Misguided discussion on minimum wage
There are those among national policymakers who wish to turn the proposed raise in minimum wage into a political issue just to engage in another disoriented blame game. There are those too who support the proposed raise as a direct result of a robust national economy, meaning, the country can afford it today.
I tend to agree with the latter argument. In other words, let it be justified by the “economic good times” if this is the only way to assist workers across the country at the entry level. I still find it troublesome though that some would support a measure that at best, is the worse prescription for entry level workers; at worse, raising their hopes that they really don’t have to learn lifetime skills.
There’s a lot more “what if” questions that pop-up in the minds of businesses on an issue that warrants preparing for the worse case scenario, i.e., a sudden and major drop in the national economy. But let’s see how this issue is resolved by the US Congress. Definitely, we don’t want federal minimum wage application without a sure study of its impact here. It’s an issue that the lead federal agency (US Department of Interior) refuses to address with some semblance of common decency for obvious reasons.
With over 2,000 tourist related businesses shut down over the last two years in the islands, our country’s “economic good times” is nowhere in sight. We only read about it while salivating at the very opportunity to rebuild a ravaged economy sandwiched to death by the Asian Crisis and the fatally derailing federal takeover agenda on future investments here. It’s another Interior legacy that will ring in our ears for many years to come.
Warpedly interesting view of MW
At a picnic along Kilili Beach, the ever grand issue of minimum wage came under discussion. Most people around the picnic table are pushing for an increase. I decided to quiz each participant for his hourly wage:
“How much are you making an hour today?”
“Sir, about $6.58 an hour”.
“Do you really support an increase in the minimum wage?”
“Yes, sir, it’s good for everyone”.
“You mean, you are willing to sacrifice $6.58 an hour so you could be paid $3.05 an hour after years of honing your skills in your field of trade, right?”
“Oh, no, not over my dead body!”
That was the end of any further support for minimum wage. Most, if not, all of the people around the picnic table are making beyond $4 an hour. So the issue is irrelevant for them. It goes to illustrate that when the issue is Mr. Greenbag (not Mr. Greenspan), the attention grabs everybody’s ear like an E.F. Hutton television commercial.
I told the guys that there’s another television commercial that promotes hard work from A-Z: Smith Barney’s which says “We make money the old fashion way, we earn it!” In other words, you better be able to work and earn your loot lest you’d be sucking from the ribs of productive people–via social programs–or stealing from your neighbor.
Friends, minimum wage pay becomes irrelevant when one has acquired lifetime skills through education. This should and must be the focus of attention by government bureaucrats and politicians. Let’s exit the new found toy of rearranging the fire so we don’t burn the fish on the grill, eh?
