Minimum wage hike passes
The Senate has approved the a minimum wage hike to $7.25. The vote was 94 to 3. I'm disappointed in Isakson and Chambliss for voting it.
Jim DeMint, Jon Kyl and Tom Coburn were the only Senators to vote against. These three deserve a lot of praise for standing up to small business and not awarding mediocrity and as Kevin says over at The Liberty Papers, they may be the only members of the Senate that still believe in limited government and fiscal conservatism.
Comments
There are obviously three thought-trends on this topic.
(1) the poor, low-paid worker needs the money
(2) it will spur economic growth
(3) it is a socialist agenda
The first argument is true. Everyone needs (wants) more money. Work (labor) is performed for money, a simple means of exchange. When you seek employment, contract labor, or whatever, there is a give-and-take. Should a worker accept the job under the given conditions and at the stated rate of payment, then he/she is actively participating in the Work-for-Pay arangement. It is the employer who must determine the applicable market forces and set pay rates accordingly. It is not the responsibility of the employer to fulfill the empoyee's life dreams or desires. It is purely a barter agreement. Both parties agree that certain labor will result in payment of certain wages. Outside of market forces, competition, etc. the amount of labor and the amount of remuneration must be left to the principals. Otherwise, socialistic tyranny results.
The second argument has been historically disproven. It is moot.
The third argument is true. Government mandated wages is a political hoax that implies wages represent intrinsic value to the welfare of the state and therefore must be regulated. The hoax revolves around the impression that externally and arbitrarily creating minimum rates of labor/wage exchanges removes the fair and equitable position of the employer to effectively arbitrate on his own behalf. The premise creates false market forces that negatively impact the ability of the employer to create, manufacture and market his goods & services in a competitive environment. External controls of business, where no enumerated civil rights are violated, is pure socialism.
Federally mandated wages is a tax upon businesses. It sets up a welfare payment to the employee not governned by any market force. It mandates a redistribution of wealth to which the employee has made no investment and is therefore not entitled to share. It assumes Marxist economic and social dictates wherein the government tangibly owns the business.
I oppose any federal or state law that infringes on the business owner's ability to operate in a free market.
Posted by: Larry Stanley | February 3, 2007 09:10 AM