Democrats have taken over the House of Representatives in Washington, and two years of President Trump seem to have made “blue” states even bluer. In the mid-term elections Democrats not only made significant gains in numbers, but also politically inexperienced Progressive new faces have caused the party to shift further to the left.
Popular Progressive issues are now on the agenda both nationally and locally. Among these issues are an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour; free college education; and extended family leave for workers who need time off to help out at home. I know that it’s useless to raise objections or even try to discuss these popular issues that sound so noble and caring. But let’s still try.
Issue 1: Minimum wage increase. The best cure for low wages is full or high employment. In the last year the number of unemployed has dropped to record levels. Moreover, the level of part-time employment has also declined as increasing numbers of part-time workers have found full-time jobs in the past two years. We now have a scarcity of workers which must inevitably lead to higher wages for all. Job mobility, not minimum wage laws, leads to higher wages.
History has shown that increases in the minimum wage often drive the lowest paid and least skilled workers out of their jobs. Moreover, the secret about increases in the minimum wage is that it benefits the middle class more than the poor. If you are a store manager at McDonald’s currently making $15 an hour, what happens when a cashier just out of high school starts making the same salary. The manager’s salary must also be increased.
For this reason, union members, who always make more than the minimum wage, are strong supporters of substantial increases. It’s certainly not compassion for the poor and the lowly, who usually find it very difficult to get into unions in the first place. A quick web check showed that white males make up 75% of the Carpenter’s union, an important element in the huge construction industry.
Issue 2: Free College Education. Free college tuition is a misnomer. Even if students do not have to pay tuition, someone will still have to bear the cost. Actually, taxpayers traditionally have borne the cost of public elementary and high school whether they have children or not. But what about college?
Actually, it has already been tried. When I was in high school during the fifties, the New York City colleges were tuition free. There was a catch, however. An admission test was required that effectively limited enrollment to the best students in the city. As a result, City College (CCNY), and Brooklyn College were on a par with the best in the country. Jewish students predominated since their parents seemed to prize higher education more than other ethnic groups.
During the political turmoil and race riots of the sixties, protestors criticized the high admission standards, and demanded enrollment open to all. As it turned out, open enrollment benefitted the white middle class more than black or Hispanic minorities. Children of Irish and Italian immigrants were the greatest beneficiaries.
Even today the graduation rate in virtually free community colleges for black and Hispanic students is well below average. This is not a matter of racial inferiority. If there is little or no support at home, even free tuition will not help someone get through college. Statistics that show that college graduates make more than others only mean that graduation rates are important.
Issue 3: Paid Family Leave. Over the holidays I spoke with someone who works for a large manufacturing company. The company has already provided its union employees with a generous sixteen week paid family leave benefit. It would appear that the program is not only being used but that it is being abused. Workers seem to jump at the chance to get paid for not working. Some get friendly doctors to certify that they are having problems with stress. Others even work other jobs while out on family leave.
I suspect that most Progressives have never formally employed anyone outside of the government sector. In government they spend other people’s money. But what if they had to use their own money? For example, what would Progressive celebrity Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez do in the following situation. She goes to her favorite nail salon and the proprietor informs her that Maggie, her favorite, is on a four-month family leave but that Amy will take care of her. However, she will have to pay and tip both Maggie and Amy until Maggie returns to work. I wonder how she or any Progressive would respond?
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