Living wage law hurts workers

Editor, Index-Tribune:

Kudos to Mr. Piazza for investing his precious free time standing up to the elitist living wage mob (“Fireworks at living wage forum,” Oct. 17). He is correct to point out the faults of the living wage idea and it should be added that workers, the very people the law is intended to help, will be hurt the most. Youth and minority unemployment are still entirely too high and it is precisely because of these types of laws that interfere with free labor transactions for low-wage entry-level workers.

The better way to raise wages is to improve the employment environment so that more jobs than workers can be created/produced. At present, there are more workers than jobs causing wages to go lower. California has the worst business climate in the country in poll after poll. For all the concern about environments here, there is precious little attention paid to improving our economic environment toward a model of more freedom.

Phineas Worthington

Sonoma