Bostonist: Teddy's Mad As Hell, and … You Get the Idea

A.Mark

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:50:26 -0500

My parents were upper-middle class, and so because I was unable to qualify for student-aid packages, I had to work my way through college. Balancing food platters while juggling grades is nothing to scoff at. Believe me, considering the cost of living around here with tuition fees to boot, a slight increase in the minimum wage makes a great difference.

AMMIAustin

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:05:27 -0500

I think Ted K. rocks. He doesn't have to work this hard anymore. He could retire to Hyannis and enjoy grandchildren and sailing. Here is Ted at his best, fighting for the working class, for the folks who have very little. How many elected truly officials are? Any and all the arguments against raising the minimum wage favor the affluent and privileged. The teens that work have to work. I was one who shoveled fries and poured drinks at a McDonald's. There were many of us and we got good grades. And I did school theatre after school hours. Geeze, funny thing about working is it kept me out of the crowd that drank and drugged. Hey conservatives, if we raise the minimum wage and get the guest workers' program going, well then, there goes the immigration issue. And y'all don't want them Mexicans crossing the boarder do ya. . . After spending most of my life in Massachusetts, I now live in Texas where there are little or no labor protections. I live in the state that is the model for the current administration. Frankly, it's scares me.

Peter Kim

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:28:28 -0500

damn it. sorry about all the repeat posts. i was repeatedly getting server errors when attempting to post my comments. moderator: please delete the two later comments. thanks.

Peter Kim

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:21:29 -0500

Peter Kim

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:15:14 -0500

I don't think anyone who's opposed to the minimum wage increase will disagree that it's pretty damn difficult to get by on a $5.15 per hour wage. It's unfair and inaccurate to characterize opponents of the minimum wage increase as people who are out of touch with the realities of poverty. The argument of many opponents of the minimum wage increase is based on the fundamental laws of supply and demand. If you increase the cost of labor, companies will not be able to hire more workers. Is it better to have people earning a higher minimum wage even though it causes an increase in unemployment? There is also strong evidence that increasing the minimum wage will increase the incentive for teenage workers to work more and study less, which is, in general, societally undesirable. There are more effective ways to redistribute income without the negative side effects of increasing the minimum wage. Unfortunately, the minimum wage is the one that most effectively provides political gains for politicians.

Peter Kim

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:11:38 -0500