Curmudgeon's Corner

Minimum Wage Increase?

Posted by Al Campbell on Feb. 11, 2009

Economy, Political, Quality of Life, Taxes, Wisconsin

Why not?  Businesses are made of money and those darned employers ought to pay their fair share!

Let's say that our economic situation spawns annual inflation of just 5%; it'll probably be higher at the rate we're going.  The new $7.60 per hour is, of course, going to increase annually tracking the effects of inflation.

So, here is what the "minimum" wage will look like over the next few years:

• 2009 - $7.60/Hr.
• 2010 - $7.98/Hr.
• 2011 - $8.38/Hr.
• 2012 - $8.80/Hr.
• 2013 - $9.24/Hr.
• 2014 - $9.70/Hr.
• 2015 - $10.19/Hr.

How many small retail shops, restaurants, fast food operations and gas stations can afford to pay these rates for part-time employees?  None of which I'm aware.

How many will simply have to close their doors in the face of this cost escalation?  Certainly some won't survive.

How will the former part-time employees fare?  Rotten, that's how!  And all because the do-gooders in the Democrat party in Wisconsin thought they'd be doing this group a favor; more votes you know?

What'll happen then?  The state will probably start some kind of new welfare program for the displaced part-time employees.  Of course, you and me will pay for that program just as we'll be paying for the new minimum wage.  Employers have to pass these costs on to their customers.  That is how the world works.

On top of being so simple-minded as to not understand what they're doing with this plan, they also have chosen to hide behind the "inflation" adjustment so they never have to take a tough vote again.  I may have to run for office after all; I certainly can't find easier work anywhere, the pay is awfully good, and I'd receive $88 per day for every day I spent in Madison!