They Don’t Even Deserve Minimum Wage

Over the weekend I did some food shopping, I like to go to Wal-Mart because you can’t beat the prices. I do a large part of my shopping at Wal-Mart, and then I finish up at the local supermarket, which is called Publix. The other day I noticed something I hadn’t noticed before, the difference in the workers between the two stores.

In Publix the workers were dressed nicer, more courteous, friendlier, and more helpful. In Wal-Mart when I asked for help, I got a look that said, what are you bothering me for, plus, I could never do a complete shopping because the shelves are never fully stocked. I’m not saying that everyone was like that, there were friendly people there, people with smiles, but it was enough to make me take notice.

As I was driving home, it dawned on me that these were the same people who were protesting all over the country for a $20 minimum wage, well let me tell you something, some of the people I have seen do not even deserve the money they are making now. Does anyone think that by paying someone more money that it is going to make them better workers? I don’t think so. Call me old fashioned, but I think a person should be paid what they are worth, not what the government thinks they should be paid. The old way was first show me how good of a worker you are, then you get the raise, not get the raise and hope you are a good worker.

I have never been a fan of a minimum wage, the idea that the government can tell a business owner what they have to pay an employee does not sit well with me. It seems that this government is bent on destroying the American spirit, working hard to move up the ladder does not seem important any more, in a land where the government wants to hand everything to you at the start, only takes away the motivation of the individual.

It’s great if everyone would make $50,000 a year, live in a nice house and have a new car in the driveway, but where is the feeling of accomplishment? I had my first job when I was 14, I worked for a dry cleaner delivering clothes for $25 a week, plus tips, on a good week I would make $35. The feeling of pride I would have every Friday when the owner would open up the cash register and hand me two tens and a five is something I can’t explain, but it was a good feeling. It wasn’t that easy of a job as you might think. I had to deliver in the rain and snow, I was like the mailman, I delivered in any type of weather.

If you can stock 5 shelves an hour making $8 an hour, but now I turn around and pay you $20 an hour and you are still stocking 5 shelves an hour, where is the justification for that, I am getting nothing more for that extra $12 an hour you are being paid. Should a person be paid $15 an hour to hand me a sack of burgers at McDonalds? I don’t think so.

The free-market should be taking care of this, we used to have one in this country, but it is slowly slipping away. We should find a way to put all workers on commission that is the only way you can find out what a person is truly worth.

“What Kind Of Society Are We Leaving Our Kids” Available here.

This is one man’s opinion.