Opus 2013-381: The Welfare Prince and the Minimum Wage

How much are you worth?

In my eighth grade history class questions were asked about the minimum wage.  It was stimulated by the media attention to the fast food industry and all of the people there agitating for a minimum of $15.00 an hour.  California is on the band wagon but what do you expect from a Socialist state?

I shared that the documentation is clear.  Every time you raise the minimum wage, jobs are eliminated.  I pointed out that the fast food industry is already toying with the idea of automation.  If they are forced to pay unskilled burger flippers $15.00 and hour then they will get rid of the burger flippers and change counters and go automated.  The technology is already available.  All that is lacking is the incentive.  Jobs for young people will become more scarce.

So far, so good.  It was a teachable moment.

I illustrated my point with a corner convenience market that I know about.  It is a small, one-person operation.  It is near a school.  The owner of the market might be willing to pay some kid $5.00 an hour for a couple of hours a day to come in and move boxes, sweep floors and such.  I pointed out that a junior high student could work two hours a day after school and come off with $50.00 a week. 

So far, so good.

I had not bargained for the Welfare Prince in the front row.  It only took him a few second so say it would not work for him.  He needs at least $100 a week.  After another moment’s thought he said even that would not be enough.  And of course he thought he was too good to do that kind of work anyway.  This is in eighth grade.

He was serious.  He really thinks that he is worth it and needs it. 

And you wonder why the Democrats keep winning elections.

homo unius libri