by Ashley Murphy

I often wonder where the government gets all of their "facts" and figures. They push all of these changes without actually seeing the impact it could have on the citizens of this country. Especially this new push for higher minimum wage.

Don't get your knickers in a wad. I'm not saying I'm against people making better money. That's not the case at all. But I have to wonder if raising the minimum wage is such a smart idea.

The value of the dollar has been in an ever declining state. I have to ask if raising the minimum wage of millions of people would not hinder that even more?

Think about it. Everything you come across these days is already expensive enough. I don't have a minimum wage job and things are still costly to me. I'm lucky to make it paycheck to paycheck. I have a professional job with very grown-up bills to pay. I am single, so I take care of those by myself. I'm looking at possibly getting a part-time minimum wage job as a secondary, just so I can keep paying those bills and putting food in my mouth.

Now, if you increase the minimum wage of millions of people at all of these retail stores, grocery stores, fast food restaurants and dining establishments, would that not effectively make the prices of commodities - food, clothing, cleaning supplies, whatever they may be - go up significantly to cover the cost of these increased wages. Not to mention that several stores and restaurants have already gone up on pricing or have added a tax to cover the cost of the mandatory (socialized) HealthCare mess that is being forced on every individual and business.

So, while you have your wage increase, myself and others like me, in a professional setting, will most likely not get one. But prices would potentially go up, leaving you in the same boat you were in before, still in your minimum wage job, paying for rising commodities. But I will be in over my head even more. Still earning the same pay, potentially driving me further into debt.

As you look through history, minimum wage has always gone up as the value of the dollar changes. I get that it will most likely continue to go up. BUT, my issue is with the comparison of minimum wage jobs and professional jobs.

When I started my very first part-time job in high school, the minimum wage was at $5.15 per hour. Professional jobs started anywhere from $8.00 to $11.00 per hour. Now, a little over 10 years later, the minimum wage has gone up to $7.25 per hour. Professional jobs? They still start out between $8.00 and $11.00. And prices on commodities keep rising with every wage increase. Nothing really changes. Except those in the professional job setting.

It baffles me a bit. I know it's the people over the professional jobs that decide to pay more than minimum wage. But that's usually because they require professionals. Those who have had job experience, college education, professional appearance, etc. Yet, if the professional industry doesn't raise wages as the minimum wages are raised (like they have yet to do) then soon, they may be losing employees to the more lax jobs in retail and food.

Another issue, if my waiter/waitress is making $10.10 an hour, the proposed federal wage increase, am I still supposed to tip the expected 15-20% for the service? I'm sorry, but I just don't see how that's fair to me. At that point, I wouldn't make much more than you. I deal with customers on a daily basis also. I may not handle their food, but I still cater to their requests. But you still expect a 20% tip? Waitressing would be become the new hot job to have. A 40 hour waitressing job, plus tips from a steady clientele, would be pushing $50,000 a year.

Wow. Where do I apply?

I'm sorry, but some things need to be highly considered and researched before any big decisions are made. Or the professional industry needs to keep up with rising wages, just like the government is forcing on all other business owners.

The times, they are a changin'. Just not always for the best.

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