Minimum Wage Myth
Pulitzer Prize-winning economist David Cay Johnston penned an op-ed crushing the myth that raising the minimum wage would equal a loss in jobs. There is no proof of this and he does a phenomenal job laying out the realities. Nicely summarized here:
The idea that a higher minimum wage would destroy jobs is powerfully simple and intuitively appealing. The problem is that it is contradicted both by economic theory and the facts…Apart from the abundant evidence and economic theory, there are powerful business interests deploying PR strategies to confuse the public. (Emphasis added)
Paul on Immigration
Rand Paul voiced his fear that Texas may be on its way to becoming a blue state in the near future because of the growing Hispanic population and stated the Republican party should consider a more open position on amnesty for immigrants. This shows that even the hardest right-wingers are beginning to realize they are going to have to pull themselves to the left to save their own necks come election time.
Then Paul quoted his fellow Senator Mike Lee by stating, “We were all immigrants once.” To which every Native American replied, “What?!”
Voting Rights for Former Prisoners
Attorney General Eric Holder expressed his support for changing voting laws so people who have served their time and reformed themselves can rightfully participate in elections again. This is simply yet another aspect of the American justice system disproportionately affecting African-Americans and is long overdue for change. And with the increasingly fast change we are seeing regarding marijuana legalization, these changes should quickly follow.
Microchips in Your What?!
A fascinating op-ed appeared on the BBC describing some of the advancements and possibilities of microchips being implanted in the human body. An interesting read to see where the technology is going:
Amal Graafstra…is a double implantee – he has a microchip in each hand.
In his right hand is a re-writable chip, the same kind used in Oyster travel cards, which can be used to store small amounts of data. By pressing his hand to his phone, information can be downloaded from his body or uploaded into it. The left contains a simple identity number that can be scanned to unlock his front door, log into his computer or even start a motorbike
The Wealthy are Actually the Job Destroyers
Reuters reported that Barclays will be cutting 12,000 jobs and has already begun the process because the company is struggling so badly…so badly they are increasing bonuses for their top earners even though they stunk it up last year.
It said it paid 2.4 billion pounds ($3.9 billion) in incentive awards last year, raising bonuses at the investment bank by 13 percent despite a slump in its profits. (Emphasis added)
So, with the logic that the wealthy are the “job creators” and they need more money to create the jobs (mythological idea, by the way), we can only assume Barclays will be hiring, let’s say, 24,000 in the near future because the top earners are so much better off. Can’t wait for that to pan out for the people who they are about to lay off and prove all the right wingers correct on that myth. Maybe it will happen guys. And maybe pigs will be cruising through the air on their newly grown wings to celebrate.
