Taxpayers are subsidizing employers

Posted on August 12, 2013 in Debates

TheStar.com – opinion/letters – Re: Hiking the minimum wage, Letter, Aug. 9
Aug 12 2013.   James Knott

Hiking the minimum wage, Letter, Aug. 9

In his letter, Doug Stewart seems to be forgetting one very important thing. The economy depends on people spending money. If someone is paid so little they can’t afford the basics, they not only will not have much to contribute to the economy and taxes, they will also become a burden on the taxpayer. Do those in the Timmy’s drive-through, sitting in their big SUVs, really need the few pennies they save by being served by those earning poverty wages? Why is that person behind the counter also not entitled to be able to buy things? You might also take a look at Walmart. It’s a very large and successful company. Its owners are among the richest people in the U.S. Yet, their employees often have to rely on the state for things like adequate food and health care. In Wisconsin, a Walmart employee is estimated to cost the taxpayer some $5,000 per year in state benefits. California is working on a law to fine Walmart every time an employee has to rely on medicaid. This is that you get when you don’t pay people enough to support themselves. The taxpayer winds up subsidizing the employer. Is that really what you want?

James Knott, Mississauga

< http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2013/08/12/taxpayers_are_subsidizing_employers.html >

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Re: Minimum wage needs to be re-engineered, Aug. 6

Minimum wage needs to be re-engineered, Aug. 6

Corporations must make a profit or go out of business. We do not exist in a communist state. Increasing the minimum wage, in effect, will cause retail prices to increase, which impacts consumers’ decisions on buying. Which initiates, “ripple effect,” ergo, inflation.

It doesn’t take a genius to recognize socialistic sympathizers. Socialism doesn’t work because someone eventually has to pay.

I held down three jobs while my wife and I were paying a mortgage and raising a family. I did not ask someone else to pay my way without input from me.

Doug Stewart, Barrie

I agree with most of the points in this article. The arguments that business owners will use against a raise can be fought by pointing out that these same people were whining about survival when our dollar began its march from 60 cents to parity with the U.S. dollar. Canadian businesses are thriving today and in my opinion needed to get away from that crutch.

The minimum wage should be raised to $14 an hour in my opinion. I had to work for minimum wage five years ago for about 18 months and I had to sell my house because I couldn’t afford a $550 a month mortgage — and that was in Haliburton. I can’t imagine trying to survive in an urban area.

Steve McCullough, Dunsford

< http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2013/08/08/pros_cons_of_hiking_minimum_wage.html >

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See original article by David Olive, Pros, cons of hiking minimum wage, Aug 08 2013  or  : < https://spon.ca/wp-admin/post.php?post=13306&action=edit >

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