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Making the Case for Compassion

Norm Singleton's blog A failure to communicate reminds us the many ways in which government intervention is virtually always injurious to the interests of those less well off. As his Ron Paul quote indicates, freedom is good for creating opportunities and good for charity.

The challenge when trying to counter the case for minimum wage is that few will listen when freedomistas look to broaden the subject out to cover issues such as housing prices, land-use rules, central-bank policies, poor education systems, etc. In my experience, at least, the Average Joe or Jane will respond, "Maybe, but what's that got to do with the minimum wage? How can anyone live on $5/hour?"

Knowing this, it might make sense to stick to the most relevant, near-term arguments. The minimum wage increases unemployment. Low-wage workers are very often the young and the supplemental, second-earner in a household. Do we really want to price them out of the market, closing off opportunities to those lower-skilled workers? Few are satisfied with $5/hour, but they often use those jobs as stepping stones to higher-paying occupations. Sure, the minimum wage SOUNDS compassionate, but in fact it is not, particularly for those most in need and those who live in low-cost places. In high-cost places, virtually no one will work for the minimum wage, but they might in, say, Fargo, ND.

Sometimes, broadening the argument out could backfire. It asks the receiver to absorb and process a host of tangential issues.

-Robert Capozzi

Posted by Robert Capozzi on July 28, 2006 06:52 AM |

Free-for-all (frfr-ôl) -- n. A disorderly fight, argument, or competition in which everyone present participates.

from Dictionary.com



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The Free Liberal is an independent journal of transpartisan thought.

The views expressed herein are those of the writers individually and not necessarily those of the Free Liberal, the Center for Liberty and Community, or its board of directors.