100 Hours To Kill

Via Drudge comes this summary of tomorrow's historic happening:

On Thursday, Nancy Pelosi will take the gavel as the first woman speaker in the history of the House, and immediately launch a 100 legislative-hour march to quickly put the Democratic stamp on the new Congress.

Before President Bush arrives on Capitol Hill on Jan. 23 for his State of the Union address, House Democrats intend to update ethics rules, raise the minimum wage, implement 9/11 Commission recommendations, cut subsidies to the oil industry, promote stem cell research and make college educations and prescription drugs more affordable.

More here.

I'm figgering the 100 hours--and by the way, are they working through the weekend or are they, like Loverboy, working for the weekend?--is going to seem more like a 1,000 days.

And who among the Dem leadership is going to wear the headband?

Comments

[Jeff P]

Ah, Mike Reno!
In the future, when human memories are able to be manipulated and edited via computer technology, the number of traumatic 80s memories of Mike Reno doing his little tight-jeans dance being wiped from our collective gray matter will be staggering.
Back in the day I was seeing a girl who actually threatened to withhold sex unless I brought her to every stop on the Journey/Loverboy tour within 120 miles of where we lived. There were six such concerts in that radius.
Six.
My god it was horrible...

[John]

"Back in the day I was seeing a girl who actually threatened to withhold sex unless I brought her to every stop on the Journey/Loverboy tour within 120 miles of where we lived. There were six such concerts in that radius."

If you really went through with that, do you have that woman's phone number? I want to meet the woman who was so good in bed that it justified six Journey/Loverboy concerts.

[Bagger]

Have you seen Mike Reno lately? "Yikes" is all I can say.

[Guy Montag]

Back in the day I was seeing a girl who actually threatened to withhold sex unless I brought her to every stop on the Journey/Loverboy tour within 120 miles of where we lived. There were six such concerts in that radius.

Maybe the interweb arrived too late for you, but I would have traded her in for some dead-tree pr0n.

[John]

"Have you seen Mike Reno lately? "Yikes" is all I can say."

I saw him on VH1 the other day, he looks like an old wrinkled Cartman. Look at him, he really does.

[tarran]

It's so cute how they are moving quickly to slurp from the trough:

A higher minimum wage will ensure that there is a class of unemployable people thus justifying welfare.

Promoting stem cell research will ensure that the government maintains its near monopoly on basic scientific research. I predict lots of honorary degrees and speaking engagements for the connected congressmen.

Of course, by subsidizing education and health care, they can be assured that the nominal price will continue to shoot through the roof, thus creating a need for more state intervention to deal with the crisis of unaffordability.

You can hear the slurping, grunting and squealing all the way to Boston.

[John]

"It's so cute how they are moving quickly to slurp from the trough:

A higher minimum wage will ensure that there is a class of unemployable people thus justifying welfare.

Promoting stem cell research will ensure that the government maintains its near monopoly on basic scientific research. I predict lots of honorary degrees and speaking engagements for the connected congressmen.

Of course, by subsidizing education and health care, they can be assured that the nominal price will continue to shoot through the roof, thus creating a need for more state intervention to deal with the crisis of unaffordability.

You can hear the slurping, grunting and squealing all the way to Boston."

Terran you obviously haven't been reading Hit and Run this fall. Because if you had, you would know that the Democrats are wonderful and all of that Democratic pork and corruption is good for you as opposed to that evil Republican pork and corruption. Don't you realize that the sun is going to rise tomorrow and all will be right with the world?

[joe]

It's so cute how the myth that the minimum wage increases unemployment gets thrown out there, as if noting that the sky is blue.

I'm looking forward to 100 reality-bases hours. That's 100 more than we've had in the past six years.

[Guy Montag]

A higher minimum wage will ensure that there is a class of unemployable people thus justifying welfare.

The amount they are proposing is still below the market minimum and I seriously doubt that one person will become unemployed from that increase. They will get the "oh they care so much" points from certain voters and supporters.

Do not confuse this with support of a government minimum wage, it is not and I do not advocate one.

[Warren]

Screw you guys. Back in the day I bought tickets to an all day concert in Buffalo. Iron Maiden, Joe Walsh, Loverboy, and the Headliner Foreigner. At the last minute Joe pulled out (Awwwww) but was replaced by Ted Nugent (Hooray!). Foreigner had just come out with 4 so they were just beginning to suck. Also it was a drizzly and overcast day and they had arranged for the sun to come out just before they took the stage. Loverboy's Get Lucky was still top of the charts. They sounded live just like the studio. I forget Ted's album of of the day (I remember him saying in an interview that the cover shot was taken in front of a wall of vaseline). At any rate he was in full Nuge form. Before the concert I had never heard of Iron Maiden, and frankly I figured with that name they could only be so good. They were on the Number Of The Beast tour. They blew me the fuck away (an experience enhanced by the doobage). I will NEVER forget Bruce's vocals with Eddie playing air guitar behind him and...

Oh yeah, like I said Loverboy sounded real tight.

Good times

[John]

"It's so cute how the myth that the minimum wage increases unemployment gets thrown out there, as if noting that the sky is blue."

Yeah Joe, lets just make it $25 an hour if increasing it doesn't cause unemployment? Why not? Why not give some prosperity to the common man. I love how the laws of supply and demand are suspended in your reality based universe. Why don't you just be honest and stumble on some reality namely; if the minimum wage is increased in the meaningless and symbolic amounts proposed by the Democrats, unemployment is unlikely to increase by a significant amount."

[John]

Warren,

How dare you compare Iron Maiden to Loverboy!! Of course Iron Maiden gave a fantastic show.

[Guy Montag]

One more note on the minimum wage. I have heard, but not seen, that some union contracts are based on multiples of the minimum wage. If this is so then one might expect a bit of union job loss on the next contract negotiations, or a reduction in the multiples.

I have heard minimum wage multiples used frequently by union members as justification for their rates, as if noting that the sky is blue.

[R C Dean]

As I read that list, the House Democrats intend to do exactly one thing to save money:

cut subsidies to the oil industry

two things that don't cost anything much (and probably mean less):

update ethics rules
implement 9/11 Commission recommendations

and three things that cost money. Lots of money.

promote stem cell research
college educations more affordable make prescription drugs more affordable
raise the minimum wage

How is that "liberaltarian" alliance with the Dems coming? Better than, worse than, or about the same as the Repubs?

[R C Dean]

The amount they are proposing is still below the market minimum

i.e., it is meaningless.

[Kwix]

Terran you obviously haven't been reading Hit and Run this fall. Because if you had, you would know that the Democrats are wonderful and all of that Democratic pork and corruption is good for you as opposed to that evil Republican pork and corruption.

John,
Lay off your partisan bullshit. The only way that any off this shit will pass is if Bush stops wielding his veto pen. Oh, wait, that's right, your lord and savior, Dubya, has only ONCE bothered to drag it out of the inkwell. So, when this shit passes by simple majority, know that the blame rests squarely on the Pres.

[Warren]

John,
No no no. There was no comparison. The were just on the same bill.

[Guy Montag]

R C Dean,

The amount they are proposing is still below the market minimum

i.e., it is meaningless.

Not quite, see the rest of my comment.

[John]

"John,
Lay off your partisan bullshit. The only way that any off this shit will pass is if Bush stops wielding his veto pen. Oh, wait, that's right, your lord and savior, Dubya, has only ONCE bothered to drag it out of the inkwell. So, when this shit passes by simple majority, know that the blame rests squarely on the Pres."

Why for not saving the country from a lunatic Democratic Congress that you people wanted elected? Bullshit, I hope Bush signs all of it. The people voted for the Democrats, they have a right to get the government the Democrats want.

[VM]

"On Thursday, Nancy Pelosi will take the gavel..."
"President Bush arrives on Capitol Hill on Jan. 23 for his State of the Union address"

Oh the HORROR! oh the HORROR!

(JeffP: the sex or the concerts?)

[Guy Montag]

So, when this shit passes by simple majority, know that the blame rests squarely on the Pres.

Um, I think if blame is to be tossed about some of it should go to the simple majority who voted for whatever you are complaining about before seeing a vote.

[Kwix]

The amount they are proposing is still below the market minimum

i.e., it is meaningless.
If it's meaning less due to being below market value, then how will it cost money to implement. Other than printing new "Minimum Wage" posters of course? Granted, if Guy Montag is right about union contracts, I suspect that this will bite them hard.

[ellipsis]

Ah, the glory days of big hair rock. Loverboy wasn't bad, Journey was ok; Iron Maiden rocked hard, but they caused a lot of chaos because they were a touch too satanistic for the most of the adult world. Good times. As we used to say, might as well jump...

Anyway, this congressional grandstanding will amount to squat, and then they'll bicker and argue about 'ou killed 'ou.

[joe]

If it were below the market minimum, there wouldn't be anyone earning it. And yet, there are millions of Americans who do.

You stick with the Econ 101 theory, fellas. I'll stick with the facts on the ground.

[Kwix]

Why for not saving the country from a lunatic Democratic Congress that you people wanted elected? Bullshit, I hope Bush signs all of it. The people voted for the Democrats, they have a right to get the government the Democrats want.
Well, let's do the math.
Republican President + Republican Controlled Congress = Largest spending increase ever.
Perhaps a Republican President + Democratic Congress will equal a bit less, eh?
The whole reason that Dems have been promoted on this site leading up to this election is that the Repubs have done JACK ALL to reign in spending and the POTUS has helped them along thier way. At least this way, maybe Bush will find his fucking veto pen to save his face with his party since he sure as hell didn't do it when they were the ones in control.

[Apostate Jew]

"Terran (sic) you obviously haven't been reading Hit and Run this fall. Because if you had, you would know that the Democrats are wonderful and all of that Democratic pork and corruption is good for you as opposed to that evil Republican pork and corruption."

I must have been at another website. At the Hit and Run I was reading, sentiment seemed to indicate that the Republicans had performed so badly that the Democrats could hardly be worse.

Joe and John, two sides of the same, increasingly worthless, debased coin.

[Kwix]

Um, I think if blame is to be tossed about some of it should go to the simple majority who voted for whatever you are complaining about before seeing a vote.

Oh, I have no problems blaming the individual representative, the party line or whatever other bullshit the congresscritters come up with to justify thier bullshit. My point was that if you see that the Legislative and Executive are in collusion to increase spending and reduce rights, you change it up and try to face them against each other. I realize that is probably not why 95% of the votes were cast, but that is why it is a good thing from my POV.

[Gilbert Martin]

"If it's meaning less due to being below market value, then how will it cost money to implement. Other than printing new "Minimum Wage" posters of course? Granted, if Guy Montag is right about union contracts, I suspect that this will bite them hard."

It will cost any employers who currently have any minimum wage employees something to implement.

As for the union contracts angle, there are indeed some union contracts that are tied to some multiple of the minimum wage and that will raise those employers costs - and the federal taxpayers costs too - thanks to that longstanding political giveaway to labor unions called the Davis-Bacon Act.

The contractors working on federal construction jobs (buildings, highways, etc.) are required to pay their employees the "prevailing wage" (i.e union wage rates) in the area. So look for the costs on federal construction contracts to go up.

[John]

"At least this way, maybe Bush will find his fucking veto pen to save his face with his party since he sure as hell didn't do it when they were the ones in control."

I think that is horseshit. The Democrats won the elections. Elections ought to mean something. I honestly hope we get a $20 minimum wage, a greenhouse gas tax and a domestic policy that would make Joe estatic. I really do. Put an end to this "owe I will vote for a Party in hopes of gridlock even though they have crazy ideas" bullshit. You guys wanted a Democratic Congress, you should get exactly what you want. Let the Democrats have a shot at things for a while. They won the election. I didn't like it when the Democrats were obstructionist and I don't think the Republicans should be either.

[John]

"thanks to that longstanding political giveaway to labor unions called the Davis-Bacon Act."

That was actually a give away to the unions and a way to make sure minorities workers couldn't get in on the government contract action during the New Deal. It is basically the only Jim Crow era law the Democrats still love.

[Guy Montag]

joe,

Um, the closest thing to a good estimate of people making federal minimum wage is 2 million people and there is some question about that.

Fussing about extreme outliers in populations of this size is pretty petty.

[Apostate Jew]

"How is that 'liberaltarian' alliance with the Dems coming? Better than, worse than, or about the same as the Repubs?"

As nothing has really happened yet, I predict "about the same" - no bones will be thrown by either party and the libertarian dog will continue to go hungry.

[NoStar]

What's newsworthy about Nancy Pelosi's new position? So, a woman will be in charge of running the House. I always heard a woman's place is in the house.

[Pat]

A higher minimum wage will ensure that there is a class of unemployable people thus justifying welfare.

I wish I could remember who said this...

It creates unemployment by forcing the otherwise employed folks among us to charge a set minimum price for their labor.

Price for labor goes up, the less employers will buy.

[Gilbert Martin]

John:

Yes I am aware of the racist angle that was involved in the enactment of the Davis-Bacon Act.

As I recall, the impetus was a contractor bringing an all black work crew from Mississippi (or some other southern state, I'm not sure which one) to New York to work on a federal project which prompted the politicians to enact the law which favored the labor unions - which at the time were restricted to white workers only.

[Davebo]

The contractors working on federal construction jobs (buildings, highways, etc.) are required to pay their employees the "prevailing wage" (i.e union wage rates) in the area. So look for the costs on federal construction contracts to go up.

Well, only in areas where a large chunk of the populace makes the minimum wage. Ya know, just sayin..

I live in an area with low wages compared to many, but there aren't many construction laborers working for minimum wage around here.

[Davebo]

Price for labor goes up, the less employers will buy.

I guess it's possible that every McDonald's in the country really does have say, 15% more employees than is required for the store to do business.

But as an employer myself, I find that to be extremely unlikely.

[Kwix]

The Democrats won the elections. Elections ought to mean something. I honestly hope we get a $20 minimum wage, a greenhouse gas tax and a domestic policy that would make Joe estatic. I really do.
So what you are saying is that when the Republicans instituted the Prescription Drug Benefit, that is what you voted for? When the Patriot Act passed, that is what you voted for? When the Republicans of Congress wasted it's time with Teri Schaivo, that's what you waited for? Wow, you voted for a lot of time and money wasting shit. Glad to see you got what you wanted.

[Apostate Jew]

"I didn't like it when the Democrats were obstructionist and I don't think the Republicans should be either."

Ah, another man without principles. Would that we had more like him. The handbasket could be conveyed to hell so much faster.

[Kwix]

I didn't like it when the Democrats were obstructionist and I don't think the Republicans should be either.

I see that you don't care what the laws are or how much they cost, so long as they pass without obstructions.

[Captain Holly]

As much as I would like to get into a fight over the minimum wage and Democrats in Congress, I simply cannot allow Loverboy to be smeared without responding.

Back in April, 1981 I saw April Wine, Loverboy, and some obscure band called Doc Holliday at the Salt Palace in SLC. Even though AW were the headliners, Loverboy brought the house down. I doubt they ever opened for AW again after that show.

Although I will admit there was a time when I thought Mike Reno looked cool in that outfit...yeeech.

[John]

"Ah, another man without principles. Would that we had more like him. The handbasket could be conveyed to hell so much faster."

How is respecting the results of an election not having principles? It is not as if the Democrats are Nazis planning to murder half the population. You don't help the country by undercutting the party that won an election. Elections ought to mean something and the people who won them ought to be able to govern. The Democrats won the election they have a right to see some of their policies enacted. If you don't like that fact, then I suggest you don't vote for the Democrats in the next election.

[Gilbert Martin]

"Well, only in areas where a large chunk of the populace makes the minimum wage."

No, union wage rates that are contractually tied to some mutliple of the minimum wage rate will go up and those new rates are become part of the "prevailing wage" rate which Davis-Bacon requires federal construction contractors to use.

[John]

Captain Holly,

It is not surprising that Loverboy could outrock a bunch of snoozers like AW. God AW was a bad band. You are right though, as 80s bands go, there is a lot worse than Loverboy.

[Warren]

When it comes to libertarianism, both the Dems and the Reps, SUCK HIND TIT. A fact that should be excruciatingly painfully obvious by now. TO EVERYONE.

How anyone can say one side is well motivate and slightly less toxic, and therefore deserves some support, while the other side goes out of their way to be as monstrous as and demonic as possible, is just beyond me.

But what do I know? I'm just some moonbat that votes Libertarian.

[Apostate Jew]

"How is respecting the results of an election not having principles?"

It depends on the election. The Representative represents his district, the Senator his state. If, being in the minority, one refuses to try to obstruct the majority, he betrays the more important majority, that which elected him. The Congressman is responsible to the district or state that elected him not to his party and certainly not to the voters of other states or districts.

Washington's - and many others' - counsel against "the spirit of party" must seem quaint to you.

[Ryo]

I would like to point out that the Loverboy song "Working for the Weekend" plays in the background during the competition between Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze for a Chippendale's job. Which, I'm pretty sure was an allegory about how a svelt, trim and sexy government is more preferable to a bloated one.

[matt]

"I guess it's possible that every McDonald's in the country really does have say, 15% more employees than is required for the store to do business.

But as an employer myself, I find that to be extremely unlikely."

Ok, so what about a potential new worker whose services McDonald's values at $6 or $7 per hour who now will not be employed with a under a new minimum wage of $7.25? It's the difference between what's seen and unseen as Bastiat or Hazlitt would say.

[matt]

D'oh! Disregard the "with a" between employed and under.

[John]

"The Congressman is responsible to the district or state that elected him not to his party and certainly not to the voters of other states or districts."

They can feel free to vote against it. I am talking about Bush. Bush was elected by the country who by a majority rejected him in the last election. I don't think he should veto everything the Congress sends him. I honestly hope the Democrats get some of their policies put through. Not because I think they are good ideas, they are not, but because it is terrible for the country for people to coninually vote for one party or another only to see nothing change because the loosing party prevents it. That is why people loose faith in the political system. The best thing that could happen to this country long term is for people to get a big dose of Democratic policies as a result of this election. Either they will work, which is great. Or, people will realize that elections do matter and maybe they ought to think a little bit before they vote.

[Blee]

"I guess it's possible that every McDonald's in the country really does have say, 15% more employees than is required for the store to do business.

But as an employer myself, I find that to be extremely unlikely."

Davebo, it's not that there are excess employees lying around, but that many of these jobs can be replaced with one-time investments in technology.

A fast food place I managed in Maryland purchased automatic beverage vending machines that were tied to the register orders, eliminating one position. Currently many are having orders taken remotely, deleting another position. Take a peek at the self-service counters at grocery stores. Sure, this is an inevitable result of technological advance, but increased payroll costs certainly speed the process.

[Gilbert Martin]

The best argument against the minimum wage has nothing to do with economics - it is the fact that the federal government has not been delegated any power in the Constitution (as required by the 10th Amendment) to require any wage level at all between employers and employees.

[Davebo]

Ok, so what about a potential new worker whose services McDonald's values at $6 or $7 per hour who now will not be employed with a under a new minimum wage of $7.25?

Well, they will either hire the worker at the new minimum wage, or realize they could get by without him all along.

But I just don't see many instances where an employer couldn't determine whether or not the new employee was really necessary.

And I must plead a bit of ignorance regarding certain union contracts being tied to the minimum wage. I'm sure there are examples of such out there but I seriously doubt it's a common occurrance. But again, living in a right to work state with extremely weak unions for the most part, I may not have been exposed to this situation.

[Warren]

John,
WTF? I mean seriously WTF? You hope the Dems will ruin the country so that the people can feel the way the feel about the Republicans for the way THEY'VE been ruining the country. You actually believe the Dems are so much worse than the last six years!?!?!? I don't disagree that they are awful, but the Reps are just as bad. And as I say I don't see how anyone can think otherwise at this point.

I hope bush vetos every bill sent to him. I wish every president would veto every bill sent to him I don't think there are a dozen I would have signed into law in the past hundred years. Gridlock is the best of all possible worlds.

On the other thing:
Pat Benatar made the headband HOT

[Davebo]

Sure, this is an inevitable result of technological advance, but increased payroll costs certainly speed the process.

You have a point here, but isn't wage pressure merely speeding the inevitable decision?

And for what it's worth, I love self checkout machines!

[Ignignot]

Those are Loverboy songs, Err, and Loverboy has always sucked.

[Tim]

In fairness to John, the Dems ran in the election explicitly on this platform for the first 100 hours, and each measure individually I believe has pretty solid popular support. They already debated these issues before the public, and the elections resulted in approval. It's not as though they're trying to pass legislation radically opposed to their campaign promises.

And it's a pretty modest agenda anyway.

[JW]

Pat Benatar made the headband HOT

Yeah, but Kate Bush made the ring on the tounge even hotter. Stevie Nicks back in her day, the gypsy thing...OK, I liked it, I admit it.

Dear god, I had mercifully forgotten about April Wine until now. ::urgh::

[NoStar]

In Washington state, our minimum wage is higher than the Federal government minimum. After this came to be, I noticed that Taco Bell and Jack in the Box made dispensing drinks a self service affair. Free refills on colored and flavored high fructose corn sweetened water became was less costly than paying someone to fill up the cups.

I wonder if joe would notice the loss of entry level jobs? I know that no one cares about pimply faced teenagers and entry level employment opportunities, and besides, even the pimply faced teenagers can have free refills.

[Jeff P]

It's a key on Kate's tongue. It's a homage to Houdini's wife, who would slip him a key with a kiss before he went underwater shackled.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Warren,

Pat Benatar made the headband HOT

Auuughhhhhhhhhhhh! Pat Benatar?

Little Ms. Put another notch in my lipstick case?

OMIGOD!

JW, yes, Stevie Nicks was hot. Still love those dresses, and the sweet young things are wearing them again....

NoSTar, well said.

[Stevo Darkly]

Screw you guys. Back in the day I bought tickets to an all day concert in Buffalo. Iron Maiden, Joe Walsh, Loverboy, and the Headliner Foreigner. At the last minute Joe pulled out (Awwwww) but was replaced by Ted Nugent (Hooray!). Foreigner had just come out with 4 so they were just beginning to suck. Also it was a drizzly and overcast day ...

Hey, I think I remember that concert! I was standing in the rain, with my head hung low. But I couldn't get a ticket -- it was a sold out show.

I heard the roar of the crowd. I could picture the scene. I put my ear to the wall, and -- like a distant scream -- I heard this one guitar ... it just blew me away! I got stars in my eyes.

And the very next day, I bought a beat-up six-string (in a secondhand store). I didn't know how to play it, but I knew for sure: That one guitar felt good in my hands. And it didn't take long to understand. Just one guitar, slung way down low ... it was a one-way ticket! Only one way to go.

So I started rockin'! I ain't never gonna stop! I gotta keep on rockin'. Someday I'm gonna make it to the top -- and be a juke box hero! I got stars in my eyes. I'm a juke box hero ... I'll come alive tonight.

Then, much much later ...

In a town without a name, in a heavy downpour, I thought I passed my own shadow by the backstage door. It was like a trip through the past ... to that day in the rain, and that one guitar that made my whole life change.

Now I need to keep rockin'. I just can't stop. I gotta keep on rockin'. This boy has got to stay on top ... and be a juke box hero ... go figure.

[grylliade]

It's so cute how the myth that the minimum wage increases unemployment gets thrown out there, as if noting that the sky is blue.

So the experts are wrong on this one? C'mon, joe, the consensus of economists is that a minimum wage lowers employment. Why won't you accept that?

[Ironchef]

Raising the minimum wage hasn't worked in the past. Why do the Dems think this time will be different?

[Derrick]

1) Loverboy sucked/sucks/will always suck.

2) Iron Maiden is one of the best groups of all time. That is a fact.

3) The minimum wage sucked/sucks/will always suck.

4) What would it take to educate the vast majority of the 'merican peoples on basic economic principles, i.e. the relationship between supply, demand, and price? I mean, is that not getting taught in public schools?

5) I'd do Pat Benatar, even if she is like 8 billion years old now. But only if she shows up in leotards.

[:-]

the myth that the minimum wage increases unemployment

Right, joe. Maybe this will help: Did you read about the dog that didn't bark?

[joe]

grylliade,

"So the experts are wrong on this one? C'mon, joe, the consensus of economists is that a minimum wage lowers employment. Why won't you accept that?"

Because said consensus does not exist. Economicsts are all over the place on the issue.

[joe]

http://www.epi.org/minwage/epi_minimum_wage_2006.pdf

Nice consensus you've got there, grylliade.

You know, Derrick, I'm fairly certain these 650 practicing economists, including the Nobel lauriates, know about the demand curve.

[Eric the .5b]

How is that "liberaltarian" alliance with the Dems coming? Better than, worse than, or about the same as the Repubs?

Eh, it got your team out of Congressional power, RC, so I'm happy enough with it so far.

But is that anti-torture bill actually going to show up? And if it shows up, will it fail while a higher minimum wage passes? I wonder.

[grylliade]

Because said consensus does not exist. Economicsts are all over the place on the issue.

Actually, most of them believe that the minimum wage increases unemployment. Which isn't to say that there isn't disagreement; but to say that there isn't a consensus among economists is dishonest. Now, probably most of them would agree that the effects of a minimum wage are perhaps not that large. But the consensus is that there is some effect.

[Eric the .5b]

But the real question is that if more and more economists start saying it does cause unemployment, will joe adamantly keep insisting that no consensus exists - or will he except that consensus and suffer the sniping of the ones who already believed it? 😉

[joe]

Eric the .5b,

Christopher Dodd has filed a bill to fix the Military Commissions Act of 2006. So that's a start.

And if there is a significant change in the state of the profession's understanding of the issue, such that the degree of consensus begins to approach that which surrounds global warming, I would hope I would be intellectually honest enough to admit that. I'm not a perfect person, and I might allow my biases to get the in way of the truth. I can tell you that I've altered by opinion about welfare reform, if it's any consolation.

gryalliade,

I'm not going to take your word for it that "most" agree with your position. Maybe it's 70%, maybe it's 51%, maybe it's 45%. Either way, there is nothing like the overwhelming, longstanding consensus that exists among climate scientists. The effect of the minimum wage on employment is an ongoing debate within the profession in a way that global warming is not.

[thoreau]

You know, I'm quite willing to believe that small changes in the minimum wage will not produce statistically significant (i.e. measurable) changes in the unemployment rate. If the minimum wage is set below most wages, then most jobs are unaffected. And many minimum wage jobs are service jobs that can't be easily automated, so demand for labor may be inelastic.

However, if you keep raising the minimum wage then at some point it WILL cause problems.

[Eric the .5b]

Christopher Dodd has filed a bill to fix the Military Commissions Act of 2006. So that's a start.

I'm pleased with Dodd for doing that, but when's the vote? Where's the urgency? Our government is torturing people, and so far, it sounds like Team Blue just wants to mark its territory.

Would you put hiking the minimum wage or cutting subsidies ahead of stopping our use of torture, joe? If so, why?

(And props for admitting you would change your mind. Just keep that in mind.)

[Eric the .5b]

RC:

As I read that list, the House Democrats intend to do exactly one thing to save money:

What exactly have your guys done to save money the last six years, anyway?

[joe]

Eric,

I would put stopping torture ahead of the minimum wage, by a mile.

I'm willing to cut the Democrats enough slack, based on the observation that "Politics is the art of the possible," to let them get the Mom and Apple Pie stuff out of the way first.

But they'd damn well better get around to Dodd's bill ASAP.

[Eric the .5b]

But they'd damn well better get around to Dodd's bill ASAP.

That, I'll agree with.