I sometimes wonder if this country would be better off if the use of caffeine and harder stimulants by Congress critters and their aides could be banned. Then, rather than churning out thousands of pages of bills, legislators could know how it feels to be unable to lift their foreheads from their computer tables.
Such was my condition last night when Asheville City Council let out sometime around 11:00. Yes, I am blaming city council for my failure to tell you more about the living wage presentation. The staff report was as good as council’s remarks. It contained the results of a survey sent to local businesses by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, in response to maneuverings by Just Economics.
Granted, the questions were not designed to conform to the Survey Monkey evaluation presented. However, unlike other government surveys that ask questions like, “What’s wrong with you if you don’t want to convert your fifty-year business into a two-story, mixed-use, LEED-certified center for nurturing and environmental awareness to save our children?” the chamber’s survey was very unbiased. One question simply asked:
In what way would adding a living wage requirement to the City of Asheville’s bidding process affect your business? Please be as descriptive as possible.
The response was overwhelmingly in favor of the free market. Some of my favorite responses were:
Pay raises would have to occur, even for those employees for whom their job with us is a part time second job, or a part time post-retirement job. Our prices to the city would have to increase. I am also curious as to whether when the City Council does “retreats” or City Employees just orders in food for a late meeting if the dishwashers will need to make the increase? I think it is a short-sighted policy, that, even though the aims are honorable, will be a disaster for the city. It will also mean loss of jobs, because I am sure I am not the only employer who will stop offering part time lower wage work (that the employees are GLAD to get currently, even though the rate may only be 9.00/hr, because it supplements some other income they have). It will also create another layer of beauracracy for the city and more paperwork for vendors as compliance is ensured. Having worked previously on federal projects where wage reports were required, I view it as a hassle, that in itself requires a higher cost passed along to the buyer. When an employer pays bi-weekly, it is an added difficulty to break down the payroll figures weekly, particularly in our case where we pay a base hourly fee, plus an incentive rate. Currently our computer based payroll system figures all taxes, but when weekly wage reports are necessary, we have to revert back to the “old” printed withholding charts to get accurate numbers by individual weeks. This policy would be a mistake.
Possible increased wages would definitely be reflected in increase costs of goods sold. In this economy, increasing costs merchandise or service would be detrimental to surviving this economic upheaval! The Feds will begin to place new taxes on business, too. Why don’t I just liquidate and the h- with it? Is it really worth it to a small business owner anymore? Someone else can have the headaches and the government can support the laid off workers. They want to control everything else. We are just one VERY small step away from Socialism as it is. Keep pushing government leaders! See the results.
are you guys crazy? have you not heard of free enterprize? we are not California
All responses may be found here. The survey starts on p. 6.
Of course, in the interest of fairness, this survey will probably have to be balanced with one conducted amongst community organizers. These kids and retirees seem to have some kind of x-ray vision that supercedes reasons playing into private contracts. Those in attendance Tuesday scoffed at city staff’s objection that verifying the payment of living wages would require $15,000/year in auditing. They presented a form and showed how easy it would be for employers to fill in the blanks. One gentleman said the benefits were so worthy, the city shouldn’t mess with the details.
The hearing is well worth viewing, and it will soon be made available here. The living wage discussions start somewhere in the fifth hour.
