EXCERPT from a statement by Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (representative from the territory of American Samoa in the United States Congress since 1989) in a response to an article by economist Walter Williams:
"...shame on Walter Williams for asking ‘Which is preferable for the Samoan worker – being employed at $3.25 an hour or being unemployed at $5.25?'
“What is preferable is to do right by poor people. Anything less, including ‘breathtakingly stupid’ comments which imply that poor people should be treated like second class citizens have no place in public debate.”
COMMENT:
I encourage you to read the entire statement posted by Congressman Faleomavaega, then read the article by Walter Williams that provoked the congressman's outrage.
Questions:
Is Williams suggesting that poor people should be treated like second-class citizens?
Why is Williams opposed to raising the minimum wage? Is it because he wants to help businesses and keep poor people poor, or is it because he believes that the consequences of raising the minimum wage will harm the poor people the congressman for whom he is professing concern?
For each of these writers, ask yourself, "is he giving me a thoughtful analysis of the consequences which can be expected to result from a higher minimum wage, or is he simply expressing a desire that poor people be better off without considering whether a higher minimum wage will actually make those people better off or worse off?
