Leftists have worked tirelessly to convince a large portion of the population, that they are entitled to a certain standard of living, regardless of effort. To this end, the left is again maneuvering to boost the minimum wage. Leftist “activists” argue the poverty exposed by Katrina should compel Congress to enact a minimum wage increase. To do so would be folly in the highest sense.
Suppose you were hired to stock shelves at a grocery store, or sweep up in a warehouse, or clean gutters at an apartment building or clean restrooms in a restaurant. What do you think your starting salary would be? More often than not your salary would be minimum wage, which is $5.15/hr. For teenagers and high school students, minimum wage is the standard salary for after school and part-time jobs, generally minimum wage jobs require limited skills or experience, hence the relative low salary. Such jobs often have a high turnover rate, as many employees see these positions as ad hoc or temporary. For some, however, a minimum wage is not so temporary, indeed it has become a permanent station in life and for many of these people it is a direct result of choices made in their lives.
Quite often we hear how difficult it is to raise a family on minimum wage, well of course it is, one shouldn’t raise a family on minimum wage. Families don’t come about by accident; children don’t spontaneously appear out of thin air, the reproductive process hasn’t changed throughout the history of the human race. If a person is earning $5.15/hr then they should take steps to prevent pregnancy or take steps to improve their financial picture. Those who do have children are often referred to as the “working” poor, perhaps to distinguish them from the sedentary poor. The beauty of America lies in the fact that those who wish to succeed can, those who have drive can accomplish their goals, but just as some have a drive to succeed others are content to flounder, even reproducing in the midst of squalor and poverty. Regardless of wealth, all are entitled and have access to a public education and regardless of wealth all who wish it can have access to a college education or trade school. Granted everyone may not have the resources to attend an Ivy League school, but practically anyone can receive a loan and attend a junior college. There in lies the difference between those who do and those who don’t succeed in life. This is the difference between having a work ethic and those who pursue the path of least resistance. Raising the minimum wage will not improve the livelihoods of these children, if anything it will compel businesses to cut costs to offset the increased financial burden, nor will it instill proper judgment in the minds of irresponsible parents who have children without having the means to support them. Yes, indeed, we should learn a lesson from Katrina, the lesson is not that minimum wage is too small. The lesson is: poverty is a direct result of personal decisions, made by those content with a life of dependence and sloth, unwilling to lift a finger to improve present state, unwilling to make hard choices or refrain from risky behavior. Poverty should not evoke pity, it should evoke anger, anger on the part of tax payers who support these dredges of society. Poverty should also evoke shame, shame amongst those who a chosen a sedentary lifestyle.
Link to the Reuters story
