Quote:1.) you can't use Eisenhower as a reference and then use the numbers from the end of the great society as your benchmark.   

 

2.) Going back to the dollar under Eisenhower, the economy was roughly 2.5 trillion in gdp at the time, its roughly 16.5 now.  That's 6.6 times greater which correlates to a $6.60 dollar minimum wage in today's economy.  Depending on the CPI calculator that you use the inflation adjusted number would be somewhere between 8.50 and $9.00.  The average between the inflation adjusted number and the number indexed to GDP is roughly what we have now.  If you want to make the case that you believe in a higher minimum wage then be my guest, but the idea that you can use Eisenhower as a benchmark to lecture conservatives as heartless is just disingenuous.  

 

3.) the benchmark of a great economy isn't the minimum wage.  The minimum wage is a floor that's set for the kid who can only say "Do you want fries with that but doesn't know how to work the fry machine yet.  The idea that it's the driver or the lead indicator of economic success is just ridiculous.  

 

4.) You decry SUPPLY SIDE economics, but leave out the fact that one of the reasons that laffer and his economic team designed what we currently call SUPPLY SIDE economics in the early 80s was due to the runaway inflationary trends created in mid 60's policies (that you champion).  It was so bad that Jimmy Carter had to give a speech about trying to WHIP inflation and Ray Stantz had to pay 19.5% interest on a mortgage.  Keynesian economics didn't prescribe a policy to counteract both runaway inflation and economic stagnation.  Reagan says you're welcome.  

 

5.) Most importantly, you can try and cherry pick about the average increase of the minimum wage all you want.  you're undoing is what you don't say.  As someone who FEELS THE BERN, you are in favor of an ever increasing state and taxing people at a rate high enough to pay for it.  You don't mention the fact that at current we are in the middle of the largest government expansion in the history of man, underwritten by zero percent interest rates and quantitative easing  which have contributed to one of the largest monetary expansions in history.  I don't hear you running around shouting from the rooftops about the roaring 21st century economy.  All of that money flowing from the printing presses and the banks of the world and yet in the 8 years of this administration we will never see 3% GDP growth and the labor force participation rate stands at historic lows.  Now that's change you can believe in. 

 

 

Oh dear...  I don't even know where to start, or whether it's worth it or not...  You're just gonna ignore what I say and just make up some more non-sense.

 

1st off, your "theory" on the laffer curve is cute and may garner you some nods of approval from your neo-con friends (wink wink, Malabar), but it's just not accurate.  I mean, I have this theory called the Anchorman Curve.  In the Anchorman Curve, you give all your money to me, and then inflation goes down, wages go up, the middle class grows, and women all want you.  Yes, you specifically, JJ...  See, just because I say something doesn't make it true, just because.  Inflation went up because of the monetary policy started in the 60's and then exacerbated by Nixon, and then the great oil crisis came to head under Carter.  So to blame it all on "liberals" would be foolish, but not beneath you.  Kensyian economics actually models this issue.  However, to say that the laffer curve was the only way to resolve this problems is ridiculous.  Keynsian eonomic models and theories would have gotten us out of this mess just as easily, and probably with more benefits to workers.  Reagan can put another coal on the fire of whatever perdition he resides with in.  Millionaires and Billionaires can thank Reagun, I tell him to go kick rocks.

 

As for the minimum wage discussion...  You're changing the topic.  The miminum wage has been stagnant to getting lower in terms of dollars...  That's the point.   That's why your boy Trump thinks it needs to be looked at and possible raised.  Obviously, minimum wage isn't the gold standard of how an nation/economy is doing.  There you go again...  Deflecting.

 

And as for government expansion under Obama...  Care to elaborate?  Or are you just parrotting what you hear on Fox News and your boy Hannity/Limbaugh?  Federal employment under Obama has actually DECREASED!!!!

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