A Minimum Wage Kills the Elderly

     It is a reality of the human condition that Man is mortal.  No one alive today will still be living 200 years from now.  As each of us transitions into old age, there becomes a point where those of us who are still living are no longer able to produce as much capital as we once were.  Then, eventually, we will transition into a state in which production is not possible at all.  At that point, our savings will carry us as far as it can until it is spent; and then we die.  So, with this metaphysical state of our nature understood, let's look at the political debate of the day.

Obama wants a $10.10 minimum wage.  This would mean that all potential workers must be worth at least $10.10 per hour, or it will be illegal for them to work.  Apply this to the elderly, and it would outlaw their production as soon as they transition down to only being able to make less than $10.10 per hour.  Visualize it by drawing a graph where individual age is the X axis and wage rate value is the Y axis.  You may be curious as to what a reduction in the current, legal minimum wage would appear as--which you can illustrate by going towards zero with lawful work on the Y axis.  Of course, there should be no minimum wage at all because it violates the moral principle of Capitalism.  But, you can play around with my Age/Wage graph until you affirm that conclusion.

For those who insist on forced room and board for old people, I for one object to the inevitable death panels that develop from that philosophy.  I'd rather die naturally than by the hand of government.

Paul Wharton
Objectivist Capitalist Medicine Promoter

Special thanks to Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) for being the fuel of my mind