WAGES: Another side of the issue

Regarding the April 27 editorial on low wages:

The combination of poorly performing public schools, coupled with an alarmingly small percentage of college grads (10 percent) has everything to do with “the worst” pay scales being found in Idaho. Our editor (Sunday, April 27), rather than calling for improvement in public education, points out numbers of vague theories that effectively ingratiates business owners at the expense of working families. In truth, the minimum wage has increased by 21 percent since 1990, while the cost of living in America has increased a whopping 67 percent since 1990. That would mean Idaho’s minimum wage should be $11.38.

Just who are the spokesmen for fairness of coverage of minimum wage adjustments? Certainly it is not politicians — who accept large donations from business people. And again, Mr. Patrick, you, The Press, are on the wrong side of the best interests of the people of Coeur d’Alene and Idaho.

RONALD DEADY

Coeur d’Alene