By [email protected]

Mr. Fullmer’s article on raising minimum wage was so egregiously inaccurate that, as an economics major, I had to read it again to make sure I had read it right the first time.First of all, including a history of capitalism was nice if you’re writing a history paper but was meaningless to the article and I think it was included as an attempt to lend credence to an obviously flawed arguement. Secondly, the idea that an increase in the minimum wage is MUTUALLY beneficial is absurd. Spending more money on labor hurts the bottom line, period. If the minimum wage were raised to $10/hour, as Mr. Fullmer suggested, businesses would be much more willing to replace actual workers with machinery (where possible) or they would only hire the most qualified/productive/profitable applicants, thereby eliminating unskilled labor, those who are currently earning minimum wage. So not only are businesses now hurting but those who normally occupy those minimum wage jobs can’t work AT ALL! After this proposed 85% increase (how is that a MINOR reform?) will the workers who are currently earning $10 get a raise? How about those earning $12 or $15/hour? If we simultaneously raise everyone’s income we will have uncontrolable inflation.Finally, Mr. Fullmer’s examples are very inaccurate. To increase hourly labor costs from $50 to $80 amounts to almost one million dollars a day for large fast-food chains like McDonald’s. And the example of the single mother with 2 or 3 kids is an obvious attempt to play on our emotions. Who doesn’t feel sorry for single mothers who can’t find good work?Capitalism works because it is designed to let market forces work things out. To have government interfere where it isn’t needed defeats the entire purpose. Is minimum wage too low, maybe. Do we need radical (yes it is radical) change? No. Nice try Mr. Fullmer, but REAL economic solutions are not that simple.-Jef Cartwrightseniorecon major