How to Win the Moral High Ground
15 September 2006
The Editor, New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
You assert that "proponents of living wages have the moral high ground" ("Everyday Low Wages," September 15). Not so. Conquering the moral high ground requires more than smugly and theatrically demanding that someone else, such as Wal-Mart, be forced to do more to help the poor. If "living-wage" proponents really want the moral high ground, they would themselves open businesses and attract low-wage workers away from Wal-Mart and other employers by offering higher wages. Until they do so, "living-wage" proponents are mere tin-pot protesters deserving no attention.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
The Editor, New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
You assert that "proponents of living wages have the moral high ground" ("Everyday Low Wages," September 15). Not so. Conquering the moral high ground requires more than smugly and theatrically demanding that someone else, such as Wal-Mart, be forced to do more to help the poor. If "living-wage" proponents really want the moral high ground, they would themselves open businesses and attract low-wage workers away from Wal-Mart and other employers by offering higher wages. Until they do so, "living-wage" proponents are mere tin-pot protesters deserving no attention.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Wednesday May 23, 2007 at 2:51pm