Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico pushed an even bigger stack of chips onto the table, managing to combine increasing the minimum wage with another classic cause for the Party of Takers: increasing spending on public schools. "I would have a minimum wage for all our teachers, $40,000 per year," he said.
Who would pay for these increased wages? In the case of federally subsidized, $40,000-per-year, public-school kindergarten teachers, it would no doubt include some $35,000-per-year workers who would rather send their children to Catholic, Christian or Jewish schools, where few teachers make $40,000 per year.
In the case of a massive jump in the private-sector minimum wage (which is now $5.85), it would be paid by both small business owners and their workers. The government-mandated increase in the cost of labor would diminish both the number of jobs small business created and the number of small businesses, period.
There is one place, however, where the minimum wage could have a salutary effect: among the Democratic presidential candidates who are paid by taxpayers right now.
"If you're elected to serve, would you be willing to do this service for the next four years and be paid the national minimum wage?" asked a YouTube viewer.
Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware and Chris Dodd of Connecticut prudently declined -- suggesting they were struggling to get by on their senators' salaries of $165,200 per year.
Other candidates, however, leapt at the opportunity to show their solidarity with the Taking Class.
"Sure," said Sen. Hillary Clinton, the rich author.
"Yes, I would," said Gov. Bill Richardson, the teachers' advocate.
"I would," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, the ceaseless populist.
"Well, we can afford to work for the minimum wage because most folks on this stage have a lot of money," said Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, the Harvard lawyer.
Good for them. But why should they wait to see if they are elected president? Nothing is stopping these candidates -- and any other Democratic officeholder who shares their views -- from refunding to government treasuries starting today whatever portion of their compensation exceeds the federal minimum wage of $5.85 an hour.
Terence P. Jeffrey is the editor of Human Events. To find out more about him, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com
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