Minimum Wage

The French philosopher Voltaire, made the brilliant statement, “The art of government is to make two-thirds of a nation pay all it possibly can pay for the benefit of the other third.” In this nation, we have decided to let one-third of its citizens pay for the other two-thirds. As of last figures, November 2008, 40% of Americans pay no taxes; the top 6% of earners pays 63% of all taxes. This perhaps accounts for recent emphasis on minimum wage; because it is the minimum wage earners who are most afflicted by economic depressions and are the ones, usually, who take out their frustrations at the polling booth by voting for the politician and the political party which they believe will do the most for them in their plight for survival.

The federal minimum wage was first set in 1938 at 25 cents per hour. In 2008, the minimum wage was $6.55. As a child, I can remember working all day long to make $1. I well remember young men and women on the farm who worked in the hot, grueling sun for 10 cents an hour. Even as a university student, the minimum wage was 65-85 cents an hour. As deplorable as this sounds, we must remember that most of the world's population this very day, will work all day for less than $3. The national minimum wage in Haiti is $2.40 per day. In China and most communist countries, because there are housing and food allowances, the wage is $1 per day. The average salary in Cuba, for doctors as well as farmers, is $20 per month.

When we see the hyperbole about socialistic health care in Cuba, or other communist countries, it is easy to understand why there is a surplus of doctors (in Cuba there is a 2,000 doctor surplus) Every time there is a catastrophe in some other part of the world, these communist nations, such as Cuba, always send medical personnel. Much is made of their going to care for the distressed, but nothing is ever said of the 'mess' they make when they get there. Some of the wounded never recover from their treatment, and you can be sure that there have been no “peer reviewed” discovery articles coming from these countries. You can be sure, that Americans and others needing surgery do not go there for such.

For nearly 2000 years, scripture has been the determining factor in the economics of work and pay. The answer book, which gives guidance in every area of life, gives us the following, which we would be wise to use even in the 21st century.
Proverbs 10:4 Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
Proverbs 14:23 All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 16:26 The laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on.
Luke 10:7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.

As one who has worked for minimum wage, as one who has enjoyed a good income, I am going to approach the minimum wage from 3 areas.

One- Morality: the morality of the minimum wage involves establishing the mindset that very few people start at the top of the economic ladder. Much to the chagrin of some university graduates, the work ethic, as well as survival skills, of most mortals, begin with a minimum wage job. In this country, so far, we have the freedom to apply for a job in which we are interested and which we can accomplish. There is no need applying for a job, regardless of the pay scale, for which we are not sufficiently prepared. This should certainly be ascertained in the application and interview.

The minimum wage job is usually one which does not require many sophisticated skills, but if one can not handle the work ethic involved in a low paying job, chances of advancement to a higher paying position become remote. Qualities of attention, observation, regimentation, should be established by parents in the home. Believe it or not, I have actually hired young people to work for me who could not get to work on-time, never listened when a job is explained, never seemed to observe anything going on around them. If you ask the largest employer in your area or the smallest employer in your area, what is their greatest problem in carrying on their business, you would get the same answer from both: employees. I have often wondered what those I did not hire were like since those I did hire, so many times, were totally unacceptable in spite of time and effort put on them and often I do believe it had nothing to do with money.

The employer is regulated in his payment to employees by his profit margin. He can not afford to pay an employee when the employee does not perform sufficiently to pay his way and it is far better when the employee at least makes some money for him. Often, while the employee is learning and advancing to the place where he is really worth his pay scale, the employer uses his personal savings. At about the time the employee begins to earn his pay, he has become dissatisfied with his pay, thinks that he is worth much more to someone else, often is making calls and makes no secret of looking for another job and then is off and gone to greener pastures.

Other than bed wetters, those too young and inexperienced to realize the economy of employment, most who are serious about a job in the first place want to succeed and at least have a recommendation for future employment. Recently, I have had the misfortune of employing two former members of the military; one Navy, one Marine. Another who applied, supposedly 100% disabled, never showed up for the interview. The two former military enlisted men not only did not have a work ethic, but a callous attitude about life. As a field grade Army officer, one with considerable experience with the military, I sympathize with those who are trying to fight battles (even in a time of voluntary enlistment) with men of such discipline and attitude.

Just as many companies are willing to give product in order for a customer to become familiar with the quality of the product, so a beginner in the area of employment should be willing to 'prove himself' to an employer who, in most instances, is anxious to give a raise in pay, give promotions, because it is only trained, disciplined, dependable employees that make a business successful. The employer, owner, knows that his success depends on his morality in treatment and payment of those who keep him in business. The employee, beginner or otherwise, should have the morality in his mind that his employment future depends on his worth to the business.

Two- Difficulty: When I was in professional school, studying to be a doctor, my friends who were Majors in English, Sociology, Business or other disciplines not requiring the type specialization to which I aspired, were often partying when I had my head in books and was involved in laboratories which they could not begin to comprehend. As my great Physics professor (Dr. Palmatier) said, “Anyone can understand sociology or English, but it takes a brain to understand physics.” So, those in the fields of technology, medicine, dentistry, etc. who expect to be in the 'high income' brackets, have conquered the difficult areas which will enable them to get there through board certification, state license, and the prestige of having knowledge and abilities beyond that of the average (so-called) educated citizen.

I just met a young pharmacist, living in one of my buildings, who makes over $100k a year, but it was necessary for him to put in long hours of study so you could trust him with life and death decisions. My oldest grandson, now finishing his law degree, is working with a firm and has put in the long hours and possesses the intelligence to be successful in this career. My other grandson, studying engineering at a leading university, puts in long hours in a most complex discipline of study, which should direct him into a career of professional integrity and above the average pay of the average college graduate.

It is all a matter of difficulty. Professions and disciplines of study which require intense intelligence, high tuition, expensive books and equipment, lead to the success that one observes in the homes in which they live, the cars which they drive. Most of us do not mind giving prestige to those who have earned it, to those who have doctorate letters behind their names, board certifications, national and international recognition.

Three- Ability: I remember so well, as a young person, hearing my father, one of the brightest and most hard-working men I ever knew say, “If I only had the education so I could express myself well” My mother, one of the brightest, hardworking women who ever lived, dropped out of school in the 6th grade to care for her brother and sisters. God alone knows what she could have done with her life, if she had a good formal education. Her mind was so sharp, and she had the ability to do anything and could hold her own in any social opportunity. I have little patience with young people, with good minds, from exceptional homes, who do not take advantage of the resources they have been given. All of us are not blessed in the same way; with health, looks, mental ability. All that is required, is that we do the best we can with what we have. I have known people with disabilities, (hearing, sight, deformity, etc.) who amazed me with their ability to accomplish so much.

The minimum wage, now as always, is a starting point. There have been times, in my life, that I would work for nothing just to be around and to learn from exceptional people in exceptional situations. I was never in another doctor's office, just observing, that I did not learn something, positive or negative. How many times, have you been in a business, and you would say, “I would like to manage this place for about 10 minutes.” How many times, have you seen some young person just simply not caring about anything, and you would say, “That person should have my father for about 2 weeks.” How many times, have you been in a government bureaucracy, observed the wistful, slothful, lackadaisical, attitude of bureaucrats and you think, “It is good they had enough political pull to get a job.”

People do what they do because they believe what they believe. It is usually 'stinking thinking' which causes anyone not to succeed. Most of us only get one chance at life, you only go around once. Get off to a good start, even with a minimum wage job. Get in line and stay in line. Life has its ups and downs, your greatest joy is in knowing you did the best you could.