Pricing Teens and Unskilled Workers Out of Employment

Yesterday, President George W. Bush said he supports a Democratic proposal to increase the U.S. minimum wage.

GOP Bloggers' Matt Margolis of GOP Bloggers opines that since the minimum wage hikes are "inevitable," Matt is happy President Bush will only approve a minimum wage hike if it were coupled with tax relief.

However, Tim Chapman advocates a less pragmatic approach, and is annoyed that no one seems to be talking about the devastating effects of a higher minimum wage. Chapman quotes from a study written by Tim Cane of the Heritage Foundation: "After decades of experience, everyone should know that regulating the price of labor is identical to any other price control and an especially crude way to 'fix' free markets. Raising the minimum wage will hurt low-income workers, cost jobs, and hobble the American economy. Congress should know by now that bucking the laws of economics does not work."

Say Anything's Rob believes President Bush's support of a minimum wage hike is a "joke" and predicts that outside the issues of the war and Social Security, the President will allow the Democrats to "do as they please."

Carpe Diem's Mark Perry, who is annoyed by this "bipartisan consensus," believes Republicans and Democrats would never tie minimum wage to increases in the rate of inflation because it would not have any political benefit in the future. Perry adds, with a minimum wage hike, "BOTH parties can take credit for 'helping' the unskilled workers by pricing many of them out of the labor market."

Right From Left's Kent, who opposes President Bush's support of a minimum wage hike, opines, "[F]lipping jobs were never intended to be careers. They were intended to be stepping stones to careers. Minimum wage jobs are temporary, held by teenagers and young adults who are in transformational periods of life."

All of this minimum wage nonsense reminded Illinois Review's John Ruskin of an amusing story involving the late economist Milton Friedman: "I was reminded of a story about one of the late Milton Friedman's trips to India. Upon arriving, he was escorted by the Indian Finance Minister to his meeting. Along the route, they came upon a large crew of men digging roadside ditches using only shovels. Friedman asked his companion why they weren't using backhoes and other equipment, which would eliminate the back-breaking work and significantly increasing productivity. The Finance Minister explained that the Indian government was trying to provide jobs for all its citizens, and that digging by hand allowed them to employ more people. Hearing this, Friedman responded that if the Indian government was trying to employ more people, they should have them dig with spoons."

Sandy Burglar's Docs in his Socks

Michelle Malkin notes the Archives inspector general reported Wednesday that former national security adviser Sandy Berger removed classified documents from the National Archives in 2003 and hid them under a construction trailer.

Captain's Quarters' Captain Ed reminds us what these sensitive documents That Berger stuffed in socks were: "Copies of reports that dealt with the Clinton administration's handling of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, copies that likely had unique handwritten notes from the high-ranking officials to whom they were published. They had direct bearing on the counterterrorism efforts of the administration -- especially regarding Sandy Berger -- at a time when the nation demanded an accounting of the failures that led to 9/11."

Pundit Review's Kevin argues that you or I would be in much bigger trouble if we stole classified documents: "If you or I did exactly what Sandy Berger did, but at the local Department of Motor Vehicles, we would have done time."

National Review's Jay Nordlinger argues that "If Berger were a Republican, the word 'Nixonian' would be making a big, big comeback — at a minimum."

And Another Thing's Mark Levin provides background on the release of this report on Sandy Berger.

Power Line's Scott Johnson adds, "I don't think we've quite gotten to the bottom of the Case of the Purloined Documents, and it looks like we never will."

Donald Trump to Rotund Rosie, "You're Sued!"

Newsbusters' Noel Sheppard finds it amusing that Donald Trump is suing Rosie O'Donnell. Sheppard has the video, where Donald said, "(Rosie) says things that come to her mouth, she's not smart, she's crude, she's ignorant and to be honest I look forward to suing Rosie." And ""I'm gonna sue her and I look forward to it."

Mitt Romney Update

Eyeon08.com details why presidential hopeful Mitt Romney opposed Newt Gingrich's Contract with America because he opposed opposed cuts in capital gains tax while supporting universal health insurance and abortion.

Right Angle's Matt Lewis reports that Mitt Romney hired the former Bush/Cheney campaign's Conservative Coalitions Director, who will be a big help in trying to sell Romney's newfound conservatism to primary voters. Right Angle's Robert Bluey applauds Romney for putting together a solid conservative team, but details why conservatives remain skeptical of Romney.

Merry Christmas!

With Christmas only a few days away, The Club for Growth's Andrew Roth linked to a Frank Capra's classic, It's a Wonderful Life. Because there are no copyrights on this movie, you can watch it for free on Google Video here.

Editor's Note

Have a comment, suggestion, complaint, or interesting link that I missed? Please email me at matthewnaugle@gmail.com.