• Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Illinois Review
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
Illinois Review
No Result
View All Result
Home Illinois News

Op-ed: Guess what? Not all work is worth $15 per hour

Illinois Review by Illinois Review
May 17, 2021
in Illinois News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
1
26
SHARES
433
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

5766256_shutterstock_772667173

You might also like

JB Pritzker Receives 2% in Presidential Poll, Ranks Lowest in Minority Support Among Democrats

Trump’s Jobs Boom Skips Illinois—Thanks to Pritzker’s Tax Hikes

Opinion: We’ll Save You If We See You Burning

By Jeff Pope - 

Politicians, including Governor Pritzker, love to be in the news posturing for their support of a $15 minimum wage. While trying to appear full of compassion and being defenders of a living wage for the lowest paid workers, what they really are doing is denying opportunities to some of the very people who need the work the most.

At its heart, a significantly increased minimum wage is based on the assertion that every job supports no less than $15.00 per hour. That is a naïve fantasy. The value of any job, and thus the wage rate it pays, is related to the value of the work being done. Period. Not all work is equal in value.

That is the rub. The choice is not between $8 per hour versus $15, it is $8 per hour versus NO job.  My first job was to wash cake pans and scrape floors at a small local bakery. It was my first job and it paid less than $1.00 per hour. In 1966, at the age of 14, I was elated to have it. If the work done does not provide the value needed to justify even a minimum wage, it, and the businesses that need this type of work, will simply not exist. My first job included.

The key point is that these jobs are important, even critical,  to those who need them. Whether it is the person who has never acquired a skill or accumulated experience, or the person who seeks part time or temporary income, these jobs often fill an important need like nothing else can. They also provide a pathway to a person just starting out and who will shortly acquire the skills,  experience and reputation needed to earn a much higher wage. Make the work too expensive for the needed function and that job goes to a robot and the worker sits at home.

Rather than preen and wave so-called "compassion for the lowly worker," our leaders need to protect the opportunity that minimum wage work provides to those who desire and seek out the work. For many people there are no alternative positions available because they lack the needed qualifications. Eliminating the opportunity to earn even a minimum wage leaves them no other choice but poverty or dependence.

Where is the benefit in that? 

Or maybe that is what these politicians are really after?

Jeff Pope is the chairman of the Technology & Manufacturing Association's Governmental Relations Committee 

Related

Share10Tweet7
Previous Post

Beckman: Be Like General Lucius D. Clay

Next Post

The Center Square: Pritzker says he’s ‘unwinding’ mask mandates in ‘appropriate fashion’

Illinois Review

Illinois Review

Founded in 2005, Illinois Review is the leading perspective and source of conservative news, opinion and information in Illinois. Follow Illinois Review on X at @IllinoisReview.

Recommended For You

JB Pritzker Receives 2% in Presidential Poll, Ranks Lowest in Minority Support Among Democrats

by Illinois Review
June 30, 2025
0
JB Pritzker Receives 2% in Presidential Poll, Ranks Lowest in Minority Support Among Democrats

By Illinois ReviewIn one of the first nationwide hypothetical polls for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, Illinois Governor and billionaire JB Pritzker ranks at the bottom, receiving the...

Read moreDetails

Trump’s Jobs Boom Skips Illinois—Thanks to Pritzker’s Tax Hikes

by Thomas Mccullagh
June 26, 2025
0
Trump’s Jobs Boom Skips Illinois—Thanks to Pritzker’s Tax Hikes

Illinois is missing out on Trump’s U.S. manufacturing boom. While other states welcome new factories, Pritzker’s tax hikes and regulations keep businesses out—and force longtime employers to leave.

Read moreDetails

Opinion: We’ll Save You If We See You Burning

by Janelle Powell
June 21, 2025
0
Opinion: We’ll Save You If We See You Burning

By Janelle Powell, Opinion ContributorIn a dazzling display of bureaucratic brilliance, the City of Chicago has rolled out a new policy for the Chicago Fire Department that essentially...

Read moreDetails

Caught Off Guard: Pritzker Left Speechless on Women’s Restroom Question Amid Sanctuary City Testimony

by Illinois Review
June 12, 2025
0
Caught Off Guard: Pritzker Left Speechless on Women’s Restroom Question Amid Sanctuary City Testimony

By Illinois ReviewIllinois Gov. JB Pritzker testified Wednesday before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee alongside fellow sanctuary city governors – occasionally appearing visibly stunned and...

Read moreDetails

OPINION: Judicial Watch Petitions U.S. Supreme Court Over Illinois Ballot Counting — A Possible Turning Point for Election Integrity

by Janelle Powell
June 6, 2025
0
OPINION: Judicial Watch Petitions U.S. Supreme Court Over Illinois Ballot Counting — A Possible Turning Point for Election Integrity

By Janelle Powell, Opinion ContributorIn what could be a landmark moment for restoring election integrity in Illinois, Judicial Watch has officially petitioned the United States Supreme Court to...

Read moreDetails
Next Post

The Center Square: Pritzker says he’s ‘unwinding’ mask mandates in ‘appropriate fashion’

Please login to join discussion

Best Dental Group

Related News

IL Freedom Caucus calls on Lurie Children’s Hospital to cease gender services for kids

October 27, 2022

Beckman: Is the Brigham Young University racial slur controversy another hoax?

October 27, 2022

Salvi polling shows closer race

October 27, 2022

Browse by Category

  • America First
  • Education
  • Faith & Family
  • Foreign Policy
  • Health Care
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • Opinion
  • Science
  • Second Amendment
  • TRENDING
  • US NEWS
  • US Politics
  • World News
Illinois Review

© 2024 llinois Review LLC Editor in Chief Mark Vargas Publisher Thomas McCullagh Chief Counsel Scott Kaspar

Navigate Site

  • Checkout
  • Home
  • Home – mobile
  • Login/Register
  • Login/Register
  • My account
  • My Account-
  • My Account- – mobile

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • Health Care
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • TRENDING
  • Education
  • Foreign Policy
  • Second Amendment
  • Faith & Family
  • Science
  • World News

© 2024 llinois Review LLC Editor in Chief Mark Vargas Publisher Thomas McCullagh Chief Counsel Scott Kaspar

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?