Dear Representative Micon,
Posted by joek Sun, 04 Feb 2007 18:29:00 GMT
I am opposed to raising Indiana’s minimum wage.
I’m sure we both agree that, all other things being equal, having more higher paying jobs is good. Nevertheless, I believe that any efforts to control the minimum wage are seriously misguided. The unintended consequences of government-controlled wages are bad for Indiana and ultimately bad for anyone who currently manages to derive benefit from a mere $5.15 an hour.
I understand that the minimum wage is an easily measured standard and an easy political win. The side effects are delayed and harder to measure. One way to reflect on them is to ask why we don’t just set the minimum wage at $15, $25, or even $50 an hour! What makes a minimum wage of $50 an hour sound ridiculous?
Do you believe that raising the minimum wage helps the less capable, disadvantaged, or otherwise handicapped? I believe that it hurts them by completely eliminating legitimate low-wage transactions from the Indiana economy. Those who, for whatever reasons, cannot do $7.50 an hour worth of work will be forced to choose: (1) lose their jobs, (2) work for criminals breaking the law by paying illegally low wages, or (3) suffer the shame of accepting unearned wages. I see no other alternatives for these people—am I missing any?
I have a fifteen year old daughter who is anxious to start working and earning her own income. Raising the wage will make her opportunities for work more scarce. Will she suffer from this? Since she is smart, resourceful and determined, she’ll probably gladly end up with a higher-paying position and benefit from these new government controls—leaving one fewer higher-paying job.
All citizens of Indiana must be free to make their own judgments about the value of work. It is wrong for the government to take away this freedom.
Sincerely,
Joe Krutulis
