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Denial of minimum wage increase another Republican failure
Dear Editor, Last month in a letter I expressed disappointment in the Republican controlled Congress ("Republicans have had their chance for six years now; vote Democrat," June 28).
They had refused to increase the Federal Minimum Wage of $5.15 per hour, failed to vote on both the Immigration Bill securing our borders as well as the Voting Rights Act extension. Of course, they found time to consider more tax breaks — up to $762 billion — for our poor millionaires. A response to my letter was published shortly thereafter ("The smart votes is to stay with the party of Lincoln," July 5).
In her, response the writer cited a 25-year-old study from 1981 as the reason Republicans voted not to raise the minimum wage. While I don’t doubt Republicans use 25-year-old studies to legislate and govern, since that would explain why so many things go wrong these days, more likely the simple truth is because the Republican Party said “No” for the ninth time.
Regardless, here are facts from 2005/2006 — not 1981 — concerning the wage issue: Eighty percent of minimum wage earners are adults, not teenagers; with inflation, today’s minimum wage of $5.15 per hour is actually worth only $3.95, which is less than the 1996 minimum wage; numerous impartial, non-politicized studies of the 1990-1991 and 1996-1997 minimum wage increases show no job loss as a result and no negative effect on small business; 18 states have already enacted higher minimum wages than the federal rate; seven other states will vote on a wage increase this November; and lastly, 86 percent of Americans polled in May 2005 favored Congress raising the minimum wage.
You would think with 86 percent of the nation supporting an increase to the minimum wage, or anything else for that matter, our Republican controlled Congress would pass it in a minute. They are, after all, elected by the people to serve the people, right? No, not today’s Republicans, they aren’t.
Old-time Republican politicians used to serve the people well. They knew good legislation must benefit the entire nation, not just the Republican Party. They understood and practiced America’s values of hard work and fairness. War was a last option, rather an early option.
To them, the Constitution and Bill of Rights were revered, not viewed as obstacles. Those politicians were the real Republican Party, the Grand Old Party, but they’re all dead and gone now.
In their place today are the “new” Republican politicians who serve the Republican Party first and foremost, not the nation or the citizens who elected them. When the Republican Party says “No” to legislation, the rubberstamp Republican politicians do as ordered, regardless of what the citizens say.
The minimum wage increase, securing our borders and the voting rights extension — all soundly favored by the majority of Americans — are just more examples proving the “will of the people” means nothing to “new” Republican politicians.
And since “your will” means nothing to them, I say vote these new, self-centered, self-serving Republicans right out of office come November. Maybe the next crop will recall how to govern with honesty and integrity.
Mike Desmond
St. Marys
They had refused to increase the Federal Minimum Wage of $5.15 per hour, failed to vote on both the Immigration Bill securing our borders as well as the Voting Rights Act extension. Of course, they found time to consider more tax breaks — up to $762 billion — for our poor millionaires. A response to my letter was published shortly thereafter ("The smart votes is to stay with the party of Lincoln," July 5).
In her, response the writer cited a 25-year-old study from 1981 as the reason Republicans voted not to raise the minimum wage. While I don’t doubt Republicans use 25-year-old studies to legislate and govern, since that would explain why so many things go wrong these days, more likely the simple truth is because the Republican Party said “No” for the ninth time.
Regardless, here are facts from 2005/2006 — not 1981 — concerning the wage issue: Eighty percent of minimum wage earners are adults, not teenagers; with inflation, today’s minimum wage of $5.15 per hour is actually worth only $3.95, which is less than the 1996 minimum wage; numerous impartial, non-politicized studies of the 1990-1991 and 1996-1997 minimum wage increases show no job loss as a result and no negative effect on small business; 18 states have already enacted higher minimum wages than the federal rate; seven other states will vote on a wage increase this November; and lastly, 86 percent of Americans polled in May 2005 favored Congress raising the minimum wage.
You would think with 86 percent of the nation supporting an increase to the minimum wage, or anything else for that matter, our Republican controlled Congress would pass it in a minute. They are, after all, elected by the people to serve the people, right? No, not today’s Republicans, they aren’t.
Old-time Republican politicians used to serve the people well. They knew good legislation must benefit the entire nation, not just the Republican Party. They understood and practiced America’s values of hard work and fairness. War was a last option, rather an early option.
To them, the Constitution and Bill of Rights were revered, not viewed as obstacles. Those politicians were the real Republican Party, the Grand Old Party, but they’re all dead and gone now.
In their place today are the “new” Republican politicians who serve the Republican Party first and foremost, not the nation or the citizens who elected them. When the Republican Party says “No” to legislation, the rubberstamp Republican politicians do as ordered, regardless of what the citizens say.
The minimum wage increase, securing our borders and the voting rights extension — all soundly favored by the majority of Americans — are just more examples proving the “will of the people” means nothing to “new” Republican politicians.
And since “your will” means nothing to them, I say vote these new, self-centered, self-serving Republicans right out of office come November. Maybe the next crop will recall how to govern with honesty and integrity.
Mike Desmond
St. Marys
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| Camden voters have spoken loudly about tax increase |
