Minimum Wage

Posted by me on the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper, Letters section. As a college student full time, employed full time, and father of three who grew up with food stamps, free lunches, etc-I take this personally. I make more than minimum *quite a bit* but the reality is that people still make 5.15 an hour and apparently Congress is more than happy to keep it that way. I don't see how its free market to deny a minimum wage raise, but vote a 3,000 dollar one for yourself with tax paid health and pension, etc. Seems to me that the free market is only talked about when trying to keep some from having all.
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One Senators response to their not voting it down was to say that its
a struggle between allowing the free market and forcing government
control onto small business. While on its face I see that rationale,
he invalidated it completely right afterwards saying that people that
make minimum should move to where the opportunity is and get training
to make them more employable. I laughed-with what are they supposed to
pay for training and when are they supposed to do it? How are they
supposed to move? If they recieve assistance because they are already
below poverty level and move, they have to fill it all out again and
check on a change of status. Realistically, how much training will
offset the stress of making 5.00 too much and losing whatever benefits
they may be receiving for assistance? This guy is an unrealistic tool.

Congress has denied a minimum wage increases, and lawmakers have voted
themselves seven pay raises worth $28,000 in the last decade.
Compounded with changes to bankruptcy laws that took place, I can't
wait for strike 3. Mike Enzi of Wyoming says " Wages do not drive
sales, Sales drive wages." Ummm...so If I make more, I just stick it
in my mattress? Senator Enzi's proposal to raise the minimum 1.10 an
hour would stipulate that states could not change their own minimum
and reclass overtime pay (again;Im a tech worker and that really
hurt). Where do they get these people? Another argument is that
"people shouldn't expect to make it on minum wage". Oh, okay-so a lack
of advanced skills, a medical disability, or bad geography should
determine whether or not someone can have a family? In case some
people haven't noticed, there are large portions of the US that are
completly habitable, but aren't near a major city where higher skilled
jobs usually are-so Urban Sprawl or below poverty wages. Give them a
bullet-at least they could afford that.