ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, June 14, 1996 TAG: 9606140008
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
AS PRESIDENT Clinton said last year, ``Raising the minimum wage is not the way to go.''
Now that it's an election year, he and many other politicians see that a lot of votes are to be had from the increase. Neither the federal government nor any other government should try to regulate wage rates. Let's keep supply and demand in mind. Before we raise the minimum wage, look at the history of increases in it:
Inflation (higher costs for goods and services).
Layoffs.
Strikes for more wages from labor unions.
Increase in FICA payments from employers and employees.
Increase in Social Security payments.
Increases in medical costs, including Medicaid and Medicare.
Decrease in summer jobs for students and migrant workers.
There's plenty more. And, after all of this, the ones we try to help don't get any.
Ask a member of a school board or an architect, and they'll tell you that general contractors have already prepared for the increases. The cost of construction-work bids that have been taken recently have skyrocketed. Tax dollars are diminishing in this regard.
We cannot afford an increase in minimum wage. I've witnessed too many and I know.
GEORGE HAWKINS
ROANOKE
Local man's efforts are thwarted
I READ with interest and concern Jeff Sturgeon's May 28 article, "'Driving range' means what?" It seems to me that again our priorities are grossly misplaced. Our city and county make significant concessions to industry to attract them to our area.
In this instance, we have a locally born and raised valued citizen attempting to establish a respectable and attractive business, which is environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing, and his efforts are being thwarted.
A groundswell of support for Wayne Holley in this endeavor is indicated. The Virginia Department of Transportation can and should use another route for the road improvement, which not only would allow this business to proceed but would also save a considerable amount of taxpayer money.
CLYDE LLOYD
ROANOKE
Don't punish other terminally ill kids
LAURA REID Cormier's request (June 2 letter to the editor, ``Wish to kill was wrongly granted'') for withdrawal of all financial support for the Make-A-Wish Foundation because it granted a child's politically incorrect wish punishes all terminally ill children because of the wish of one. Obviously, she has never been faced with the prospect of losing a child.
Make-A-Wish can count on my support, as it's doing something for children. While I may not agree with everything it does, I would never make all innocent children and their families pay for the actions in one isolated case.
MARY KEITH WELCH
ROANOKE
Feds, too, need to downsize
IN RESPONSE to Robert Fitch's May 31 letter to the editor, ``Goodlatte is no friend to workers'':
A little dose of reality is in order. Apparently, Fitch limits his definition of workers to those supporting the status quo of a government whose motto has become ``the more the merrier.''
Let's face it, the federal government is a business, albeit one that's poorly managed at best and in serious need of reorganization. Any business that runs a continual deficit goes bankrupt or downsizes (refer to AT&T, IBM or Dominion Bank). That's reality.
Sooner or later, someone has to tell the truth that Santa Claus isn't the one who leaves those presents, and that mommy and daddy paid for the bike on their charge card. Right now, the federal charge card is over its limit and we have to pay for what we already have spent. Government workers are no different from other workers. If they (gasp) have to pay their fair share of health and retirement benefits, so be it. I pay for 100 percent of my family's health and retirement benefits and federal employees' benefits.
Fitch laments that some federal employees' jobs may be replaced with the work of convicts. If that's the case, what does that say about those federal employees' qualifications?
Rep. Bob Goodlatte is a friend to the segment of our population that hasn't had a friend in 40 years - the taxpayers. If being a federal employee is such a raw deal, take your tax-paid-for abilities and jump into our free marketplace.
I do like your slogan, ``We will remember in November.'' However, what we'll remember is this: If your outgo exceeds your income, your downfall will be your upkeep.
JEFF DEATON
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Long : 102 linesby CNB