Viewpoints

by State Representative Patti Ruff

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus

To the Editor:
I find it hard to stomach arguments opposing a raise in the minimum wage. Most of them are predicated on the idea that unskilled labor is the work of teenagers who should be expected to move on and up. That’s just not the case. The overwhelming majority of minimum wage workers are women over the age of 35 who support a family. They don’t have the resources to continue their education because they are trying to raise their children, often alone and not due to their own choices. These women and their families deserve our support, not our condemnation.
Since 1988 Congress has raised its own salary 15 times, to reflect the rising costs of living. In that same time period the minimum wage was only raised three times. Not only is this unfair and immoral, it is bad business. Raising the minimum wage lifts people out of poverty, and pumps cash into our economy.  

by State Representative Patti Ruff

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus

by Rev. Kevin Smith

To the Editor:
Starting the week of February 9, seniors from Waukon High School will be calling Allamakee County residents requesting a scholarship pledge for Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. This is the same call seniors before them have made for Allamakee Dollars for Scholars.

To the Editor:
I was shocked to hear that some people want to raise the minimum wage to $10/hour or even $15/hour. The TV showed protesters saying they need their wages raised because they can’t afford to support a family on what they are making. Do they really think working at McDonald’s or as a greeter at Wal-Mart was supposed to support a family? These jobs are low-paying jobs meant as a stepping stone to something better.
Do they really believe McDonald’s and Wal-Mart can afford to raise their wages like that? If McDonald’s paid $15/hour, what would a Big Mac cost? McDonald’s will just modernize so they won’t have so many people working and Wal-Mart just won’t have greeters.
In effect, these people are shooting themselves in the foot. If we pay $15/hour for flipping burgers, what would we have to pay trained people, like a back-hoe operator, plumber, carpenter or secretary?

by Patti Ruff, State Representative

by Mike Breitbach, District 28 State Senator