Editor,
I am writing in response to Jennifer George's letter in last Monday's Daily Lobo.
George seems to think it appalling that the people who were asked in a photo interview had an overall opinion of not wanting the minimum wage increase. First, I would like to recommend a basic economics class to
George, which would teach her what happens when people have more money. Such a class would also teach her about the supply and demand curve.
Look at Santa Fe - minimum wage increased dramatically there. For a short time, people had more money relative to their bills. Therefore, people spent more money, and some, though not all, businesses had to hire more people. Then, as the increase in spending remained, all businesses raised their prices. People didn't buy as much stuff, and the businesses that hired more people had to let them go.
After prices had increased to reflect the minimum wage, everyone was either in the same financial boat as they were before, or, in the case of people who did not get a raise, worse. This is because now people are making more money and spending more money. The groceries cost more, rent costs more, movies cost more, everything costs more. You don't raise minimum wage to get people out of poverty, especially if the raise in question is dramatic.
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I agree with a law that would raise the minimum wage each year just a little, to keep up with inflation. To get people out of poverty, you must educate them. Remember, minimum wage skills are minimum wage skills, whatever minimum wage happens to be. If minimum wage skills are all you have, minimum wage is all you'll ever make, and you'll never live comfortably on your own. If you want to make more money, you need to earn it. Don't argue that people can't go to college if all they're making is minimum wage. They, like the rest of us, can ask for financial aid. I understand that poverty is a major problem, and I agree that minimum wage should increase. After all, the last time minimum wage increased was 1997.
However, I don't agree with any legislation that proposes an increase of more than 50 cents in any year. If people suddenly have lots more money than they had before, they spend more money, which drives up prices, which means people who have earned a college degree and have worked hard to get that $50,000 every year will no longer be able to pay their bills.
So I ask you: Is it worth it to raise minimum wage by $2 per hour to temporarily bring many people out of poverty if it means that when the economy has adjusted to the increase, twice as many people are poor?
Nicole Dellinger
UNM student
