Miasmatic Review

Taxes and wages increased yesterday.

I am a wee bit perturbed today. The City of Rockford’s one percent higher sales tax started yesterday. That means my boycott of the City of Rockford’s businesses started. But to add insult to injury, so did the State of Illinois increase in minimum wage from $6.50 and hour to $7.50 an hour. Of course all of those that were making minimum wage are rejoicing. Those that advocated the increase state there is going to be little to no impact on the cost of living in the state.

Yea, I’m sure they are right. I’m sure all those employers are going to give up that extra money out of their profits. Why wouldn’t they carry the burden of the loss instead of passing it on to the consumer? I mean the price on everything in this area is shooting up. Hell, it’s getting to the point that it’s cheaper for me to buy gas then milk! So I’m sure these companies and business owners are just going to pony up and say, “You know what, we are making too much profit as it is. Let’s not change anything.” Then again, maybe they won’t.

Maybe they’ll realize that now that the minimum wage has been increased, they are going to have to make up for that difference. Maybe they’ll cut back on hours, maybe they’ll cut back on benefits (like healthcare), or maybe they will turn that increased cost around to the consumer by adding to the price of their products and services? And hell, why not? If they just increased the cost of their products by 15% it won’t have that big of an effect? I mean think about it. All of these people are running around with more money in their pockets. They can afford and extra 15%, right? I mean if the employers can afford to give up an extra 15%, why can’t the consumer?

But what about those that make more then minimum wage? Does anyone think the employers are going to give everyone an extra $1.00 an hour to their wages? There may be some, but if they do I’d be more surprised than expecting it. I know my employer isn’t going to increase my wages any. So I guess that puts me just a little bit closer to the poverty level. Essentially the government just took a dollar an hour away from me. Well, okay maybe not… but that’s how it feels.

The kicker to this whole thing is that part of the law that increased our minimum wage, will also increase the minimum wage every year on July 1 by 25 cents through 2010. Increased taxes, increased gas prices, increased corn prices, increased cost of living and increased government control.

I really wish these fiscally irresponsible types would stop asking me to pay for their incompetence.