The NW Progressive Institute released its first "white paper" today, -- see the bottom of this Daily Kos post -- but unfortunately for them its a piece of recycled... well, you know, its recycled.
We've been waiting four years or so for this imaginary group to finally put something out, and when they do, its pretty much just a rewritten diatribe.
The section titled "The Future," is lifted directly from this section of the "white paper" authors website titled "Overview: Fixing America's Minimum Wage System," not exactly an original work.
And who is this Brock Haussamen who wrote the white paper? Andrew, the executive director of the institute describes him as "an expert who studies and tracks the issue. "
Surely the Northwest Progressive Institute has brought in a noted economist from Portland or Seattle to put together this piece. Nope! Brock is a "English professor at Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, New Jersey."
Posted by olyscoop360 at January 04, 2007 08:07 PM | Email ThisIn direct contrast to the supposed benefits, Government dictates forcing a minimum wage CAUSES the following problems:
1) It gives an artificial, and instant pay raise to people who have done nothing to earn it
2) It forces employers to artificially pay more than the market-value created by certain employees – more than what an employee’s efforts are worth in a free and competitive marketplace
3) It upends the natural incentives for employees to strive to improve the value of their skills – why would they work harder if Government will artificially reward them for doing nothing to earn more?
4) It also creates a strong disincentive for those who were already earning near the minimum wage level through their own efforts - why should they work as hard as they have when their less-skilled co-workers are instantly put at their level for doing nothing?
5) It artificially and instantly increases an employer’s business costs, by government dictate, thus causing pressure to raise prices artificially – causing them to be less competitive in the marketplace
6) It artificially and instantly increases an employer’s business costs, by government dictate, thus causing them to frequently LAY OFF some employees – and how are they benefiting then?? (Pay rate for those who are laid off: $0.00)
-JP
Posted by: Jefferson Paine on January 5, 2007 03:48 PM