Wage hike won’t work

I’m sure Mike Kraft (May 24) has a big heart. Unfortunately, he’s using it to think. The results are expectedly abysmal.

He believes raising the “stingy” minimum wage “stimulates consumers … (and) creates productivity.” Huh? Stimulating consumers? Kraft himself reports that Papa John’s will raise the price of pizzas. Consumers, even those with no wage increase, now pay more for products. This is not stimulation.

Oh, and increased productivity? Employers are forced to pay the same dollar amount for fewer employees, because they simply cannot afford otherwise. Two people trying to do the work of three? Not really seeing the productivity increase. Must be me.

Kraft’s solution is for John Schnatter to sell his “Mammon-idol mansion” to afford the wage increase. I think he’s confusing businesses with charities!

However, I’m fair. I’ll support the mansion sale under one condition: Kraft agrees to a 30 percent pay cut. (He can go higher if he wishes, but we won’t make him.) His hours won’t decrease. This money will then be used to raise his fellow employees’ wages. Somehow, I don’t think he’ll go for it. Failed economic policies always sound so good until it’s our money on the line, don’t they?

Chris Reichert

Athol