I’m responding to the article, “Poverty mires once stable Venezuela,” June10). Venezuela has increased their minimum wage 12 times since 2013. If Maine voters vote to increase the state’s minimum wage five times by 2020 and then index it to inflation afterwards, that would be as socialist as Venezuela’s government policies. If a socialist country is going through this, then we should do the exact opposite. That translates into voting “no” to increase Maine’s minimum wage.

Socialists always gamble to put all their bets on one thing to solve economic problems. In the case of Venezuela, it was to nationalize oil. Now, with prices in a slump, the Venezuelan government has to face starving voters.

This is yet another example how we have to separate socialism from capitalism in Maine. That way we can make sure Maine voters won’t get stuck eating out of garbage cans after inflation strikes in the future. Because when inflation hits after 2020 it will wreak havoc if people vote to index minimum wage to inflation and then all bets are off on large numbers of people eating out of trash bins here in Vacationland.

Douglas Papa

Winthrop


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