THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 14, 1996 TAG: 9607120035
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 35 lines
Regarding the Associated Press report ``Reich assails GOP on minimum wage'' (Business News, July 3), Labor Secretary Robert Reich proves himself to be out of touch with reality. His comment concerning Sen. Christopher Bond's amendment expanding training wages to 180 days is a prime example of the bureacratic elitism which runs rampant in this administration. This ``big government'' mentality says that the average citizen is either too ignorant or too dishonest to make decisions for himself; therefore we (the bureacratic elite) must step in and control all aspects of society.
Reich states, ``You don't need to be a rocket scientist to know that this provision will create a powerful incentive for employers to push people out of jobs before the six months is up.'' So, according to Secretary Reich, an employer hires an untrained worker and begins the training process. Three or four months later, the worker is now fairly proficient at the tasks he was hired to do. However, to avoid paying minimum wage, the employer fires this worker and hires a new one at training wages and begins the training process anew.
Maybe Robert Reich should descend from his ivory tower and take a good look at all the hard-working business owners laboring diligently to produce a quality product or service. It is these very people on which a sound economy is built. They are not the enemy. They are intelligent enough and honest enough to realize that they must take care of their employees and pay them well. A prosperous business is built upon well-trained employees who produce quality work.
Maybe a refresher course in Business 101 would be beneficial for Mr. Reich.
STEVE NEAL
Chesapeake, July 3, 1996 by CNB