WAGES: Price hikes unjustified

Every time there is a discussion about raising wages, I hear the same arguments: 1) business owners won’t be able to pay, or they will have to fire someone, or they will not be able to hire enough people and 2) the price of the goods and services will increase to offset the cost.

When wage increases occur, businesses still must run, they still must hire people, and they will have enough money to pay everyone. There has never been any evidence that higher wage requirements caused business owners to close, not hire or fire people.

It’s unfortunate that the first response, and coping strategy, to a wage increase is to raise the price of goods and services rather than decrease the bonuses CEOs receive, and decrease the dividends share holders receive. Either way, the rich continue to get richer; the working poor take two steps forward and three steps back.

GERI HAGLER

Coeur d’Alene