Minimum wage arguments

Missouri Sen. Jamilah Nasheed joined in lockstep with Barack Obama wanting to force private enterprise to increase minimum wage. Both pontificates say raising minimum wage will help minimum-wage workers, a majority of which they say are black. After five years of Barack Obama sabotaging our economy, black teen unemployment is about 40 percent.

In studies of the American economy over the years, 85 percent have found arbitrary government mandated raises in minimum wage negatively impacts employment for low-skilled, low-income earners, while at the same time putting upward pressure on consumer prices. Most minimum-wage jobs are held by entry-level teens. Barack Obama and Jamilah Nasheed are "misspeaking" when they spout rhetoric that raising the minimum wage will help low-income families and our economy. Just like the president "misspoke" to us when we were told, "if you like your health care plan, you can keep you health care plan; if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. Period!"

Government-forced increases in the minimum wage will reduce current full-time minimum-wage workers' hours to part-time work and eliminate potential new minimum wage jobs for our teens. Nearly half of black teens already are unemployed! This hurts who the most? Isn't it time we stop listening to self-aggrandizing politicians who promise cures to societal ills with legislated mandates on private businesses? Isn't it funny, or rather tragic, how truth in outcomes always prove the exact opposite of the rhetorical promises made to "sell" deceitful socialist legislation?

JOHN McMILLEN, Sikeston, Mo.