Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
As Rob pointed out on the main podcast a few days ago, one of the sorriest spectacles of the last week has been the media's attempt to discredit Rick Perry's economic record as Governor of Texas. While there's certainly plenty of room to debate how directly responsible Perry is for the Lone Star State's boom, the pundit class's efforts to discredit the entire state's narrative has them tying themselves in knots. Consider this from the Washington Post's feature on "5 Myths About Rick Perry":
Texas has more minimum-wage jobs than every state other than Mississippi, a superlative you brag about if you don’t care about what kind of jobs you create and are only trying to run up the numbers.
Yet another reminder that they don't teach economics in journalism school. By definition, a minimum wage worker is going to be someone who adds a relatively small marginal benefit to their employer's operation. In other words, if you're working at a minimum-wage job, chances are that your only other option is unemployment. Why wouldn't we celebrate a state where such individuals are on payrolls rather than welfare rolls? (It's also worth noting that most people don't stay at the minimum wage for long -- these low-end positions give them the experience and skills to start moving up the pay scale).
What's most galling is the "running up the numbers" comment. Those 'numbers' represent individuals who actually have someplace to go in the morning, something productive to contribute to the marketplace, and something to take home to their families on pay day. Is it their ideal situation? Probably not. But when the alternative is no gainful employment at all, it looks very good by comparison.
- Comment (25)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments :
Dec '10
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Apparently the Washington Post's idea is that some unemployed people make too much money to take minimum wage jobs.
Take California, for instance: San Francisco has a "living wage" law: essentially they say to people who would be willing to work for less, "No, no: you don't want THAT job. If employers can't afford to pay you a living wage, you're better off getting nothing at all."
I suppose if you write for the Washington Post, you tend to live in the Beltway, where unchecked Federal spending means there are lots of jobs for middle managers at contractors and in the Government. It might give you a skewed view of what the rest of the American economy and job market looks like.
Feb '11
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Troy, this is probably the best explanation I have heard; as a (one year) new resident to the Lone Star State, one of many, that is what happens you start at the bottom of the totem pole. Besides, if your complaint is that you have "too many people earning minimum wage" rather than "too many people not earning a wage" this sounds like an odd thing to complain about.
Jul '10
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
I'd be willing to bet Obama would take those kinds of jobs being created nationally right about now. Having a job and applying yourself to it gives you a sense of accomplishment and worth. The media is essentially telling people they're saps for feeling this way because their jobs are unimportant. That's an elitist mindset.
Dec '10
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Indeed. How dare these people do what they can to get by and spurn the hooks, I mean hands, the benevolent government is holding out to them.
Mar '11
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
This one paragraph aptly summarises everything those on the left cannot grasp regarding employment and labor. In every debate, discussion or policy proposal there is the implicit assumption that a.) all workers are entitled to the median household income ($46326 US 2010) regardless of skill set or the value of their labor and b.) that workers are unable to improve their lot through their own efforts. If one is working at a low wage job they are somehow trapped there forever. Witness the absurd arguments that bring about "living wage" laws.
Aug '11
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Well said.
If those minimum wage jobs are so awful, why would anyone want them? If being unemployed is so much better than a minimum wage job, what is going on?
Feb '11
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
If liberals of the two coasts are jealous about our Texan oil jobs, they can start drilling.and building refineries.
Jan '11
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Just an aside, one might also consider that Texas is the 2nd most populous state. It has more jobs of ANY SORT at all than most other states!
Dec '10
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Actually, what DO they teach in journalism school? I mean, what's the point of it?
Remember when reporters used to be gin-soaked reprobates who would earn the big spot by covering high school girls' soccer or write obituaries?
Jan '11
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
A brilliant point Troy, one that is not made enough! Minimum-wage jobs are not bad things, things to be eliminated, but quite the opposite - they should be viewed both as safeguards against unemployment, and as stepping-stones towards higher-earning jobs.
May '10
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
AmishDude: Actually, what DO they teach in journalism school? I mean, what's the point of it?
Remember when reporters used to be gin-soaked reprobates who would earn the big spot by covering high school girls' soccer or write obituaries? · Aug 20 at 11:28am
J School long ago gave up teaching reporting. What they teach today is advocacy.
Feb '11
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Someone forgot to tell the WP that most of the workers at community centers such as the YMCA, Salvation Army, Public Recreation Centers, etc are also minimum wage employees. It's not just BIG business that engages a minimum wage workforce, but BIG philanthropy too. Having said that, my wife works such a job at minimum wage, and it's hilarious to see the Obama / Hope & Change bumper stickers adorning all the automobiles, while they are served by minimum wage workers. Abusive and nasty at times they are too! ;-)
May '10
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Keith Preston
AmishDude: Actually, what DO they teach in journalism school? I mean, what's the point of it?
J School long ago gave up teaching reporting. What they teach today is advocacy.
And they're pretty lousy at teaching that. When was the last time you were convinced to change your mind by some left-wing "news" article?
Dec '10
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Keith Preston
AmishDude: Actually, what DO they teach in journalism school? I mean, what's the point of it?
Remember when reporters used to be gin-soaked reprobates who would earn the big spot by covering high school girls' soccer or write obituaries? · Aug 20 at 11:28am
J School long ago gave up teaching reporting. What they teach today is advocacy. · Aug 20 at 11:53am
Even then...you don't have to teach that.
Aug '10
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Also, don't forget that the minimum wage was increased to $7.25 from $5.85 in 2009.
This probably contributes to the numbers of low-skilled and young workers that are unemployed. The last thing you want to do is raise the wage floor in a recession, but that's what the U.S. wound up doing - bumping the minimum wage from $5.85 to $7.25.
It also means that Texas' minimum wage jobs aren't that shabby compared to unemployment benefits.
Jul '10
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Excellent point, Hob. Apparently, in addition to economics, they don't teach statistics in J-school either.
May '10
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Wylee Coyote
Excellent point, Hob. Apparently, in addition to economics, they don't teach statistics in J-school either. · Aug 20 at 1:47pm
Forget J-school. A sense of proportionality is something even a person of far below average intelligence should acquire in his daily life.
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
You are on the money, Troy. The mainstream media is not going to get anywhere by trashing Texas. All that this will do is to give liberals talking points they can use when talking to one another. No one no so invested in the Democratic Party as to be blind will fall for this one -- not with unemployment everywhere around us.
If they want to trash Rick Perry, they will have to seach out his defects, not those of the state he governed. If he has grave defects, let me add, the sooner we know, the better. But the fact that they are going after Texas suggests that they are at a loss.
Jul '10
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Excellent post, Senik.
People are just talking about the jobs being created on the books. That ain't counting illegal aliens.
Re: Perry's Critics Praising Him with Faint Damnation
Hob, I thought the same thing when I read the Post piece. To their credit, however, when you follow the link from the article it makes explicit that the statistic is minimum wage jobs as a percentage of overall employment. It doesn't obscure the broader argument, but it at least makes the comparison a little more accurate.