Midweek Politics - 08.09.06 - The next governor? Plus A CATO guy...

dpakman91 · 08-09-2006, 09:31 PM

This Week on Midweek Politics with David Pakman

Produced by:

David Pakman, WXOJ, Northampton, MA
Louis Motamedi, WXOJ, Northampton, MA

Total Running Time: 55:24

This Week's Topics:

--Chris Gabrieli, Democrat for Massachussets Governor joins us by phone.

--Gene Healy, Senior Editor at the CATO Institute discusses his new report on abuses of the Constitution by the Bush Administration.

--Joe Lieberman lost the Democrat primary election for US Senate in Connecticut, and has decided to run as an independent. Who did he lose to, and why are so many conservative journalists convinced that this represent a move to the "far left?"

--Neal Boortz claims that adults earning the minimum wage are "incompetent, ignorant, and worthless," and also falsely claims that "most" people earning minimum wage are teenagers.

--John McCain has become increasingly impatient with the war in Iraq, and had some military generals confused and against a wall with his questions in a Senate hearing the other day.

--Michael Savage at it again, this time accusing not only Wolf Blitzer of being anti-Israeli, but also Larry King.

Download Link: Welcome to Midweek Politics Radio! - Midweek Politics Radio with David Pakman

JaJae · 08-09-2006, 09:39 PM

Sticky

6SpeedTA95 · 08-09-2006, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Sticky

beat me to it

dpakman91 · 08-09-2006, 09:48 PM

Funny story...Gabrieli pranked us today. We called the number that his publicist gave us. Someone picks up and says:

"Tom Reilly for governor"

Reilly is another one of the candidates here. I'm confused, so I hang up, and call the publicist directly. She picks up and people are laughing. She tells me that Chris played a joke on me. And I assumed Chris meant the person who GAVE me that number a few days ago, so i say pissed off

"But someone gave us the numbre for tom Reilly's campaign"

And then she explains, "no that was chris gabrieli himself, just joking around." And then hysteria breaks out in the background...

Then i called him back on the landline and we did the interview...

6SpeedTA95 · 08-09-2006, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by dpakman91

Funny story...Gabrieli pranked us today. We called the number that his publicist gave us. Someone picks up and says:

"Tom Reilly for governor"

Reilly is another one of the candidates here. I'm confused, so I hang up, and call the publicist directly. She picks up and people are laughing. She tells me that Chris played a joke on me. And I assumed Chris meant the person who GAVE me that number a few days ago, so i say pissed off

"But someone gave us the numbre for tom Reilly's campaign"

And then she explains, "no that was chris gabrieli himself, just joking around." And then hysteria breaks out in the background...

Then i called him back on the landline and we did the interview...

6SpeedTA95 · 08-09-2006, 09:58 PM

As of 2002 here's the Min wage stuff

Minimum wage workers tend to be young. About half of workers earning $5.15 or less were under age 25, and slightly more than one-fourth were age 16-19. Among teenagers, 10 percent earned $5.15 or less. About 2 percent of workers age 25 and over earned the minimum wage or less. However, among those age 65 and over, the proportion was about 5 percent.

edit: the link
Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers: 2002

dpakman91 · 08-09-2006, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

As of 2002 here's the Min wage stuff

Minimum wage workers tend to be young. About half of workers earning $5.15 or less were under age 25, and slightly more than one-fourth were age 16-19. Among teenagers, 10 percent earned $5.15 or less. About 2 percent of workers age 25 and over earned the minimum wage or less. However, among those age 65 and over, the proportion was about 5 percent.

edit: the link
Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers: 2002

ok so then i guess i had the right info, 75% are not teenagers.

JaJae · 08-09-2006, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by dpakman91

ok so then i guess i had the right info, 75% are not teenagers.

But he aslo says the majority of them are teenagers and people learning job skills or are adults who move on within a few months...

dpakman91 · 08-09-2006, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

But he aslo says the majority of them are teenagers and people learning job skills or are adults who move on within a few months...

well certainly we haven't seen any data indicating how long the portion of those who aren't teenager (which is 75%) who work minimum wage jobs STAY at thos jobs, so that also hasn't been demonstrated. judging by the accuracy and vulgarity of the other things he said, i see no reason to give him the benefit of the doubt on that particular assertion either.

JaJae · 08-09-2006, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by dpakman91

well certainly we haven't seen any data indicating how long the portion of those who aren't teenager (which is 75%) who work minimum wage jobs STAY at thos jobs, so that also hasn't been demonstrated. judging by the accuracy and vulgarity of the other things he said, i see no reason to give him the benefit of the doubt on that particular assertion either.

You also realize that these stats include people who work jobs at under minimum wage and receive tips? Roughly 75% I believe.

dpakman91 · 08-09-2006, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

You also realize that these stats include people who work jobs at under minimum wage and receive tips? Roughly 75% I believe.

you'er saying 75% of all jobs considered "minimum wage" are food service jobs for under minimum wage that receive tips?

JaJae · 08-09-2006, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by dpakman91

you'er saying 75% of all jobs considered "minimum wage" are food service jobs for under minimum wage that receive tips?

I didn't say food service jobs. But jobs that are legally allowed to pay below minimum wage.. generally because they allow tips.

dpakman91 · 08-09-2006, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

I didn't say food service jobs. But jobs that are legally allowed to pay below minimum wage.. generally because they allow tips.

i understand, but what jobs fall under that category other than food service? In massachusetts, i THINK it's just food service and maybe some bartending jobs (kinda same thing)

ballz2wallz · 08-10-2006, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by dpakman91

i understand, but what jobs fall under that category other than food service? In massachusetts, i THINK it's just food service and maybe some bartending jobs (kinda same thing)

all kinds of jobs rely on tips...valet parking, car washing...but yes, i'd say most are in the service industry

6SpeedTA95 · 08-10-2006, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by dpakman91

ok so then i guess i had the right info, 75% are not teenagers.

I think so, I've done a lot of research on this, it is fair to say the majority are students, but that includes college students. I think the BLS stats said 54% are under twenty five? The data for 2004 is a little different but not by much, so yes I'd say you hit the nail on the head.

dpakman91 · 08-10-2006, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

all kinds of jobs rely on tips...valet parking, car washing...but yes, i'd say most are in the service industry

yes many jobs rely on tips, but jajae was referring to jobs where people can be paid under minimum wage due to the assumption of tips, and valet and car wash, at least in MA, NY, and CA (not familiar with otherp laces) are not on that list.

JaJae · 08-10-2006, 11:18 AM

Image Attached

ballz2wallz · 08-10-2006, 02:20 PM

could you make it a little smaller please? the letters are too big.

dpakman91 · 08-10-2006, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

could you make it a little smaller please? the letters are too big.

DosEquis · 08-11-2006, 12:09 PM

The only other thing I can think of that Lamont can be painted "far left" for is he is for national healthcare.