skippy the bush kangaroo

Sunday, January 15, 2006

the living wage: the times gets one right

when i read this headline in the new york times magazine - "is how much you pay workers a moral issue?" - i got out my knives and started sharpening. i was getting ready to lacerate them and had started writing my opening paragraph in my head: "ask child laborers or sweatshop workers whether it's a moral issue." or course it's a moral issue.

instead of moral cowardice framed as journalistic neutrality, what i found when i read jon gertner's piece was a thoughtful, balanced, and insightful piece on the "living wage" issue. i'm strongly on one side of the argument: i believe that economic research has proven that raising the minimum wage is good for workers and for business.

but instead of false neutrality, what i found in gertner's piece was legitimate balance and objectivity, plus a lot of good information people can use to make up their own minds. i'll need to read it again with more care, but my first impression was positive. i'm glad they're covering this issue.

check it out.

posted by RJ Eskow at 11:18 AM |