How to boost stagnant wages? Your Say

Annual median household income is $51,939. Adjusted for inflation, that's 9% below where it was in 1999. Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

At least Paste BN's editorial admitted the root causes behind stagnant wages are technology, reduced need for workers and rising global competition ("More jobs is not enough: Our view"). These trends have no political solution.

— Bob Johnstone

Higher wages and benefits in today's environment would mean that there would be fewer U.S. jobs. Free trade makes many workers compete with their global counterparts.

— Richard Tanksley

Stagnant private sector wages don't erode faith in government. An overbearing, bloated, inefficient, overregulating government erodes faith in government.

— Bob Smith

Letter to the editor:

It is hilarious demagoguery to hear Republicans lament wage stagnation while they fight a relentless war on unions, oppose a livable raise via the minimum wage, and support tax breaks for overseas outsourcing of jobs ("Liberal policies suppress wages: Opposing view").

Conservatives have championed the race to the bottom by waging war on collective bargaining, which is the only way for workers to negotiate good pay, pension and benefits. Non-union workers are equivalent to indentured servants.

So for you Americans who want a raise, quit groveling and become an organized labor force.

Michael Petraszko; Saline, Mich.