Minnesota Votes

2005 Senate Bill 3 (Minimum Wage Increase)

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  • Introduced by Sen. Ellen R. Anderson, Sen. Scott D. Dibble, Sen. Dean E. Johnson and Sen. Linda Scheid on January 6, 2005, to increase the minimum wage for employees with $500,000 in sales per year from the current level of $5.15 an hour to $5.90 beginning July 1, 2005 and to $6.65 beginning July 1, 2006. For employers with sales less than $500,000 per year the minimum wage would increase from the current level of $4.90 an hour to $5.65 beginning July 1, 2005 and to $6.40 beginning July 1, 2006 (HF48 Companion Bill).
    • Referred to the Senate Jobs, Energy and Community Development Committee on January 6, 2005.
    • Motion by Sen. Ellen R. Anderson on January 13, 2005, to add Senator Bakk as a co-author of SF3. The motion passed in the Senate by voice vote on January 13, 2005.
    • Reported by Sen. Ellen R. Anderson on January 31, 2005, from the Jobs, Energy and Community Development Committee with amendments and the recommendation that the bill pass as amended. As amended, the bill would increase the minimum wage for employees with $500,000 in sales per year from the current level of $5.15 an hour to $6.10 (rather than the proposed $5.90) beginning July 1, 2005 and to $7.00 (rather than the proposed $6.65) beginning July 1, 2006. For employers with sales less than $500,000 per year the minimum wage would increase from the current level of $4.90 an hour to $5.85 (rather than the proposed $5.65) beginning July 1, 2005 and to $6.75 (rather than the proposed $6.40) beginning July 1, 2006. The amended bill would increase the minimum wage for employers under 20 years old from $4.25 to $5.15. The report was adopted.
    • Amendment offered by Sen. Dave Kleis on February 3, 2005, to delete all of the provisions of the bill and set the minimum wage at the 2005 Federal rate. The amendment failed in the Senate (29 to 36) on February 3, 2005. [Vote Details and Comments]
    • Amendment offered by Sen. Carrie L. Ruud on February 3, 2005, to require large employers to pay tipped employees at least $5.15 per hour and small employers to pay tipped employees at least $4.90 per hour. They would also have to pay the difference if the tipped employee doesn't earn sufficient tips to equal the required compensation rate. The amendment failed in the Senate (29 to 35) on February 3, 2005. [Vote Details and Comments]
      • Motion by Sen. Bob Kierlin on February 3, 2005, that he be excused from the vote on the Ruud amendment. The motion passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 3, 2005.
  • Passed in the Senate (37 to 28) on February 3, 2005, increase the minimum wage for employees with $500,000 in sales per year from the current level of $5.15 an hour to $6.10 beginning July 1, 2005 and to $7.00 beginning July 1, 2006. For employers with sales less than $500,000 per year the minimum wage would increase from the current level of $4.90 an hour to $5.85 beginning July 1, 2005 and to $6.75 beginning July 1, 2006. The amended bill would increase the minimum wage for employers under 20 years old from $4.25 to $5.15. [Vote Details and Comments]
  • Motion by Sen. Ellen R. Anderson on May 3, 2005, that the Senate Agree to the amendments made by the House and repass the bill as amended. As amended, the bill would increase the minimum wage for employees with $650,000 in sales or business per year from the current level of $5.15 per hour to $6.15 per hour on August 1st, 2005. For employers with sales or business less than $650,000 per year the minimum wage would increase from the current level of $4.90 per hour to $5.25 per hour beginning August 1st, 2005. The minimum wage for employees under 20 years of age would increase from $4.25 per hour to $4.90 per hour for the first 90 days of employment. The motion passed in the Senate (44 to 22) on May 3, 2005. [Vote Details and Comments]
  • Signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty on May 10, 2005, to increase the minimum wage for employees with $650,000 in sales or business per year from the current level of $5.15 per hour to $6.15 per hour on August 1st, 2005. For employers with sales or business less than $650,000 per year the minimum wage would increase from the current level of $4.90 per hour to $5.25 per hour beginning August 1st, 2005. The minimum wage for employees under 20 years of age would increase from $4.25 per hour to $4.90 per hour for the first 90 days of employment.

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Comments

Introduced by Sen. Ellen R. Anderson, Sen. Scott D. Dibble, Sen. Dean E. Johnson and Sen. Linda Scheid on January 6, 2005. Passed in the Senate (37 to 28) on February 3, 2005. New Comment

1) MIN WAGE [by Anonymous Citizen on July 20, 2007]
SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE WAS BORN WITH A GOLDEN SPOON UP THEIR HINDEND GET YOUR FACTS STRIGHT FRIST. SOUNDS LIKE YOUR THE ONE WITH NO EDUCATION.
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2) Stupidity in Action [by Anonymous Citizen on December 18, 2005]
If Mary wants to work for Sue for $1.00 an hour, that is their business. The state has no right to infringe on their freedom to do waht they want with their bodies.

By the way, how many union contracts have wage hikes tied into the minimum wage?
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3) Business Owner [by Anonymous Citizen on July 31, 2005]
I own 5 restaurants the Minneapolis area. First of all the only employees I start at $5.15 are servers who are also making at least $50.00 a day in tips (which means they are making over $10.00 per hour). This minimum wage increase is going to cost me approx. $200,000 per year just in wages (that does not include the taxes I have to contribute). I am already losing money on these restaurants and will be forced to close the doors, leaving approx. 250 people without a job.

Don't get me wrong I am not totally against the minimum wage hike, but I think that Minnisota needs to adopt a tip credit like so many other states have. If their was a tip credit servers would still make a decent wage and employers could afford to hire more servers so the consumer would get better service. If you look at states that do have a tip credit you will find that the service at most restaurants is better, for two reasons, one is that the employer can put more servers on a shift so the servers can have time to give better service and also the servers are motivated to give better service.
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4) Simple Economics People [by Anonymous Citizen on April 22, 2005]
When employers have to pay more to employees what do you think will happen to cost of products and services these same people purchas? They will go up, so what is the net gain?

This is how free market economies work. If you want a to live in a socialist country, find one and move.
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5) Sharing [by Anonymous Citizen on April 24, 2005]
Twenty five years ago if the CEO of a corporation made 25 times what the lowest paid employee in the company made he or she was considered extremely well paid. I work for Target Corporation where the CEO now makes about 300,000 times what the lowest paid employee makes. The CEO at United Healthcare makes about 750,000 times what the lowest paid employee makes. Considering these companies would not be in business without all the 'little people' to do the actual work and make the money, these are grotesquely unfair and undeserved amounts.
The majority of people I know making minimum wage bust their butts for it and they have managers whose goals are to constantly get more productivity out of them for very minimal wage or benefit increases. In fact, with employees having to pay a larger share of their benefits every year their total take home pay is actually decreasing.
It seems to me that the minimum wage could easily be increased to a level that would give these hardworking employees a modest level of respect and common decency without putting the company in the least bit of financial risk. It's called sharing.


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6) What? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 8, 2005]
"Who is right? The busiess owner trying to make a living or the employee trying to make a living?"

Way more often than not, the buisness owner is not trying to make a living. The wage earner is. Big difference.
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7) 48,000 [by Anonymous Citizen on April 1, 2005]
The state jobs survey (available at the legislature) said 48,000 people make minimum wage. The same report said 450,000 people in Minnesota make below 8.50(what the wage would be if it had kept pace with inflation) These people would all be directly affected by an increase. In greater Minnesota 1 in 4 make below this amount. Over 100,000 make less than 7.00
Of course I'm sure all these peolple are dults and goldbricks.
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8) Racino/Casinos [by Anonymous Citizen on March 28, 2005]
Our DFL party in this state is bought and paid for by the current Tribal Casinos. Why else do they keep opposing any forms of competition for our gambling dollars??? The public supports it why don't our legislators??? Follow the money!

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9) Minimum Wage [by Anonymous Citizen on March 20, 2005]
1.) The biggest bank in the world is Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C)
http://www.hoovers.com/free/search/simple/xmillion/citigroup/--ID__58365--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml

2.) Citgroup has about 294,000 employees.

3.) The minimum wage in NY is $6 now, more later.
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/business_ny/employer_responsibilities/workprot/lshmpg.htm

4.) When you call CitiBank at 800-950-5114 about your bank account, the customer service person is in INDIA!

WAKE UP. You're not competing with NYState, you are competing with India. And ideas like this just push jobs away. Further and further away.
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10) Just a question [by Anonymous Citizen on March 27, 2005]
Just a question but who only gets paid 5.15 an hour? I know most tipped employees do but at the local Mc D's they pay at least 7.50 an hour. Is there anyone out there that only gets paid 5.15 when it comes down to it? Please post if you know!
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11) Not Help [by Anonymous Citizen on March 8, 2005]
If you feel so strongly about helping the poor, I applaud you. However, forcing others to pay the price for your desired charities is as wrong as not doing your duty to take care of the less fortunate in the first place. I can give you the contact information for Catholic Charities. This organization puts more than 93% of its donated income directly to those who need it most.
The problem here is not that minimum wage is too low, it's that those in bad situations either lack the motivation, or the resources, to find the help that is already out there to get them back on their feet and headed in the right direction.
Sadly, if the minimum wage is raised, many of the people who were fooled into thinking this is a God sent will be the biggest losers. Companies that pay minimum wage do so because they have low skill positions and low employment budgets. This means companies will be forced to cut employees at the low end of the wage scale loose, in order to remain in business.
In theory, and in a perfect world, there would be no debate at all. We must strive help those in need, not hold them down. We must give every person a chance to succeed. This is not help. This is not the way to give that chance.
God Bless Those In Need Of Mercy.
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12) Interesting [by Anonymous Citizen on April 4, 2005]
This debate is interesting. Ironically, both sides are trying to portray themselves as being the savior of the poor, the small business, etc. The reality is that peoplea re out for number one. The people that want minimum wage higher are trying to get more money for the same amount of work. The people agrungin against it, want to save money so it stays in their pocket instead of going into the pockets of the employees. Either way the people are out to make it better for themselves at a cost of others.

So who is right? The busiess owner trying to make a living or the employee trying to make a living?
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13) Republicans, please [by jeffs3000 on February 9, 2005]
I can't understand why anyone would oppose this bill. $5.15 is a joke. This comes back to the real reason why republicans oppose abortion, and that is because they think we need more ditch diggers. The truth hurts. Constantly trying to keep the little man down.
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14) If you were worth it, you would be paid it. [by Anonymous Citizen on March 3, 2005]
The lower class whiners make me sick - if you had a skill worth more than the minimum wage you would be paid it! The only people this bill will help is the goldbricks and timeclock sandbaggers that have made stupid decisions in their lives and expect the rest of us to pay them premium wages for work any trained monkey can do. Get some education, give up the booze, cigarettes, and lottery tickets, stop sleeping with every tom, dick, and harry - and make yourself MORE VALUEABLE to an employer - THEN YOU WILL BE PAID MORE!! Amazing how that works!!
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15) Lower class whiner? [by Anonymous Citizen on November 7, 2006]
I can't believe that the writer of the article "If you're worth it, you'll be paid it" is an American. He, or she, must be from another Country.

I am suggesting that for several reasons. We don't have lower class workers in America. Our Constitution says that we are equal. Actually, the Constitution only says that we are created equal. But we don't have lower class people, only lower paid people. Those people are paid less due to what they do NOT know, which can be anything from doing a job that they happen to love, but doesn't pay well, to just plain not knowing how to present themselves.

They may be victims of circumstance from making the wrong choices earlier in their life. After all, if a person has been guilty of a crime, he, or she, may not be considered trustworthy, which limits their employment opportunities. There are exceptions to that rule, though. If they committed a crime defrauding a business, or businesses, electronically, or by computer, they will often be hired at a high rate of pay to prevent others from following their example.

Personally, I retired from a $25 an hour job 4½ years ago, only to find that age discrimination is rampant in Minnesota. My previous employment is also a deterrant, because no one wants to hire you because they expect you to get a better offer soon and leave. Meanwhile, I must survive on Social Security and my savings.

The person writing the original article showed his own lack of class with their grammar.
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16) Reply to "If you're worth it" [by Anonymous Citizen on May 4, 2006]
Worth it or not, the cost of housing, taxes, gas and food are still going higher every year. If the low wage earner has to live off Welfare it's coming out of you're tax dollars. I agree on the drinking and gambling part, smoking too! I don't spend money on any of those. Even without those three expenses one still cannot make it on minimum wage salaries. Add up your bills and see if you could survive on minimum wages!
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17) For all those rich bastards [by Anonymous Citizen on June 29, 2005]
I go to full time school, I am a full time parent and I work full time. And you have the guts to call me lazy. And I only get paid barly over min. wage well plus tips. But you trying feeding kids and paying bills when people are not generous enough to give me a 2 or 3 dollar tip. Maybe if you rich bastards would stop spending you money on nonsense crap that you do not need and tip your delivery or waitress more they wouldn't have to raise min wage. Ever think that you should think before you speak and judging people you do not know. Who do you think you are "God."
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18) Ah yes, "rich bastards" [by Anonymous Citizen on June 30, 2005]
Listen, I sympathize with your situation, but don't whine too loudly without taking time for a little introspection.

Why are you a full time parent with a full time job and full time schooling? Doesn't your spouse help out with the parenting? Are you married? If not, why not?

How old are you? Did you get pregnant at a young age? If so, why? Why wouldn't you make sure to create a stable home and loving marriage before dooming your children to a sad and awful life?

I realize I just made a lot of assumptions, and they may not be true for you. But sadly, they are true in far too many cases.

Remember: We are our choices.
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19) Interesting [by Anonymous Citizen on June 7, 2005]
As a seventeen year old "kid" working with people from the ages of 20 to 50, I am appauled with all this "child labor" and complaints on not being paid enough. I started my job and was paid minimum wage...$5.15...an hour for the while I worked. Hey, most employers would do that to a kid and to someone new. After a while, and after hard work, I was brought up to $8.00 an hour (which is good for a kid like me working as a frycook in a restaurant). They gave me raises almost every month without me asking for one. If you work hard and show dedication in your job, you will get paid more. Trust me, I work in a small restauarant in a small town with the cheapest bosses I know. If you've been working for over a year at minimum wage, you are either a pathetic loser of an employee or you don't have the guts to ask for a raise. Hey, if you don't complain about your wages they aren't going to pay you any more than you are making. If you ask for a raise, you will probably get it. If you don't, it's because you are either a lazy worker - or you haven't been there long enough....

So coming from a kid's perspective - minimum wage is starting wage. You will get paid more, if you are willing to work....
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20) message from middle class winer! [by Anonymous Citizen on April 3, 2005]
I can not believe some people and their lack of insight. Look around you when you go into those lower class paying jobs that you think any monkey can do. Those monkeys are our sons and daughters that are working hard getting that "skill worth paying more for". Some are even Mothers and Fathers working 2 jobs to help that college students get the "skill worth paying for" because tuition costs are so high. Even if there are people in those jobs that you claim any monkey can do, I bet there isn't a day that goes by that you can't get along without that "monkey" in your life. There is more to these jobs than you think there is. You are so into your own self worship, that you will NEVER be able to relate to a lower class that is paying more than their share, probably your share also.
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21) Funny Thing [by david54 on March 12, 2005]
It's strange how busineses aren't shy about asking for subsidies and tax breaks, but when it comes time to pay a decent wage, suddenly anyone who looks for help is a whiner. The next time a business or corporation runs to the govn't looking for help they should take some of our friends advice- If their not good enough at business to survive on their own without help, then maybe they should get out of business- got get themselves one of those high paying minimum wage jobs.
Some people enjoy preying on others. Some people don't respect work, all they understand and value is wealth. They might justify it in their own minds with the idea that there is some fantastical, all powerful market at work, and those with wealth and power for some reason deserve it. Of course the truth is that rich people are just as willing to beg for money from the govn't as anyone else, if not more. At least those on minimum wage are willing to do some work for their money. People not willing to pay a fair wage are greedy, plain and simple.
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22) Do you really know? [by Anonymous Citizen on March 21, 2005]
Do you really know how much taxes businesses pay? Obviously not or you would not be saying the things you said. I used to own a small business with four employees and I worked my tail off and paid them as much as I could so I would be able to keep them and finally had to close the business because we just couldn't make it. It had nothing to do with my skill as a business owner and everything to do with the taxes and insurance we paid. Now when you complain about businesses taking advantage of tax breaks you need to understand that for a LOT of small businesses out there they are just barely making it. I know of at least 10 small business owners that are always struggling and the biggest complaint they have is taxes and if they weren't such good people they would close down. The main reason they don't is because they have employees that need jobs and they feel obligated to them. Now I won't deny that there are big businesses out there that there are some people making huge salaries but for the most part it's the little guy who keeps the economy going. If the minimum wage keeps rising and the taxes keep rising guess what happens?? I think you can figure that out on your own.

Next time I think you need to get your facts straight before giving your opinion.
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23) Not talking about you [by Anonymous Citizen on April 1, 2005]
I don't think the minimum wage increase is going to put alot of businesses with four employees out of business. I think the major harm will be done to the wal-marts and perkinses of the world which do little to aid our State economy. In fact they take money out of the state. Making things tougher for Wal-Mart will help small business owners not hurt them.
I'm sorry your business failed. Forcing people to work for unfair wages is not the answer.
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24) Force? [by Anonymous Citizen on December 29, 2005]
Nobody is forced to work for "unfair" wages.

Nobody.


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25) Country club member [by Anonymous Citizen on March 27, 2005]
Dear Small business owner,
I don't think anyone with a bit of common sense believes you pay too little in taxes. The large corporations however, pay taxes at a much lower rate than you or I. They have all sorts of tax loopholes and accounting tricks not available to average Joes like you and I. These are the people that are skirting their country club dues (taxes, etc.) while you and I pay our fair share of the dues. Our tax system was designed by the well connected and wealthy; two things you and I do not qualify as. So don't get your hackles up.
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26) Small business owner [by Anonymous Citizen on March 21, 2005]
As far as a small business paying state or federal taxes. If you are an 'S' Corp, you pay no federal taxes, and you should be paying just a fee to the state.
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27) Small business owner [by Anonymous Citizen on March 21, 2005]
As far as a small business paying state or federal taxes. If you are an 'S' Corp, you pay no federal taxes, and you should be paying just a fee to the state.
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28) If only you had a conscience. [by Anonymous Citizen on March 7, 2005]
The upper class whiners make me sick - if you had an ounce of compassion for any one, you would be able to see that there will always be people that need to be taken care of. Just because you have the world all figured out does not mean that everyone else does. The poor little rich folks might actually have to give up an extra dollar or two so that there will not be starving children in our city/country/world. Get a conscience, and quit screwing over those that are not as fortunate as you. Try to imagine what would happen to you and your family if you: lost your job, lost your money in a bad investment, or, more likely, got everything you have taken away by someone even more wealthy and ruthless than yourself. Would you then want someone to be charitable enough to give you a warm coat or food to eat. Amazing how that works!!
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29) Not Help [by Anonymous Citizen on March 8, 2005]
If you feel so strongly about helping the poor, I applaud you. However, forcing others to pay the price for your desired charities is as wrong as not doing your duty to take care of the less fortunate in the first place. I can give you the contact information for Catholic Charities. This organization puts more than 93% of its donated income directly to those who need it most.
The problem here is not that minimum wage is too low, it's that those in bad situations either lack the motivation, or the resources, to find the help that is already out there to get them back on their feet and headed in the right direction.
Sadly, if the minimum wage is raised, many of the people who were fooled into thinking this is a God sent will be the biggest losers. Companies that pay minimum wage do so because they have low skill positions and low employment budgets. This means companies will be forced to cut employees at the low end of the wage scale loose, in order to remain in business.
In theory, and in a perfect world, there would be no debate at all. We must strive help those in need, not hold them down. We must give every person a chance to succeed. This is not help. This is not the way to give that chance.
God Bless Those In Need Of Mercy.
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30) Country club member [by Anonymous Citizen on March 27, 2005]
As usual you neo-cons get your info from propaganda organizations like Fox News. These small companies you speak of that would be forced to lay off workers due to minimum wage increases are largely exempt from having to meet these standards. Try educating yourself. Getting the facts wrong only hurts your extremist cause. Maybe if these low skilled workers had a few more bucks that would increase demand for products and the benefits would trickle up to the investors who continually whine about the stock market sucking eggs.
We heard these same arguments used against progressive legislation at the beginning of the last century. You are you ilk are the same people that resisted legislation proposed by President Teddy Roosevelt. The robber barons of that era predicted gloom and doom and they couldn't have been more wrong. God forbid we share a little of our prosperity with the low and middle income.

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31) It's about time. [by Anonymous Citizen on January 30, 2005]
Hey lets get this bill rolling. 5.15. an hour, are you kidding me? Who could live on that? $200.00 a week, before taxes. Working people could use a greater share of the pie. I'm tired of big business taking all the money out of the state to god knows where. Lets keep some money here, for our people.
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32) Child labor [by Anonymous Citizen on March 20, 2005]
The minimum wage is not about "live on that". It is about a starting wage for an unskilled dufus who still lives at home with his parents. If somone can't get a raise off the minimum wage in one year, they are non-productive workers and need to find another line of work--like being a crack whore or a Union thug.

How much do you pay your babysitter, your paperboy or your neighborhood snow shoveler?

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33) Slave Labor [by Anonymous Citizen on April 1, 2005]
Well heck if it's just for entry level kids learning a new job why do we even pay them anything at all? Why don't they pay their employer for the opportunity to work. Didn't they used to do that in the coal mines? That worked out really well, for everybody.
I suppose as a bartender I should give my employer a cut of my tips since he is kind enough to let me use his restaurant right?
If things keep trending downward for the people that do the work in this country, eventually noone will want to work, and then things will really change. Till then, keep pushin people down, keep makin 'em feel like garbage(crack ho and union thug)for working for a living. Maybe that god you all think is in control will forgive you. But if he really is up there, and if he really judges the way you think, you're goin' straight to hell.
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