In a mass email sent out Dec. 28, Hawaii Democratic Party Chairwoman Kealii Lopez listed raising the minimum wage, increasing funding for public education and legalizing recreational marijuana as top priorities.
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Has anyone suggested a $16 per hour minimum wage (“Progressive press agenda on more staid Democrats,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 13)? A living wage for an adult in Honolulu is approximately $16 per hour, so a $16 minimum wage would put all full-time wage earners over the poverty level.
The objection to increasing the minimum wage is that employers will not hire those with few skills. But if they’re working now, why will they become unemployed if the minimum wages increases? Who will do the work they are currently employed to do?
The argument is that business will spread the work in a more efficient manner. If that is true, why aren’t businesses doing this now?
Businesses need low-skilled workers as well as highly skilled workers. Every worker deserves a living wage and those businesses that are unable to afford these workers will close down and the better-run businesses will continue operation. This is how capitalism has always worked.
Stuart Shimazu
Diamond Head
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