The Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey to gauge the business community’s response to raising Illinois’ minimum wage, wherein 87 percent were in opposition, and 11 percent were in favor of paying employees a more livable wage. Interesting! I guess the business community of the burg doesn’t want customers with more money to spend on goods and services. Keeping so many people at or near the poverty level does not help our economy. Low-wage workers can barely afford minimal rent, utilities, and food, if that; and the prices for everything keeps climbing, as do taxes! The federal minimum wage would be near $11 an hour if it had kept up with inflation over the past 40 years. The growing income inequality situation portends a serious problem for the stability of our nation. The middle class is shrinking dramatically! We might as well close the mall now and turn it into a retirement village, with shops for the elderly under one roof. The wealthier among us can well afford $3 to $4 for a cup of specialty coffee, and can afford to travel farther to shop, or order goods online. Just leave the dollar stores in the burg for the rest of us!
Mar 28 2014
Galesburg Chamber of Commerce has come out against the state’s minimum wage of $8.25 per hour. Where do I stand?
The Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey to gauge the business community’s response to raising Illinois’ minimum wage, wherein 87 percent were in opposition, and 11 percent were in favor of paying employees a more livable wage. Interesting! I guess the business community of the burg doesn’t want customers with more money to spend on goods and services. Keeping so many people at or near the poverty level does not help our economy. Low-wage workers can barely afford minimal rent, utilities, and food, if that; and the prices for everything keeps climbing, as do taxes! The federal minimum wage would be near $11 an hour if it had kept up with inflation over the past 40 years. The growing income inequality situation portends a serious problem for the stability of our nation. The middle class is shrinking dramatically! We might as well close the mall now and turn it into a retirement village, with shops for the elderly under one roof. The wealthier among us can well afford $3 to $4 for a cup of specialty coffee, and can afford to travel farther to shop, or order goods online. Just leave the dollar stores in the burg for the rest of us!
By spiritspeak • Community Roundtable 0