Minimum wage law just digs deeper hole

Is the college student who serves vegetables on a cafeteria line worth the ever-increasing minimum wage rate? Rising operational costs will cause many students who could barely afford college to drop out. Others who wanted to go to college won't consider it. Many of those that stay, will incur more debt, which will lengthen their ability to start a decent life. Colleges may have to reduce their programs or even eliminate them without enough students to support them.

Rules and regulations have decimated the work world. Businesses that cut staff just to stay in business often sacrifice service. Others simply go out of business. Desperate laid-off staff will take any position they can find just to put food on the table. This includes minimum wage positions. These workers will often be forced to take a second job.

Many families are apt to break up due to little or no income. Younger inexperienced jobseekers will be boxed out by older more experienced workers. With lots of energy, little or no supervision at home, no ability to develop life skills and start a family, their frustration and helplessness leads them into bad habits.

The minimum wage was intended to be a beginning wage, not a living wage. I'm sure those holding minimum wage positions are delighted their wage will go up. However, their joy is apt to be short lived as they may again lose their job.

Thanks, politicians. You talk a good game. However, you dig a deeper hole for us.

Dick Hennessy

Rolling Meadows