Greensboro wants minimum-wage vote
The minimum wage was first implemented in 1938 at 25 cents per hour. If businesses paid a fair and decent wage on their own, the government would not have had to intervene.
In Greensboro, certain City Council members act as though they were elected into office by the business community. Our constitution says the government is by the people, for the people and of the people. If that is the case, why have Mary (Rakestraw), Mike (Barber) and Trudy (Wade) then chosen to violate the constitution?
When is the last time Mary, Mike, Trudy or Sandra (Anderson Groat) had to decide whether to buy their medicine, pay the rent, buy milk, gas or see a doctor?
In a city with as much wealth as Greensboro, it is immoral to have 20,000 people living below the poverty level. Does it not enrage you?
How would these City Council members fare if they had to live for one month with their families on $6.15 per hour? Could they survive living in substandard rat- and roach-infested housing, having no medical benefits, feeling helpless and hopeless, standing in lines at the soup kitchens?
The citizens of Greensboro have spoken and made it clear that they want a chance to vote on this referendum.
Deborah Compton-Holt
Greensboro
Comments (3)
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No doubt, entrepeneurialship will flourish and new businesses will flock to the east side when you are able to achieve your goal of a $9.36 an hour min. wage, Ms. Compton...or Holt.
Who knows, maybe after the min. wage hike you desire is implemented, one may actually be able to walk down the street in that part of town without getting robbed or murdered.
Posted on March 4, 2008 6:44 AM
Yet another compassionate plea to raise the cost of goods and services. If you are concerned with eliminating poverty, then why not make the minimum wage $20.00/hour? Or does your hypocrisy only go so far?
Posted on March 4, 2008 6:54 AM
Your inclusion of Sandra Anderson-Groat in your vitriol just shows how much you don't know. Sandra has been a champion in providing low cost housing for years. She has worked tirelessly to enable people who would otherwise never be able to afford a home of their own the opportunity for home ownership by keeping her profit margin low. She assisted many people in getting out of those rat-infested hovels you speak of. So when she balks at an increase in minimum wage, I tend to think it is not because she has business owners in her pocket but that it will just boost the cost of goods and services.
Posted on March 4, 2008 7:49 AM