Letter: Economics, math not strong suits among Seattle protesters
It's ironic anti-capitalist immigrant protesters rioted in Seattle against the very capitalist society they fled to, from their former anti-capitalist countries. Evidently, economics and math are not strong suits among these marchers.
Consider their stance on the minimum wage. You think a skilled worker currently making $20 an hour working in a processing plant isn’t going to demand the same percentage wage increase as those demanding a $15 wage flipping burgers? I don’t see anyone lining up to demand higher prices on goods and services.
Supporters point out that Washington and California cities have set that wage for government workers but fail to disclose these folks are paid via tax revenue, not market revenue like that created by capitalism. It’s easy to pay higher wages when all you do is confiscate it from your neighbor. In addition, if the minimum wage goes to $15 an hour, you think businesses are going to hire the same caliber of folks they hire for today’s minimum wage?
Before you succumb to the union’s attempt to increase their revenues, you might remember why you left one country to live in this capitalist society in the first place.
Laurent Estey, West Richland
This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 2:48 AM with the headline "Letter: Economics, math not strong suits among Seattle protesters."