Three pieces in particular from last week’s Murfreesboro Pulse sparked some debate around town. It was very interesting hearing what everyone had to say regarding the articles on the increasing immigration, the labor practices of Wal-Mart and its receipt of government subsidies and the plight of the servers of your food.
While I have worked minimum wage jobs myself and realize a mandated increase of said minimum would make many a worker happy, I was somewhat surprised to hear of a measure passed by the Chicago City Council that will require Wal-Mart and other “big box” retailers in their city to pay employees a minimum wage of $10 per hour with an additional $3 per hour in benefits.
I’m not sure how they do it up North, but we must make sure Chicago’s blatant display of socialist anti-consumerism doesn’t spread.
Come on, the government requiring Wal-Mart to increase wages?!?! If anything, minimum wage laws should be abolished and the so-called “free market” system should include the labor market. Let the invisible hand determine the fair wage, not the hand of Big Brother.
How will increasing the minimum wage benefit your city, Chicago? Now poor Wal-Mart might not even build new stores and many people who could have been employed there will not have a job at all.
Tying in the immigration issue (as Mr. Redding does on the following page), I’m surprised there are any “minute-minded men” still out there wanting to stop the migration of millions of willing and able workers to the U.S. Why, with no minimum wage, workers would come from the far corners of the globe to get a job here?
Would not any red-blooded American capitalist squeal with delight at an endless stream of inexpensive labor? After all, this country was built on the exploitation of cheap labor.
Strict border policies, minimum wage laws and other closed-minded, communist ideas just raise the prices of goods and services to artificially high levels for you, the consumer.
Moving on, I had a very fortunate encounter with some inexpensive foreign labor myself this week.
Well, the car overheated (as I was on my way to see Cold Summer, which I did unfortunately miss) and forced me to pull over.
A potentially inconvenient situation worked itself out nicely as a mechanic happened to be in the vicinity. However, the gentleman was Russian and spoke no English. Instead of wasting time communicating, he dove right in and repaired the hose.
Thank You my Russian friend. Karma and honor require I now help your family or someone else out now.
Congratulations to Sky Hi, the winners of the Rockstar Band Battle at Bluesboro presented by The Pulse. These cats put on a truly energetic slice of funkadelia.
Thanks to all of the bands participating in the competition.
FYI, I’m going to the beach?a beach named Myrtle. Be back on Monday, well maybe Tuesday.
Peace
Bracken Mayo, Editor in Chief
