$15 minimum wage pandering for votes
First and foremost, the government has no business telling private employers how much they must pay any employees. That should be left up to the free market place. Nothing in the Illinois Constitution either requires or authorizes the government to set a minimum wage. It states in part " ... We, the People of the state of Illinois ... in order to ... eliminate poverty and inequality; assure legal, social and economic justice; provide opportunity for the fullest development of the individual … do … establish this Constitution ...".
People can interpret those words in any way they want, but to me it means to do whatever it can to create and nurture an atmosphere for job creation and not chase employers away. The best welfare system in the world is one where there are plenty of jobs for everyone who wants and is capable of holding, a job. That is how we should " ... eliminate poverty and inequality … assure … justice … provide opportunity…".
As we all know, mandating $15 an hour will hurt small businesses, lessen job opportunities for part time employees and still not provide for enough money for a full-time job to raise a family. But it sure will sound good enough to pander to the poorest of the poor for their votes.
Roland G. Ley
Arlington Heights