The political argument for or against a rise in the minimum wage is a smokescreen by both Democrats and Republicans. All of our politicians are being deceptive. This is nothing new, the political game played by our politicians is only to create excuses for accomplishing nothing good for the people. In the case of the minimum wage, both parties will admit that it needs to be raised for this increasingly trapped workforce to participate fairly in the new America economy, the argument is over who pays for the cost of the increase.
The Democrats want the small business employer to pay for the hike in the minimum wage. Small business is not a welfare organization, the purpose of every business is to risk their own money by making an investment that hopefully will make a profit. Profit is not a dirty word, the profit motive is the reason the American economy was the greatest in the world and the reason our country flourished. If small business is forced to raise wages on their businesses they will have to raise prices. The raising of prices will result in less sales which means fewer jobs in order for the employer to maintain a profit. This is economics 101, a higher minimum wage will punish the underpaid by making some of their brothers and sisters jobless and unpaid.
The Republicans use this true evaluation of the problem to wash their hands of any responsibility to act in behalf of these people whom they also represent. Of course, the underpaid can not and will not fund the political careers of our politicians so these profiteers do not care about the fortunes of the underpaid. There is no motive for the politic to make a change, especially if that change will negatively impact their fund raising efforts. The Almighty Dollar is the reason for the Republican claimed helplessness.
Is there another answer? The best answer is to free the American economy to be what it was designed to be, a capitalistic system. If the economy again provided the underpaid a way up the economic ladder with hard work and personal responsibility, the minimum wage job would again be a stepping stone to a better life. Under Democratic control and the resulting new American economy, the minimum wage job is a dead end for most all of these workers no matter how hard they work. Assuming America wants to continue punishing itself with this economy, is there a possible fix?
Why don’t we try fairness? Fairness seems to be a Democratic buzzword lately. Why don’t our politicians find a way to have the stock market pay for these well deserved pay hikes? The only sector of working American that has prospered in the midst of economic recession is the politically connected stock market invested Americans with their hedge funds and IRA’s. Our government has printed trillions of new dollars which have poured into the stock market and inflated the value of these stocks and the wealth of all these investors. It is a form of welfare for the already rich. President Obama is the our leader giving bonuses to the rich and the Republicans sit in silence sharing in the profit. Washington has become the richest city in the world and all of the politicians are racking in the dollars in the midst of seeming gridlock. Purposeful gridlock is profitable for our politically connected.
How can the politicians bring fairness to the minimum wage given the new economy? There are many possibilities but there is no political will! Our politicians, Democrat and Republican could tax the purchase or sale of every share of stock to fund an increase in the minimum wage. Another possibility would be for our politicians to place an additional tax on yearly stock market invested income. A combination of tax credits and tax funded supports could make the life of the underpaid better. Any solution along these lines is impossible for either political party for the rich stock market folk fund their politics. The calls for fairness are camouflage to hide their money motive. Short of a taxpayer funded political system, America is finished as an economic power, we are going the way of Rome. Surprise, surprise!
G.Goslaw
Landers, Ca
