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Letter: Minimum wage is expensive

July 10, 2007

Dear Editor,

Ben Pixley's response to the minimum wage hike was emotionally valid, but his logic fell a little short of the mark in that it was not inclusive enough.

The fact is everyone - without exception - receives a pay decrease when minimum wage hikes are enacted. Everyone but our beloved state government, initially.

I have been disabled and living mostly on Social Security Disability for 17 years. I am on a fixed income, as are many elderly. We receive no additional funds when minimum wage increases raise the cost of goods and services; nor do my parents, who own a small business; nor, generally, do people on salaries.

The minimum wage workers these raises supposedly benefit just have it nickel and dimed out of their paycheck with higher taxes, more costly food, gas, zombie disposal, etc.

So who benefits? State and local governments who get increased payroll taxes - that is until these increases result in reduced hirings, layoffs, and business failures.

Don't be fooled. Minimum wage increases benefit no one but those in the statehouse. It is feel-good, vote-getting legislation that wrecks personal and local economies.

This is why an impoverished disabled guy keeps voting Republican. Democrats, I wish you'd give me a reason to switch.

Bruce J. Willoughby

Danville

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