I doubt this was on anyone's radar two years ago because so much else was going on. But in light of Qs recent posts and current trends. It sheds some light on a trend that apparently has been in the works for some time.
From Dec 2017: Facebook Says It Is Deleting Accounts at the Direction of the U.S. and Israeli Governments
Pics relevant read rest at:
https://theintercept.com/2017/12/30/facebook-says-it-is-deleting-accounts-at-the-direction-of-the-u-s-and-israeli-governments/
BINGO!
When they raised the min wage to $15 in cities in Oregon, small businesses had to lay off staff, staff lost work hours, many became part-time. Then purchasing power went down because someone has to pay for those wages and it isn't coming out of the business owner's pockets.
How this is continually ignored is beyond me. Everyone was all happy and shit until they lost their jobs and found out shit just got more expensive, thereby stealing back what little they got, plus their taxes went up.
Also, what is not discussed is that the wage is only a small part of the equation coming out of a business owner's pocket. When wages increase, so too does the business owner's share of the Medicare and FICA taxes (if they contribute to FICA) because they have to pay half of what the employee pays.
Yes, there were many layoffs and benefits for the remaining employees were cut. I was just reading (I have no sauce cuz I didn't save it) where some company just gave everyone a raise to $15 then promptly made everyone part time all across the board. Just one story of hundreds.
So, tell us about the bigger picture.
Selling illusions, I mean delusions to people who think they are getting something special from their chosen gods.
I don't have the answer, I'm not an economist, but I do know its not going to fix it. It is going to make things worse for everyone all the way around. Raising wages does not solve the problem because everything is so goddamn expensive. Wages fuel the majority of costs in the production of any product, be it food, or material goods. Because it isn't just the wage it is the accompanying expense an employer has for just having that employee. Benefits, worker's comp, sick leave, employer share of taxes, and all the other expenses an employer has just to have an employee in place. Like increased insurance for theft, etc.