A bunch of fast-food workers went on strike for a day recently — to call for lifting the minimum wage in their state — from $7.25 to $15. It’s easy to mock them. And at least one big newspaper did. It asked, “If $15 is a good idea, why not raise the minimum wage […]
Get Instant Access to This Article
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
- Critical Central New York business news and analysis updated daily.
- Immediate access to all subscriber-only content on our website.
- Get a year's worth of the Print Edition of The Central New York Business Journal.
- Special Feature Publications such as the Book of Lists and Revitalize Greater Binghamton, Mohawk Valley, and Syracuse Magazines
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
A bunch of fast-food workers went on strike for a day recently — to call for lifting the minimum wage in their state — from $7.25 to $15.
It’s easy to mock them. And at least one big newspaper did. It asked, “If $15 is a good idea, why not raise the minimum wage to $100 an hour? Or $200?”
(Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts wants it to be $22. But she’s the gal who calls herself Native American when she isn’t. So we expect a little unrealistic thinking from her.)
Liberal politicians like Squaw Elizabeth love to promise higher minimum wages. To buy votes. And it’s not their wampum. It’s not even taxpayer wampum.
They tell rich people (employers) to give more of their money to poorer people (workers). How many votes are up for grabs among those workers versus those employers? It’s a no brainer.
Then there is reality: If we are forced to pay a guy $200 an hour to sweep floors, we won’t. We'll buy a robot. The guy will be out of a job.
There is a further reality: Around the world, companies hire an army of folks at low wages. To make cheap products. For low-wage folks to buy.
Those fast-food workers toil in the midst of this reality. McDonald’s prospers because it sells burgers and fries for low prices. It thrives because there are millions of folks who can only afford cheap food.
Suppose McDonald’s is forced to pay workers $15 an hour. This would raise the price of the burgers and fries. Fewer folks would eat at McDonald’s, so fewer workers would have jobs there. Simple as that.
Apply that across the landscape. Workers at Coke would earn the $15 an hour. As would the workers at the french fry company. And at the potato farm. And at the bun bakery. McDonald’s would be selling the new Big Mac and fries for $20.
So … would all these workers making $15 an hour buy the new Big Macs? Maybe on special occasions. Me thinks McDonald’s would have to become Chez McDonald. Offering Le Mac Grande. With wine, instead of that $6 Coke.
And methinks lots of folks who make minimum wage today would be out of work — and cooking hamburgers at home.
Walmart is another part of this reality. It attracts more customers than any operation on earth. Because it sells products at low prices. Low prices made possible by the low wages Walmart pays. Low prices made possible by the low wages manufacturers and growers pay.
Let’s say we forced radically higher wages into this equation. It would be like tossing sand into the workings of a watch.
Some politicians may call out for $15 minimum wages. And $22. And $200. But some also speak with forked-tongue.
From Tom...as in Morgan.
Tom Morgan writes about political, financial, and other subjects from his home near Oneonta, in addition to his radio shows and new TV show. For more information about him, visit his website at www.tomasinmorgan.com