An apparent lack of education here

From Pete Davis.

I WAS disturbed to read the article (JEP, 7 April) headlined Minimum wage ‘should reflect climate’. At first I smiled at the use of words, thinking it was being claimed that the minimum wage was expected to be a mirror to global warming.

However, on reading further I was astounded at the apparent lack of education among some of our political representatives. One was the Economic Minister, Senator Alan Maclean – yes, economic is in his title. The other, Deputy Geoff Southern, should be even more ashamed of his lack of education being a former school teacher with aspirations to the Senatorial bench. It is to be hoped he can at least count if he wishes to challenge a near miss at the ballot.

To the point. Both refer to minimum wage as a percentage of average earnings. Unless everyone lives in a perfect communist-type society where everyone is paid exactly the same amount it is mathematically impossible to achieve their aims. Actually it is still impossible.

Immediately the lower paid have their income raised to the percentage average, whatever the figure chosen, they are once again below that figure, maybe with some additional bodies, because the average will have risen as a result of their wages being increased. By continuing the exercise ad nauseum you may eventually arrive at Communist Utopia.

However, having arrived, everyone will be earning the average so the minimum wage target of a figure below this is again impossible.

Please elected representatives of whatever persuasion, engage brain before initiating mouth.