Reckless spending equals lower real wages
Dear Editor:
In a recent public forum with challenger Hung Cao, Rep. Jennifer Wexton said, “The biggest thing we can do is pay someone a living wage.” She also said Democrats have made higher wages a priority.
U.S. workers got higher wages, all right. But the Democrats had nothing to do with it. Those wage hikes were market-driven. Employers raised pay to attract employees during a labor shortage – a shortage linked to federal stimulus funds that enabled workers to sit home.
The Democrats, with their reckless spending, gave Americans lower real wages. Inflation is outpacing most pay raises. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in August that real average hourly earnings decreased 3 percent from July 2021 to July 2022. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with a decrease of 0.6 percent in the average workweek resulted in a 3.6 percent decline in real average weekly earnings over the period.
Wage increases are meaningless as inflation skyrockets. If higher wages are their priority, then Wexton and her Democratic colleagues have failed miserably.
The economy flourished under Donald Trump, and it can thrive again if we elect Republicans like Hung Cao.
John Smith
Sterling
Comments
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It is always amazing to me to watch politicians take credit for things THEY DID NOT DO! In business graduate school (which most politicians have not benefitted from) teaches labor is driven by the marginal utility of that labor. The more someone contributes the more they have leverage to earn more. (FROM THE BUSINESS NOT THE GOVERNMENT) When the government leans into payments they drive inflation, cause unemployment and business inefficiency. The current tuition giveaway which primarily benefits graduate students who are well into middle class and earn upwards to $249,000 per year. Is there anyone on earth that can’t see this is the ultimate pandering for mid-term votes and does NOTHING for low income citizens who are the people who didn’t get to work from home during the pandemic! WHO CARES FOR THEM? Apparently not our current elected local politicians.