"On Friday, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission ruled unanimously that Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, must create wedding cakes for same-sex couples, even if doing so violates his beliefs. This victory for government coercion is the latest defeat for liberty and the rights of conscience."Wednesday, June 04, 2014
Panel: Jack Phillips Must Bake Cake for Same-Sex Wedding
Panel: Jack Phillips Must Bake Cake for Same-Sex Wedding:
"On Friday, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission ruled unanimously that Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, must create wedding cakes for same-sex couples, even if doing so violates his beliefs. This victory for government coercion is the latest defeat for liberty and the rights of conscience."
"On Friday, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission ruled unanimously that Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, must create wedding cakes for same-sex couples, even if doing so violates his beliefs. This victory for government coercion is the latest defeat for liberty and the rights of conscience."
Child abuse!-------------This poor child is confused, not 'transgendered.'
This poor child is confused, not 'transgendered.' | The Matt Walsh Blog
Have we reached the basement?
Is this it?
Have we reached the basement?
Is this our cultural rock bottom moment?
.......It’s a story about Jeff and Hillary Whittington, who were given the coveted Inspiration Award at the famed and prestigious Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast (you might remember Harvey Milk as the statutory rapist who had sex with a bunch of drug addicted teenage boys).
How have the Whittingtons earned such a high and pointless honor?
Well, they’ve made some YouTube videos and bragged to the media about their daughter, Ryland, who began to “transition” into a boy at the age of two.
A wild claim, you would think.
…If you’re a bigot.
......A tragedy.
A tragedy of nonsense.
Horrible, abusive, pathetic, sad, bizarre, tragic nonsense.
This child didn’t ‘choose’ her gender.
She didn’t choose to cut her hair and dress like a boy.
Kids that age can only wear what you put on them, sport the haircut you assign them, play with the toys you give them, and mostly believe what you tell them they should believe.
Tell them there’s a magical fat man who flies down the chimney to bring them presents every Christmas, and they’ll believe it.
Tell them that they get to choose their own gender like it’s an ice cream flavor at Baskin Robbins, and they’ll believe it.
Their reality is whatever you construct for them.
They are still years from approaching the age of reason.
They are not reasonable beings.
That’s why they can’t be left at home alone.
That’s why they don’t vote.
That’s why they don’t own homes or take out loans at the bank.
They can’t be trusted to refrain from eating your pocket change, yet these parents think they should be able to exercise radical control over their ‘gender identity’?
That’s insane.
This girl did not choose to be a boy.
She can’t.
She also didn’t choose to be a world famous face for the transgender movement.
Her parents made that decision.
Her parents decided to make her a ‘boy’ and alert the press.
Detroit conference for men will have to hire police protection, organizer says
Conference for men will have to hire police protection, organizer says | Detroit Free Press | freep.com: "Organizers of a controversial conference scheduled to be held in Detroit later this month said they must pay police to provide security during the event, because of threats.
The International Conference on Men’s Issues is scheduled to take place at the DoubleTree Fort Shelby in downtown Detroit on June 26-28, but thousands of people signed a petition calling for it to be canceled.
Dean Esmay is helping to organize the conference put on by A Voice for Men and said the group’s mission is to fight for specific issues confronting men and boys, such as homelessness, suicide prevention and incarceration.
But the group has been critical of feminism, and Esmay said the presumption that one is “guilty until proven innocent” is a problem men have in sexual assault cases and domestic violence cases.
The group’s positions have drawn harsh critics locally and even internationally.
“The threats have escalated to include death threats, physical violence against our staff and other guests as well as damage to the property,” said a letter provided to the Free Press by a group official, who said it was sent by hotel staff."
The International Conference on Men’s Issues is scheduled to take place at the DoubleTree Fort Shelby in downtown Detroit on June 26-28, but thousands of people signed a petition calling for it to be canceled.Dean Esmay is helping to organize the conference put on by A Voice for Men and said the group’s mission is to fight for specific issues confronting men and boys, such as homelessness, suicide prevention and incarceration.
But the group has been critical of feminism, and Esmay said the presumption that one is “guilty until proven innocent” is a problem men have in sexual assault cases and domestic violence cases.
The group’s positions have drawn harsh critics locally and even internationally.
“The threats have escalated to include death threats, physical violence against our staff and other guests as well as damage to the property,” said a letter provided to the Free Press by a group official, who said it was sent by hotel staff."
Hunt for Bowe Bergdahl left 8 US troops dead and 22 wounded
Hunt for Bowe Bergdahl left 8 US troops dead and 22 wounded | Mail Online:
Revealed: Hunt for Bowe Bergdahl left troops unprotected in infamous Afghan battle that left EIGHT U.S. soldiers dead and 22 wounded and produced two Medal of Honor recipients
- Just 53 U.S. soldiers were left to defend an ammunition depot with no air support or reserves on Oct. 3, 2009 after nearly 350 Taliban attacked a combat outpost and 35 Afghan National Army soldiers fled their posts
- Sources tell MailOnline that 8 U.S. soldiers died and 22 were wounded because additional troops and air cover were diverted to hunt for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl
- 'Those guys didn't have the complete support they needed ... because all the assets and everything were diverted to us,' a member of Bergdahl's platoon said
- Combat Outpost Keating was the site of one of the bloodiest battles during America's engagement in Afghanistan, with 150 Taliban paying for the armed assault with their lives
- Two US Army sergeants won the Medal of Honor, the military's highest award for bravery, in the Battle of Kamdesh in eastern Afghanistan
Here’s Why We Don’t Negotiate with Terrorists
Here’s Why We Don’t Negotiate with Terrorists:
"Now, it appears that Obama can make prison transfers without notifying Congress.
Andrew Johnson was nearly impeached for significantly less than what Obama has done. Johnsons’s crime? He fired an official without the consent of Congress. For that, President Johnson almost lost the presidency.
Not only did President Obama not have the authority to make the exchange, but doing so now places a bounty on capturing American soldiers."
"Now, it appears that Obama can make prison transfers without notifying Congress.
Andrew Johnson was nearly impeached for significantly less than what Obama has done. Johnsons’s crime? He fired an official without the consent of Congress. For that, President Johnson almost lost the presidency.Not only did President Obama not have the authority to make the exchange, but doing so now places a bounty on capturing American soldiers."
History for June 4
History for June 4 - On-This-Day.com:
1792 - Captain George Vancouver claimed Puget Sound for Britain.
1805 - Tripoli was forced to conclude peace with U.S. after conflicts over tribute.
1812 - The Louisiana Territory had its name changed to the Missouri Territory.
1896 - Henry Ford made a successful test drive of his new car in Detroit, MI. He called the vehicle was called a "Quadricycle."
1939 - The first shopping cart was introduced by Sylvan Goldman in Oklahoma City, OK. It was actually a folding chair that had been mounted on wheels.
1940 - The British completed the evacuation of 300,000 troops at Dunkirk, France.
1942 - The Battle of Midway began. It was the first major victory for America over Japan during World War II. The battle ended on June 6 and ended Japanese expansion in the Pacific.
1944 - During World War II, the U.S. Fifth Army entered Rome, which began the liberation of the Italian capital.
1946 - Juan Peron was installed as Argentina's president.
1947 - The House of Representatives approved the Taft-Hartley Act. The legislation allowed the President of the United States to intervene in labor disputes.
1974 - The Cleveland Indians had "Ten Cent Beer Night". Due to the drunken and unruly fans the Indians forfeited to the Texas Rangers.
1974 - Sally Murphy became the first woman to qualify as an aviator with the U.S. Army.
1989 - In Beijing, Chinese army troops stormed Tiananmen Square to crush the pro-democracy movement. It is believed that hundreds, possibly thousands, of demonstrators were killed.
2003 - The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban "partial birth" abortions with a 282-139 vote.
Birth anniversary of King George III (1738-1820).
Birth anniversary of singer Freddy Fender (1937-2006).
Happy Birthday! Angelina Jolie, Michelle Phillips, Dr. Ruth Wertheimer
1792 - Captain George Vancouver claimed Puget Sound for Britain.
1805 - Tripoli was forced to conclude peace with U.S. after conflicts over tribute.
1812 - The Louisiana Territory had its name changed to the Missouri Territory.
1896 - Henry Ford made a successful test drive of his new car in Detroit, MI. He called the vehicle was called a "Quadricycle."
1939 - The first shopping cart was introduced by Sylvan Goldman in Oklahoma City, OK. It was actually a folding chair that had been mounted on wheels.
1940 - The British completed the evacuation of 300,000 troops at Dunkirk, France.
1942 - The Battle of Midway began. It was the first major victory for America over Japan during World War II. The battle ended on June 6 and ended Japanese expansion in the Pacific.
1944 - During World War II, the U.S. Fifth Army entered Rome, which began the liberation of the Italian capital.
1946 - Juan Peron was installed as Argentina's president.
1947 - The House of Representatives approved the Taft-Hartley Act. The legislation allowed the President of the United States to intervene in labor disputes.
1974 - The Cleveland Indians had "Ten Cent Beer Night". Due to the drunken and unruly fans the Indians forfeited to the Texas Rangers.
1974 - Sally Murphy became the first woman to qualify as an aviator with the U.S. Army.
1989 - In Beijing, Chinese army troops stormed Tiananmen Square to crush the pro-democracy movement. It is believed that hundreds, possibly thousands, of demonstrators were killed.
2003 - The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban "partial birth" abortions with a 282-139 vote.
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
Obama was Against Negotiating with Terrorists Before He was in Favor of Negotiating with Terrorists
Obama was Against Negotiating with Terrorists Before He was in Favor of Negotiating with Terrorists:
"On Saturday, after negotiating with Taliban terrorists, the Obama regime announced the release of Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl in a five-for-one swap, trading five GITMO Islamic terrorists for Bergdahl’s release.
However, Obama has not always been in favor of negotiating and making deals with terrorists, at least he said he wasn’t when in 2008 campaign mode."
"On Saturday, after negotiating with Taliban terrorists, the Obama regime announced the release of Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl in a five-for-one swap, trading five GITMO Islamic terrorists for Bergdahl’s release.However, Obama has not always been in favor of negotiating and making deals with terrorists, at least he said he wasn’t when in 2008 campaign mode."
Imprisoned Marine Calls Glenn Beck From Mexican Prison, Shares Disturbing New Details About His Confinement | TheBlaze.com
Imprisoned Marine Calls Glenn Beck From Mexican Prison, Shares Disturbing New Details About His Confinement | TheBlaze.com:
"U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi has been detained by Mexican authorities since March 31, when he says he accidentally drove across the border with three legally registered firearms in his vehicle. Much of his time has been spent in La Mesa Penitentiary, one of Mexico’s most dangerous and notorious prisons.
On Monday, Tahmooressi called Glenn Beck from prison with the help of his mother, Jill Tahmooressi, for a live radio interview about the circumstances that led to his arrest, and what has happened since. The 25-year-old also divulged a number of disturbing new details about his confinement."
"U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi has been detained by Mexican authorities since March 31, when he says he accidentally drove across the border with three legally registered firearms in his vehicle. Much of his time has been spent in La Mesa Penitentiary, one of Mexico’s most dangerous and notorious prisons.
On Monday, Tahmooressi called Glenn Beck from prison with the help of his mother, Jill Tahmooressi, for a live radio interview about the circumstances that led to his arrest, and what has happened since. The 25-year-old also divulged a number of disturbing new details about his confinement."VA scandal exposes greedy socialism
VA scandal exposes greedy socialism: Column:
"So Secretary Eric Shinseki is now ex-secretary Shinseki, and cleaning up the Department of Veterans Affairs' health care mess will now be someone else's job.
But there's a good chance that no matter who is in charge, the cleanup will be, basically, impossible.
That's because the VA is government health care.
Not all that long ago, some people were boosting the VA's government-run nature as a plus.
Writing in the Washington Post during the debate over Obamacare, Ezra Klein suggested that we should expand VA coverage to non-veterans, because the government just does health care better than the private sector:
"Medicare is single-payer, but VA is actually socialized medicine, where the government owns the hospitals and employs the doctors. ... If you ordered America's different health systems (from) worst-functioning to best, it would look like this: individual insurance market, employer-based insurance market, Medicare, Veterans Health Administration."
.....And that captures an important point.
People sometimes think that government or "nonprofit" operations will be run more honestly than for-profit businesses because the businesses operate on the basis of "greed."
But, in fact, greed is a human characteristic that is present in any organization made up of humans. It's all about incentives.
And, ironically, a for-profit medical system might actually offer employees less room for greed than a government system.
That's because VA patients were stuck with the VA.
If wait times were long, they just had to wait, or do without care. I
n a free-market system, a provider whose wait times were too long would lose business, and even if the employees faked up the wait-time numbers, that loss of business would show up on the bottom line.
That would lead top managers to act, or lose their jobs.
In the VA system, however, the losses didn't show up on the bottom line because, well, there isn't one.
Instead, the losses were diffused among the many patients who went without care -- visible to them, but not to the people who ran the agency, who relied on the cooked-books numbers from their bonus-seeking underlings.
And, contrary to what Klein suggests, that's the problem with socialism.
The absence of a bottom line doesn't reduce greed and self-dealing — it removes a constraint on greed and self-dealing.
And when that happens, ordinary people pay the price.
Keep that in mind, when people suggest that free-market systems are somehow morally inferior to socialism."
"So Secretary Eric Shinseki is now ex-secretary Shinseki, and cleaning up the Department of Veterans Affairs' health care mess will now be someone else's job.
But there's a good chance that no matter who is in charge, the cleanup will be, basically, impossible.
That's because the VA is government health care.
Not all that long ago, some people were boosting the VA's government-run nature as a plus.
Writing in the Washington Post during the debate over Obamacare, Ezra Klein suggested that we should expand VA coverage to non-veterans, because the government just does health care better than the private sector:
"Medicare is single-payer, but VA is actually socialized medicine, where the government owns the hospitals and employs the doctors. ... If you ordered America's different health systems (from) worst-functioning to best, it would look like this: individual insurance market, employer-based insurance market, Medicare, Veterans Health Administration.".....And that captures an important point.
People sometimes think that government or "nonprofit" operations will be run more honestly than for-profit businesses because the businesses operate on the basis of "greed."
But, in fact, greed is a human characteristic that is present in any organization made up of humans. It's all about incentives.
And, ironically, a for-profit medical system might actually offer employees less room for greed than a government system.
That's because VA patients were stuck with the VA.
If wait times were long, they just had to wait, or do without care. I
n a free-market system, a provider whose wait times were too long would lose business, and even if the employees faked up the wait-time numbers, that loss of business would show up on the bottom line.
That would lead top managers to act, or lose their jobs.
In the VA system, however, the losses didn't show up on the bottom line because, well, there isn't one.
Instead, the losses were diffused among the many patients who went without care -- visible to them, but not to the people who ran the agency, who relied on the cooked-books numbers from their bonus-seeking underlings.
And, contrary to what Klein suggests, that's the problem with socialism.
The absence of a bottom line doesn't reduce greed and self-dealing — it removes a constraint on greed and self-dealing.
And when that happens, ordinary people pay the price.
Keep that in mind, when people suggest that free-market systems are somehow morally inferior to socialism."
Wouldn't it be interesting to see who owns NextEra and how much gov'ment moolah they got. And their political contributions. And their profit on this deal?---------DTE Energy buying wind park in Huron County
DTE Energy buying wind park in Huron County | Crain's Detroit Business:
"BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP — DTE Energy Co. is buying one of two Pheasant Run wind parks in Michigan from a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC.
The Detroit-based utility announced Monday that the 75-megawatt Pheasant Run II wind park in Huron County will be renamed the Brookfield Wind Park.
Operating since earlier this year, it will shut down for one to two weeks during the transition.
The wind park is located in Brookfield Township, about 95 miles north of Detroit.
A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources will still own and operate Pheasant Run I, with DTE continuing to buy the energy.
Each wind park includes 44 wind turbines.
DTE says the 150 megawatts generated by the wind parks is enough to power about 70,000 homes."
"BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP — DTE Energy Co. is buying one of two Pheasant Run wind parks in Michigan from a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC.
The Detroit-based utility announced Monday that the 75-megawatt Pheasant Run II wind park in Huron County will be renamed the Brookfield Wind Park.Operating since earlier this year, it will shut down for one to two weeks during the transition.
The wind park is located in Brookfield Township, about 95 miles north of Detroit.
A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources will still own and operate Pheasant Run I, with DTE continuing to buy the energy.
Each wind park includes 44 wind turbines.
DTE says the 150 megawatts generated by the wind parks is enough to power about 70,000 homes."
How Jay Carney Is Explaining Why the Berkdahl Swap Wasn’t Negotiating With Terrorists | Video | TheBlaze.com
How Jay Carney Is Explaining Why the Berkdahl Swap Wasn’t Negotiating With Terrorists | Video | TheBlaze.com:"CNN anchor Chris Cuomo asked Carney, “Why not just call this what it was? You negotiated with these terrorists because he is a prisoner of war and you have this pledge of leaving no man or women behind?”
Monsters!------------Two 12-year-olds 'stabbed girl 19 times' to prove 'Slender Man' myth was real
READ THIS!
Two 12-year-olds 'stabbed girl 19 times' to prove 'Slender Man' myth was real | Mail Online:
"Two 12-year-old girls who are accused of viciously stabbing a classmate 19 times have been identified for the first time publicly since telling police that they plotted for months to commit murder.
Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier face attempted murder charges after attacking their friend, saying that they did so because they wanted to join the cult of the 'Slender Man' after reading about him online.
The girls told investigators they believed the Slender Man was real and they wanted to prove it by slaughtering their friend after inviting her for a sleepover in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Geyser and Weier told police they read about the fictional character on a website known as Creepypasta Wiki, where scary stories are submitted by users.
One of the suspects is understood to have told police a user must kill someone in order to climb into the Slender Man's realm, CNN has reported.
Court documents tell a horrifying story of two pre-teen girls from a quiet town who coldly carried out a brutal and intimate attack on another 12-year-old Saturday after the three spent two days sleeping over and playing hide-and-seek together. "
Two 12-year-olds 'stabbed girl 19 times' to prove 'Slender Man' myth was real | Mail Online:
"Two 12-year-old girls who are accused of viciously stabbing a classmate 19 times have been identified for the first time publicly since telling police that they plotted for months to commit murder.Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier face attempted murder charges after attacking their friend, saying that they did so because they wanted to join the cult of the 'Slender Man' after reading about him online.
The girls told investigators they believed the Slender Man was real and they wanted to prove it by slaughtering their friend after inviting her for a sleepover in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Geyser and Weier told police they read about the fictional character on a website known as Creepypasta Wiki, where scary stories are submitted by users.
One of the suspects is understood to have told police a user must kill someone in order to climb into the Slender Man's realm, CNN has reported.
Court documents tell a horrifying story of two pre-teen girls from a quiet town who coldly carried out a brutal and intimate attack on another 12-year-old Saturday after the three spent two days sleeping over and playing hide-and-seek together. "
Iowa Homeowner Shoots Violent Home Invader 4 Times After Being Stabbed in the Neck
[Video] Iowa Homeowner Shoots Violent Home Invader 4 Times After Being Stabbed in the Neck: "Coalville, Iowa – A homeowner and a suspected home invader are both in an area hospital due to serious injuries this morning.According to local media reports, a man knocked on the front door of a rural Iowa home just after 6am.
When the resident answered the door, the suspect stabbed him in the neck and attempted to force his way into the home.
Fortunately, the homeowner was armed and opened fire on the suspect, striking him four times center of mass."
FLASHBACK: Carney Said No Decision About Transferring Detainees for Bergdahl Would Happen 'Without Consulting Congress'
FLASHBACK: Carney Said No Decision About Transferring Detainees for Bergdahl Would Happen 'Without Consulting Congress' | Washington Free Beacon:
"White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said nearly a year ago that no decisions about bringing about the return of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl through detainee transfer would be done “without consulting Congress.”
“With regard to the transfer of Taliban detainees from Guantanamo Bay, we have made — the United States has not made the decision to do that, though we do expect the Taliban to raise this issue in our discussion, if and when those discussions happen,” Carney said.
“As we have long said, however, we would not make any decisions about transfer of any detainees without consulting with Congress and without doing so in accordance with U.S. law.”
Carney made the remarks at the press briefing on June 21, 2013. Less than a year later, Congress was not informed as the Obama administration agreed to release five Taliban leaders in exchange for Bergdahl."
"White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said nearly a year ago that no decisions about bringing about the return of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl through detainee transfer would be done “without consulting Congress.”“With regard to the transfer of Taliban detainees from Guantanamo Bay, we have made — the United States has not made the decision to do that, though we do expect the Taliban to raise this issue in our discussion, if and when those discussions happen,” Carney said.
“As we have long said, however, we would not make any decisions about transfer of any detainees without consulting with Congress and without doing so in accordance with U.S. law.”
Carney made the remarks at the press briefing on June 21, 2013. Less than a year later, Congress was not informed as the Obama administration agreed to release five Taliban leaders in exchange for Bergdahl."
Disgusting greed of Obamacare aparatchiks punishes our veterans-------VA Hospital Axed Program Approved $1 Million Bonuses
VA Hospital Axed Program Approved $1 Million Bonuses | The Daily Caller:
"The Memphis Veteran Administration (VA) Medical Center approved over $1 million in bonuses months before closing a therapeutic aquatic pool citing a lack of funds.
The Memphis VA Medical Center handed out $1,005,644 in bonuses for its approximately 2,000 employees in fiscal year 2010"
"The Memphis Veteran Administration (VA) Medical Center approved over $1 million in bonuses months before closing a therapeutic aquatic pool citing a lack of funds.The Memphis VA Medical Center handed out $1,005,644 in bonuses for its approximately 2,000 employees in fiscal year 2010"
Why the ‘Devastated’ Parents of Soldier Reportedly Killed Searching for Freed POW Bergdahl Are Alleging a ‘Big Cover-Up Like Benghazi’ | TheBlaze.com
Why the ‘Devastated’ Parents of Soldier Reportedly Killed Searching for Freed POW Bergdahl Are Alleging a ‘Big Cover-Up Like Benghazi’ | TheBlaze.com:
"Andy Andrews told the Daily Mail that the military did not mention that his son was killed while searching for Bergdahl, but after his release, several soldiers who served with Andrews in Afghanistan emailed him to tell him what really happened.
“The soldiers said they had to sign a letter saying that they would not discuss this,” the father said. “I have no way of proving that apart from what they said. We cannot tell you how devastated we are that the government would do this. They lied to us.”
“It’s a big cover-up like Benghazi, just like everything Obama has done. We want the truth to come out,” he added."
"Andy Andrews told the Daily Mail that the military did not mention that his son was killed while searching for Bergdahl, but after his release, several soldiers who served with Andrews in Afghanistan emailed him to tell him what really happened.“The soldiers said they had to sign a letter saying that they would not discuss this,” the father said. “I have no way of proving that apart from what they said. We cannot tell you how devastated we are that the government would do this. They lied to us.”
“It’s a big cover-up like Benghazi, just like everything Obama has done. We want the truth to come out,” he added."
Even if the minimum wage doesn’t reduce employment levels, which is unlikely, it can still make workers worse off
Even if the minimum wage doesn’t reduce employment levels, which is unlikely, it can still make workers worse off | AEIdeas:
There is now some anecdotal evidence to support the adverse secondary effects of minimum wage hikes in the wake of the increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac for certain service industries on January 1 of this year.
This article outlines some of the negative impacts the $15 per hour “economic death wish” is having on businesses and employees in SeaTac, and this report from the Asian Weekly is especially illuminating:
While attending an event at a SeaTac hotel last week, I met two women who receive the $15/hour minimum wage. SeaTac has implemented the new law on Jan. 1. I met the women while they were working. One was a waitress and the other was cleaning the hallway.“Are you happy with the $15 wage?” I asked the full-time cleaning lady. “It sounds good, but it’s not good,” the woman said. “Why?” I asked. “I lost my 401k, health insurance, paid holiday, and vacation,” she responded. “No more free food,” she added. The hotel used to feed her. Now, she has to bring her own food. Also, no overtime, she said. She used to work extra hours and received overtime pay. What else? I asked. “I have to pay for parking,” she said.I then asked the part-time waitress, who was part of the catering staff.“Yes, I’ve got $15 an hour, but all my tips are now much less,” she said. Before the new wage law was implemented, her hourly wage was $7. But her tips added to more than $15 an hour. Yes, she used to receive free food and parking. Now, she has to bring her own food and pay for parking.
Bottom Line: Even in cases when the minimum wage doesn’t have adverse effects on employment levels, which is highly unlikely, it most certainly does have adverse, secondary effects on low-skilled workers, as the anecdotal evidence above suggests.
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