By 
By: CHRISTINA CLARK
Columnist
Cannons have been fired and legislation has been making rounds to raise the minimum wage once again.
We are certainly in pickle: the nay-sayers are speaking of the hardships on businesses and the job market availability, while the supporters are fighting for the people’s right to a higher quality of life.
How do we “win” and find an answer for everyone when people in our own community are going hungry? With the snow days building up and some children missing meals they get at school which they otherwise wouldn’t get at home? With rents defaulting, bills going unpaid and essential needs falling by the wayside? How do we win this domestic battle in America to make ends meet?
Who will bring home the bread and butter, and maybe even the pickles?
The cost of living in America has risen, and the pay has not risen at the same rate. Inflation is not kind, though it is also a natural part of our society structure. There are so many factors that go into both things, and they apparently haven’t been communicating as the chasm has opened. (Which, if they’d read any relationship self-help books at all, they’d know communication is key!)
Now, I’m not one to say “I deserve a McMansion for putting in my time at my low-paying hourly wage job!” No, not at all. I think having a couple roommates is just fine for this stage in my life.
That’s why I’m in college after getting a professional license: to continue growing my potential (as I assume many are).
It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there in the job market, partially because with the higher wages required there is less money for companies to spend hiring more workers, but also partially because the market is flooded with people. There are so many people in the job market, people are not retiring as early as they once did, so younger professionals (and entry levelers) are vying for positions held by those with both education and experience.
So what can we do to fix this situation? What do we do when the legislation has come so far away from what the people need and what businesses want? Is there really no viable solution that could make both happy? Do we need a “do over” because we broke a lace before we landed the triple axel? Or does the system need a total makeover?
I don’t have the answers, but I hope my questions have piqued the brains of some smarter than I, who might be able to find a way out of our mess. Whether the system needs a completely makeover (or under), or a few strategic decisions, I hope one of these days the people will be the first priority in government.
Like I said, we’re in a bit of a pickle, and no matter whether it’s a crunchy, crisp one or a chewy one, it’s a pickle that will eventually need to be solved.
