PAY: Keep government out of wage decisions

Proponents of the higher minimum wage often want the wage indexed to inflation. Yet what about deflation? An economy is elastic. So, if an area experiences decreased buying power and thus deflation occurs, will that minimum wage be negatively indexed to ensure against business failures?

For instance, what if Joint Base Lewis-McChord is required to cut the number of its troops and support staff, and Tacoma’s economy contracts? What is a small business owner to do if forced to pay wages that are incongruent with the current economic situation?

Will small business owners be able to petition the City of Tacoma for a wavier to lower wages? How much time, money and effort would it take to get such a wavier? Will there be an appeals process? How much time, money and effort would it take to go through the appeals process, and how long will it take to get answers for these requests?

Could a small business survive in the meantime? Probably not.

This is why it is unquestionably best that wage determination be free from senseless government interference and only be between business owners and employees.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 11:49 AM with the headline "PAY: Keep government out of wage decisions."