LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Are lack of jobs and minimum wage increases related?

By: Dear Editor: | SCNOW
Published: November 13, 2009

For lo these many months one word has dominated the political agenda. No, it is not about universal health care, although it has its place in the news. What I’m talking about is JOBS.
There have been literally millions of times that one politician after another has used this word to express the problems facing our Republic. What I find odd is that, not one single time, has the added word of MANUFACTURING been uttered. I wonder why?
Could it be that the mere mention of this word would generate untold amounts of verbiage as to why?
As for me, the answer is simple. We’ve, or should I say the politicians, have given them away to foreign countries, one which, not only has taken the No. 1 role for imports, but also holds the majority of our debt. A debt, which incidentally, grows and grows as those same politicians pass more regulations.
South Carolina, especially, has been hard hit with the demise of the textile industry. With this in mind I find it most disconcerting that one our own Congresspersons would continue to, not only ignore the subject, but to have the notion that a higher minimum wage should be offered and implemented.
If you have read my letters over the years you are well aware that I have attacked the minimum wage as being, not only unconstitutional, but the direct cause of the scarcity of employment.
How does one explain the fact that a country far off our shores is able to not only make the hundreds of items that appear in our store outlets, but is able to do so and bear the expense of container shipping to our ports. One port, which has benefited by this, is Charleston. While this may bring jobs to the port and to the hauling industry, it does little to those in the towns and villages throughout the state.
One county that has been hardest hit by the high minimum wage is in the very district of that Congressperson who advocates its increase. If this makes sense I would like it thoroughly explained, say, in this newspaper.
It is the American way to want to better oneself but is there a point of no return?
Think about this way; higher paychecks lead to higher taxes, which leads to higher wages, which lead ... I think you get the point.
In summary, I would ask you to consider this question: Am I any better off being employed at a lesser rate of pay or unemployed at a higher rate?

Gene Deragon
Lamar