So, if you think our government leaders are not trying to push us to a socialist or communist regime, think about the constant desire to push the minimum wage upwards?

The federal minimum wage in 1990 was: $3.80. This was the hourly wage I got when I was hired at my first job. It was a film developing business called Moto Photo. I was happy to get it. We were promised a .25 cent raise in 6 months if we did well and possible .25 cent raise each year after that. We also got a $4.95 commission by selling club memberships that were $24.95. I was able to buy a car in high school working this wage.

I moved to Colorado in 1994, and got a job at Kmart making $7.50. I was making only $4.55 back home. I thought wow, I’m going to be rich! Yet, apartments were $400 a month where they were only $275 back home. So each city and state did have higher wages even though the federal min wage was only $4.25. Business would hire at a higher rate to get better people. And depending on the skill and job, hourly wage was determined by what one needed to do. Why did I get $7.50 because I was going to work in the photo processing area and I had 4 years of experience. I got .50 cents more an hour for that skill set over a standard cashier.

By the time I was in management at the Kmart Corporation I was still only making about $12 an hour. Fast forward about 30 years and the federal minimum wage is still only $7.25. Yet Colorado’s min wage is $14.42; Denver is $18.29. So local min wage overrides the Federal. Some would say this is just to fight the higher cost of living. Ok, sure. But what does that do to the economies of the region or does to inflation. Do you think bread and milk costs the same in Denver as it does say in Wichita Kansas?

As I was driving by the local McDonalds, I saw the “Hiring” sign. The starting wage is $18.29 to $21.89. And the the job just requires one to stuff fries in a bag or take orders at the take out window. Now, my wife is a teacher at a public school for kindergarteners. She makes $21.89. She teaches the next generation of children to write, count and behave in a class room environment. Yet, this is the same wage you can earn just working at a burger joint. I remember when that was not the norm.

I think when a low-education-easy-skill job pays the same as a higher-skill-education job, that feels like communism. Everyone gets the same wage– no matter the job.

Perhaps I’m just exaggerating or being a conspiracy theorist. Yet, if there is no motivation to become a high skill or high education job over those of a ditch digger or trash man, then what do you think that does to the work force? Just a thought….