Minimum wage argument and Uncle Bill

A fellow posted the following thought:

Hi.

I'm all for good working conditions for people, but I'm not for a minimum
wage.  The reason for this is just what is a good minimum wage?  I'll use a
ridiculous example on purpose to illustrate my point.  I think everybody
should get the minimum of $200 per hour.  This would currently let people
earn a wage that would be able to be lived on, or would it?  If this wage
were to pass as a minimum wage, the cost of items would go through the roof
to allow manufacturers and others who pay workers who earn the minimum wage
to make a profit.

Also, the minimum wage wasn't intended to be a living wage.  Look at
teenagers who work at McDonald's.  They probably live at home, where they
get food and lodging for nothing or next to nothing.  Don't get me wrong, I
know there are those who, during this economic situation, can only find a
job at minimum wage.  At the same time I think that having a minimum wage
can hurt our economy for the reasons I stated above.

My response:

 

Your theory cuts both ways.  Let's say that we remove the minimum wage.  At the same time labor unions have been under attack and are either being declared illegal or rendered ineffective.  Added to this mix are millions of unemployed people. 

So tell me, who has the power?  Is it evenly distributed between the employers and the employees? 

Let me introduce you to my Uncle Bill and the year 1920.  Bill was 12 years older than my dad, born in 1900.  At 20 years of age Bill went looking for a job.  Down the road a piece, in Joplin, he saw a construction gang putting up a building.  Bill went up to a fellow and asked, "Where's the straw boss?"  The fellow pointed to another man some distance off.  Bill says that he sauntered up to the man, pointed to a worker who was busy hauling a load of building materials, and said, "How much do you pay that man?"  The straw boss told him.  Bill said, "I'll do a harder days work for less".  He gave the straw boss a figure and the boss walked up to the worker and canned him. 

Uncle Bill believed that every man had to look out for himself in this Dog eat Dog world.  He went on to a career as an FBI stool Pidgin, infiltrating labor unions and spying on union members.  Bill was a hard worker and had an easy going personality, charming his way into many inner circles.  But he also was pretty good at turning peaceful demonstrations into violent mobs. 

Uncle Bill is not an isolated example.  His story was told over and over in those hard times leading up to and during the Great Depression.  Remember, our nation's economy has a roller coaster history of highs and lows. 

But Bill is the product of the Right to Work mentality that is once again taking control of our Working Class. 

If you are still reading, I'll tell you one additional, Uncle Bill story. 

A couple of Idaho deputies were driving along a road near Burke, Idaho.  One of them glanced over at a snow bank and told the driver to stop.  They got out and walked over to what looked like a shoe sticking out of the snow.  It was attached to Uncle Bill.  They hauled him to the doctor and saved his ratty hide.  Seems Uncle Bill had been caught spying on a miners union meeting and a couple of them took Uncle Bill outside town to discuss his behavior. 

 

Curious Carl