $8 an hour. However, it is left up to the states to decide if the minmum wage would be increase , California is on its way for being $1.75 above the federal minmum wage. It is understandable why the federal minimum wage law has not been yet changed because it would be an unfair outcome. Thus, the tumulutous debate over raising the the federal minmum wage. A slow and steady increase would not only benefit the working class , by putting extra money in their pockets for their laborious jobs , but will also bring more workers with more to offer. This is why the jump of $2.75 is not an exact outrage but an idea that allows the individual to grow. As for the upper classes , they are nit affected by this negatively. It will also bring in more taxes into the system, with those taxes , more benefits can be provided for government systems as well as infastructure and the common defense. When the idea of raising the minmum wage up to $15 or $20 dollars an hour is brought up the fear of workers being replaced with machines/robots and businesses being shut down arises , because when these situations happen the government would not be protecting every individual which is mentioned and promised not only in the Declaration if Independence but also in the Bill of Rights. Our current minmum wage situation that is slowly progressing secures the rights of the individual, provides opportunity, protection, and promotes progression.

Reply
Michelle Rojas
12/17/2015 10:03:17 am

My teacher is Mrs.Warner

Reply



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