The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina (2024)

December 22, 1982

Publication:

The Charlotte Observeri

Location:

Charlotte, North Carolina

Issue Date:

Wednesday, December 22, 1982

Page:

19

Extracted Article Text (OCR)

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Wednesday December 22 1982 19A Viewpoint Minimum Wage Hurts Unskilled Opinion and Analysis 0111 ot GAS TitufdoaspRoGRAm lx I Ic AI" kt I- td k-JA4 111 IT1 'NIL Atmol male lir tvo ((Tomilbm9k ll 1114t i a'''' 4( As TAv a Pb ot- lo -11V oac ri rN)GRAM 1 1 vq6ttk -1 't I prevailing minimum-wage The company knows that there will be an initial training period during which the value of the young worker is only say $2 per hour If the required wage is $335 then the employer must take a loss of $135 per hour during the time required for the worker to become a skilled machinist who will produce a product valued above the minimum wage Consequently a profit-minded company might not hire an unskilled teenager searching instead for an experienced worker Limited Weapon A minimum-wage law is at best a limited weapon for combatting low wages The harder one attempts to fix high wages the more likely it is there will be harmful effects in terms of societal costs from the impact of unemployment We should remove the minimum wage laws and allow each worker to earn the amount that his abilities and situation would permit Minimum-wage laws have been extremely popular despite the fact that most people are not directly affected Public opinion polls have consistently shown that a large majority support it The most likely explanation Is that the issue of minimum-wage is emotionally and politically charged For example there are those who would argue that without such legislation firms would pay starvation wages The foundation of this point of view is that there is no way of raising wages without the government We delude ourselves if we think that In the long run labor can be paid more than the value of their production Increase Productivity The best way to raise income is to increase labor productivity This can be done by many methods: increased capital accumulation innovation more efficient management Increased work ethic and by better education and training Real wealth comes from real production not government decrees If minimum-wage laws provide the answer to prosperity then why stop at $335 per hour? Why not $1000 per hour? By IRVIN TUCKER Spocial Ti TN Observer The Cabinet Council on Economic Affairs has developed for President Reagan a proposal to be submitted to Congress in January One part of that package is a plan to help teen- agers blacks and displaced work- ers find jobs (-A Such unemployment victims are called the "structurally unem-' ployed" they are unqualified for available jobs at the prevailing i 44:1 minimum wage rate of $335 per hour The solution advocated by the Reagan plan would be to el- it ther allow for a "youth differ- ential" in the minimum wage or a tax credit to employers who hire teenagers during the summer Tucker Such an approach is consistent with Reagan's philosophy because it lessens government involvement In the marketplace and is not a government-created public works program requiring federal spending Overdue Improvement As an economist my reaction is that this is a long overdue step in the right direction I would go further: Remove the minimum-wage law entirely While academic studies of the effects of the minimum wage on unemployment vary there is general agreement that such laws have a significant impact on teenage unemployment Research shows that every 10 increase in the minimum wage eliminates between 25000 and 125000 teenage jobs Economists have generally argued that minimum-wage laws contribute to unemployment among workers with minimal job skills such as teenagers There are two basic reasons: First at $335 per hour an employer will not hire any worker who would produce goods and services valued at less than this amount One solution would be for the firm to allocate tasks valued at sub-minimum wage among existing skilled workers Second a high minimum wage can work against low-skilled workers by inhibiting on-the-job training Consider a teenager who might wish to perform a machinist's job which is worth twice the 0 2 tr i 6' AftVAR1-7519A2 avf-411-cismcg VARTZ5 -Ne aoplat-ces Thin Line Between Life Death TM The writer is professor of economics at MCC o0N pvj i William Saf ire i INEIMINIMMIONO I VP' Io i1 ears 131i vricED ot 0 LIE? 0001 7A ka' 4 SALE STARTS WED WHILE QUANTITIES LAST tient chooses to become a human guinea pig or to marry a bulky machine the patient has the right to demand that the medical profession let him make that choice Yet the editorial is accurate in saying "many would decide death is preferable" That is because too many people treat life as a possession that becomes dispensable when it becomes too onerous The curious new fashion is to praise those who are willing to go quietly hailing as courageous those who smile sadly and don't make a fuss Barney Clark is not prolonging his life because he is courageous he is prolonging it because he does not want to die Is it ethical to fight so hard to live? An orthodox rabbi in Jerusalem is reported as saying that a man with an artificial heart has no right to call himself a human being I wonder if a clergyman so heartless has the right to call himself a rabbi The fierce determination to live can affect health and astound physicians causing seeming miracles it would be immoral to deny available technology to the Barney Clarks who are carrying the fight for life to new heights In all the new emphasis on the quality of life a ballerina's brush' with death is a reminder that life has a quality not to be scorned his life because he is courageous he is prolonging It because he does not want to die Is it ethical to fight so hard to live? An orthodox rabbi in Jerusalem is reported as saying that a man with an artifi- cial heart has no right to call him- self a human being I wonder if a clergyman so heartless has the right to call himself a rabbi The fierce determination to live it would be immoral to deny avail- can affect health and astound phy- sicians causing seeming miracles able technology to the Barney for life to new heights Clarks who are carrying the fight In all the new emphasis on the quality of life a ballerina's brush with death Is a reminder that life has a quality not to be scorned New York Times WASHINGTON At Kennedy Center Saturday night in the revival of the Rodgers and Hart musical "On Your Toes" the Russian ballerina Natalia Makarova was about to begin the ballet "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" In the musical's plot the jealous villain had vowed to harm a male dancer in the ballet As if on cue a ripping sound was beard as a large chunk of scenery came crashing down on stage and a length of pipe slammed into the fragile-looking ballerina She cried out and kept on sobbing The curtain was lowered The stunned audience realized that the accident was not part of the show after waiting vainly for word of her condition the audience somberly filed out Remembering that I worked for a newspaper I went backstage to file a report: Miss Makarova who defected to the West a dozen years ago was being lifted into an ambulance an attendant said she had received head lacerations and a fractured shoulder She was lucky a few inches the other way and the falling pipe might have killed or crippled her An incident like that directs thoughts to the very thin line between life and death Nothing so underscores life's value than the bing The curtain was lowered The stunned audience realized that the accident was not part of the show after waiting vainly for word of her condition the audi- ence somberly filed out Remembering that I worked for a newspaper I went backstage to file a report: Miss Makarova who defected to the West a dozen years ago was being lifted into an a fractured shoulder She was ambulance an attendant said she had received head lacerations and lucky a few inches the other way killed or crippled her and the falling pipe might have An incident like that directs thoughts to the very thin line be- tween life and death Nothing so underscores life's value than the 1 WASHIN Center Satt vival of the sical "On sian balleri was about "Slaughter In the mu villain had dancer in ti a ripping large chur crashing ch length of fragile-look She cried bing The The stunn that the ac( the show a word of he ence sombe Remembt a newspape file a repori defected tc years ago ambulance had receive a fracture( lucky a fey and the fa killed or cri An incid thoughts to tween life underscores sudden realization of its fragility It started me thinking about Barney Clark the man with the first artificial heart He knew he was about to die he gambled on an untested machine He cannot know what chance he has of pulling through An editorial in the New York Times after praising Clark's courage and wishing him well raised a troubling issue: "Can all that pain and exertion be worthwhile? The purpose of medicine is to improve life's quality not to make Methuselahs of us Dr Clark made his own choice but many would decide death is preferable to being permanently tethered to a bulky machine without hope of release" I'm glad that editorialist is not my doctor The purpose of medicine is not only to improve lifets quality but to save lives If in the process of averting death a pa an untested machine He cannot know what chance he has of pull- ing through An editorial in the New York Times after praising Clark's cour- age and wishing him well raised a troubling issue: "Can all that pain and exertion be worthwhile? The purpose of medicine is to im- prove life's quality not to make Methuselahs of us all Dr erable to being permanently te- Clark made his own choice but many would decide death is pref thered to a bulky machine with- I'm glad that editorialist is not out hope of release" my doctor The purpose of medi- cine is not only to improve life's quality but to save lives If in the process of averting death a pa- 1 1 1 Dunhill Farm Lexington Kentucky P11190111 raYona -t30 The smooth mellow taste of Early Times Kentucky Whisky has been a part of the good life since 1860 The taste and tradition continue There are no better times than these 1 ekq7-4 'Pmez441 tspsowR 6 A 01 454Tn 61011 (1eerfie: i 2e 14' U) tt 08 Only 19 to Sell 7 7 7 was 2299 Assorted colors and styles MISSES VELOUR TOPS 1399 4111w" was 24995 We sell quality and discontinued merchandise from Sears Retail and Catalog Distribution "Was" prices quoted are the regular cars 1 Ca rs 1 i PRICES GOOD IN sFERAERE DOM MALL SURPLUS lomminounnonommoo STORE ONLYI 1 SAVE s6 TO 13 Assortedil Styles 4 YOUR CHOICE PORTABLE RADIO STEREO CASSETTE 1 25 RECORDER 198 7 Was 24900 Fall i-v'tfrt 4 7-'-iiz 11rA 77--7! L'' Retail (''T 1 1 )) i --77 IS 24995 1 if ii i 1 A 'A jNi prices at which the items were formerly offered by Catalog or hi many Sears Retail stores around the country Freedom Drive Ashley Rd Charlotte NC Monday thru Saturday 10 AM-9 PM Open Sunday 1 to 6 pm was 2499 09 9 Assorted NFL TEAMS QUANTITIES LIMITED LEG WARMERCAP SCARF SET ''''t9f11114 deo to Ap-AT 1899 while they last NI Sorry no phone orders S'-'1 VE i to s91 on 4-PIECE SUIT was SISOto SI60 4 MEN'S LONG SLEEVE DRESS SHIRTS 399 was 599 REGULARFULL CUT 4 9 9 was 799 TALL SIZES I' 140 090 40 a 1 1 ''4-- -4 Sony no phone orders A A' tfil 4 A I'll" IF 4 l': iP 0 I I Ai 1 lifilli 0 s91 on 4 4plEcE 411- 4 1111 414 SUIT 1 -Th 'S P-vD a 1 '-1-' f-t -4--i- 11--4 0 rl 7 Tor 44 111Y1' t'N f'i ip-ri 7 4 i- t7- r1f 0 s117 11 kr Ti HMidIA Ir: '''O''014I''') ke: ific 1' -4 was S150 to S160 0 h--y 'r i i V'' -A''' 'r 4 i y4 z' '7'14i -(2--4 i t''44'4---'zirtIrl A ii 44t- rlo 4 I I 177''': it i4''ti '1 t44I' fL' Ur' Illir italtsit fj' 1 i 1 '''i 711 1 jl ::4413 tr''04 0 dp 4 ii 4:: 4" i'k i i '1 :4: MEN'S fie -76 r- 1 L-4 rr rr LONG rs-'ff2 il' -2 't -1 It i z4 kilitS i 4:: N-i i i--: 744441 i) 81cp- 1::: SLEEVE AF3 LL': 1 LL' ti 'r' 'J A 0 '''l 1 i t' '1 L'' DRESS 1 'Y' 1- r4 --g ttiliti1 c3q 4' ''0 ''''P4'4'' ff SHIRTS ma reg' i 1'-' 1 ef0 i 41 '-''X lie 1 I '''''W144111At414iimilbiliINi 4:: ::1 'ti 1 i -4t: '-ii V' 1:: 1: e' I': 1: $-I0 i -i' 3 4777 rr- 99 SAVE 1 as ::3 'Y -i 3 'ifc 4 ''4E 599 ii: A itt 4 i': I 4' 'AEq1" I l' lt '1 r'''': 4-' A' -iIs e- :1 4 Y'' ic14 i REGULARFULL CUT 6 To -e 1 i iii4 4 il t1i i ti 4 ::7 i 1 '-g111101k i eP: f' 1 i 4 499 was 799 13 61s BOYS 4 -'''''4 A 1 0 ''7'4 MO akib0461130047' "kle TALL SIZES NFL JACKETS Assorted I '-J 'N Styles 14- i'' '---q- ill) gr--- :) i-- '''0 ii irrf1 A' 1 'i 'fr 4' 1 '41 '''L ''7 '-'1 4 74 I f-- i it 1 ---'7J 4 ii--- 'i Ili 1 -1 I -i: 1- I 1 1 tt t' JO' 5 Ow A 4:1 t' 44 4 ::4 11 41-i "i'- eee''' -ii7-' -ii 1: i'-? MISSES VELOUR TOPS 7:: is i :4 i i ir i 111' 1 4' 7 9 9 was 4A -r 4' "P--- 1399 ss- 1' 4'4i TO res 1 i' -4 I 4 '1 1'' 099 was CA 2299 -1 was 1 09 9 Assorted colors r' 2499 and styles 1a Assorted NFL TEAMS i iiii 1 I Juilit- 4: t- -71 7 N' awl 4 I QUANTITIES LIMITED wmJ I 4ij' Dunhill farm Lx''I 2 HP eing ton Kentucky 4 Li- dit 9 9 VAC YOUR CHOICE PORTABLE RADIO 4f-- 7711r7771NA ri 1 -21 P- r) as 0 0 1 25 li-2Lai )a-: STERREEOCOCRADSESRETTE 1 99 18 i' 11 1 tif 4" Was 24900 while -44 mopmenntarsowwil rom irts prfai it 1 ii77) il If 71: Irs' 0 alPrielit -1X7'IL-7Atwaiaai-411- -1-vC5''kf' I ---4 4 A's' glr LilliteZ' Wad Iki 4 1iii i-L1 i4 Only ---br' 1981 rci i Pri they 4: 7 it rizzLs aif 7 lam Fall 11 I A en illril 'I 1:: was 91 tk: 24' 1(7) 1 Lai' L' '1- 0- ti 0 1 -bir 1 8 The smooth mellow taste of r4 1 I LEG WARMERCAP of the good life since 1860 Early Times Kentucky Whisky has been a part ARLYTIAIES P'! 4 I 5 711 il' 1 I t' 4 1 4 SCARF SET The taste and tradition continue 0 ik ti: til 47 'tr 5Iv We sell quality and discontinued prices at which the items were There are no better times than these 4 I' rtrIr I Wt'r 4' t- I Irrf--E Fil'''Cli77''-! l''' tkilt'4 4'4 7 merchandise from Sears Retail formerly offered by Catalog or in and Catalog Distribution "Was" many Sears Retail stores around Zr 7c ii Poroill r' prices quoted are the regular the country 1 -11 YliPrit'AT 10 4 iff i't PIO eifI'1' I i II'l i 01' ti''' N''': 4 'v irZ 1 '410 Z6- i 1 PRICES OOD IN sk 4 l''' 7 st) Freedom Drive Ashley Rd seals t9 ----ee i FREEDOM MALL Charlotte NC 0 1111' cars( i SEARS SULU I- STORE ONLYI RPS Monday thru Saturday 10 A -9 Open Sunday 1 to 6 prn i sd t4 I ie cA0-1 IP 14 re AP-0 I i t4 A 0 0 i a 0 I I th 0 -'41 11 ft 0 I i 1 1 i 1 1 41 4 14 :6 i -1 Ili klffm 0".

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