PAY: Why even bother to get schooling?

Re: “$15 an hour works well at Seattle Ivar’s” (TNT, 8-1).

I realize everyone needs to make a decent living, but why should we reward those who do nothing to get ahead and penalize those who do?

A restaurant worker at Ivar’s making $80,000? Waitresses who can take vacations and save money? Busboys who can go out to eat more often and still have money left over?

Teachers, police officers, attorneys and other professionals often do not make $80,000 a year after long, grueling years of schooling, big financial debt and endless hours of experience.

In fact, the market is so saturated with those who tried to get ahead and do the right thing, that employers know they can offer them much less in salary, knowing full well there are 25 candidates without jobs ready to accept lower wages.

I am sure if many of us professionals had known we could make up to $80,000 without all the effort, stress and financial debt, we surely would have taken that route.

It’s the same old story: The rich get richer, the poor get assistance, and the middle class works hard and pays for it all.

Tacoma

This story was originally published August 3, 2015 at 3:25 PM with the headline "PAY: Why even bother to get schooling?."