Tommy S. W. Wong - Minimum Wage for Low Wage Workers: Conversations between Tom, Guru Dick and Guru Harry

Minimum Wage for Low Wage Workers Conversationsbetween Tom, Guru Dick and GuruHarry Dr. Tommy S. W.Wong Copyright 2012 by Tommy S. W. Wong. All rights reserved.

First Smashwords Edition Dedicated to my parents, Wong Sze Fong and Woo En Yueh my parents-in-law, Sum Chip Shing and Ko LukYing my darling wife, Christina and my wonderful sons, Alston, Lester andHanson Acknowledgement I like to thank the Great Spirit forselecting me as an instrument in authoring this book for thebenefit of mankind. Preface Even though minimum wage has been discussedfor many years and many countries have implemented it, somecountries still have not. As such, it continues to attractattention because it is a real-life issue for the low wageworkers. In this book, the issue is being discussedbetween a young man, Tom, who had conversations with two gurus,Dick and Harry. Guru Dick epitomizes someone from a worldly societywho emphasized on the importance of money and power. Guru Harryepitomizes someone from a spiritual society who considers peace,love, joy and harmony are more important.

May these discussions be beneficial tomankind! Tommy S. W. Wong Singapore June 2012 Table of Contents Chapter1 - Conversation with Guru Dick Hello, Guru Dick, how are you? I am fine, Tom. In fact, I am great. Youknow for the rich and powerful, life is always great. How about the poor and powerless? Their lives cannot be great, right? If theirlives are also great, then what's the point of being rich andpowerful? What are their lives like? They're miserable and horrible.

Or horriblymiserable. Talking about living, do you know there ismuch discussion on minimum wage? Yes, I do. You do? For the rich and powerful, we knoweverything. Well, almost everything. How come? Because we are the ones who make thingshappen. You make the changes? You know there is a saying? What is the saying? There are people who make things happen,there are people who watch things happen, and there are people whowonder what happened.

So? So to be successful, you need to be a personwho makes things happen. So, you are successful? I am rich and powerful. Who dare to say I amnot successful? Hmm, yes, who dare to say? So, the rich andpowerful are the people who make things happen? Yeap! So, are they also the people who createdproblems in the world? My dear Tom, they are the people who providesolutions to the world. So, who created the problems in theworld? Do I have to say it? The poor and powerless,of course. But for the poor and powerless, they can'tdo anything, right? So, how can they create problems? They are the problem. I see.

Can we come back to the minimumwage? Sure, what is the wage? Are you supportive of the minimum wage? I would advise against it. Why? Because there is an efficient market systemthat determines the "correct" wage. But for the low wage workers, that wage istoo low? But that is the "correct" wage. What do you mean? Under a market system, a job needs to bedone, okay? Okay, a job needs to be done. Then, an employer pays a worker to do thejob. Okay, an employer pays.

And the worker who is willing to do the jobat a minimum wage gets the job. Is this your definition of minimum wage? This is the "real" definition of minimumwage. But again for the low wage workers, thiswage is too low. You know, a wage is a wage. There is no suchthing as "too high" or "too low". But comparing the wage to the cost ofliving, then the wage is "too low".

Then, don't compare. Then, how will the workers live? That is their problem. Is this why you said the poor and powerlessare the problem? Now you see what I mean. But how can the workers survive? Have you heard of a saying? What is the saying? Survival of the fittest. You mean the poor and powerless are not fitto survive. Well, are they the fittest? Well, they are humans like you and me.

But are they rich and powerful? So, you mean they should die? Well Tom, dying is not as terrible as youthink. It's not? Let me show you something obvious inlife. Okay, what is the obvious? Open your daily newspaper. Okay, I've opened my newspaper. Look for the section "Obituaries". Okay, I found the "Obituaries".

What do you see? A list of people who died recently. Now, does the newspaper publish obituarieseveryday? Yes everyday, without fail. So, do you see the obvious now? You mean there are people dyingeveryday? Yes everyday, without fail. So? So, dying is a daily occurrence. So? So, it can't be that terrible, right? It's terrible for the family of thedeceased. There is another point about dying.

What is the point? Everybody dies. Yes, this is obvious. And it's only a matter of time. Yes, this is obvious too. Sooner or later. Yes, some die sooner and some die later.

So, for the poor and powerless who can'tmake enough to survive, it's better for them to die sooner,right? But isn't it cruel? Actually, I would say it's kind. Wow, Guru Dick, you have a distorted way ofthinking? No, no, my thinking is actually veryrational. Can you elaborate? Okay, let's start with the poor andpowerless. Yes, so they are the poor and powerless. And they want to make a living, right? Yes, everybody wants to make a living. But they can't make a decent living,right? No, they can't.

So, they struggle right? Yes, they really struggle. And their lives are terrible right? Yes, their lives are really terrible. And they've to work very hard right? Yes, they work really hard. And yet they suffer right? Yes, they really suffer. Well, they can end their struggle, theirsuffering and their terrible hard lives in one easy way. You mean to die.

And then they can enjoy life. You mean life after death. Well, don't you think we are kind? Like I said, Guru Dick, you have a distortedway of thinking. And through their dying, there is anotherpositive outcome? What is the positive outcome? The minimum wage will rise. How come? Well, if some workers die, there'll lessworkers to compete for work? So, the wage will rise. Isn't this a positive outcome? Wow, Guru Dick, you really have a weird wayof thinking.

Well, the world needs more people like us,you know? Really? Money makes the world go round. But really, why can't the workers be paidmore so that they can have a decent living? It's against the law of nature. You mean it's against man-made law? No, no, it's against human nature. You mean it's against the nature of the richand powerful? Well, it's the rich and powerful who makethe law, right? Anyway, can you elaborate why the workerscannot be paid more? Okay. What's the point of doing abusiness? To provide a service? Ha, young Tom, never be fooled by such anonsensical belief. You mean it's not to provide a service? If you believe in providing a service, thenyou'll never make ends meet.

How would you survive? Then, what's the point of doing abusiness? To make profit, of course! Or to be moreprecise, to maximize profit. You mean to grab as much as you can. Isn't this what life is about? And by whatever means? The end justifies the means. So, you pay the workers the "real" minimumwage? This is the way to maximize profit,right? You mean by exploiting the workers. Why do you use such an inaccurate word? That's what you are doing, right? No, no, no, we don't exploit the workers. Wepay them a competitive wage.

A wage that is next to nothing. Well, they are willingly work for it. Because there is no "statutory" minimumwage. You know what will happen if the minimumwage is set above the market rate? You mean if the "statutory" minimum wage ishigher than the "real" minimum wage? Yes, do you know what will happen? What will happen? The business will not be competitive, profitwill fall and the business may have to close down. Then, there will be no jobs for theworkers. Exactly, do you see the consequences ofsetting a "statutory" minimum wage? Wow, I see it as clear as daylight.

You see a "statutory" minimum wage is theworst thing for the workers. Wow, Guru Dick, thank you for yourinsights. I'm glad that you are now clear on the insand outs of the minimum wage. I sure am. Goodbye, Tom! Goodbye, Guru Dick! Chapter2 - Conversation with Guru Harry Hello, Guru Harry, how are you? I am fine, Tom. In fact, I am great.