I am writing concerning the Feb. 2 Kennebec Journal column by Don Roberts, “In Augusta, city politics are changing.” Roberts seems fairly critical of current council members, but specifically attacks a proposal to raise the minimum wage. It is unfortunate that Roberts mentions an upper wage amount of $15 per hour, which is not a number that was proposed at the Augusta Council meeting.

We can all argue what might be a reasonable minimum wage and whether it should be proposed at a municipal, state, regional or national level. What is not in dispute, however, is that our U.S. labor force participation rate is at a relative low percentage compared to historical levels. What is also not in dispute is that we have reached relatively high levels of wealth disparity between the extreme top and bottom of our U.S. income population. The United States has had a concept of a minimum wage in this country for most of our lifetimes. It was put it in place for a reason. Not adjusting the wage level to at least keep pace with inflation distorts the original incentive for which it was intended. That would be a worthwhile topic to discuss.

Jerry Blodgett

Topsham

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