Is Gov. David Ige’s campaign promise to raise minimum wage to $15, and his and Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s endorsement of the hotel workers strike, a subtle back-door ploy to cover state and city revenue shortfalls?

As pay increases, state, county and federal taxes increase. The cost of living increases and we pay more for goods and services. Periodic raises are good, but only if we’re careful. Too much too fast, and you reach the low point of diminishing returns — costs overcome gains.

Who gets impacted the hardest? Usually those with lower incomes and those on fixed incomes. And we start the cycle over again.

Alan Yagi

Aiea

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