Document text
1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Friday Tree-planting event at Ashland Creek Park will celebrate Arbor Week Community meeting highlights solar issues in Oregon Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford 10 things to know for Thursday Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Ashlander starts up a natural pet food supplement business Should workers be paid at least $15 an hour? Ride & Drive: 2016 Mazda CX-5 Cars We Remember: Car lover knows his 348/409 engines Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over State News Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Lawrence R. Hugo III Death Notices Gordon Geeseman William D. Enyart Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Hits just keep on coming Ashland readies for Pacific Rim Bowl Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job Brent St. Germain: Baseball’s intriguing teams High school Hits just keep on coming Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls Ashland High events postponed to today Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia AHS softball team routs Churchill Southern Oregon University Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Voices Latest Stories Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Editorial Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Our View: Council should stop stalling on welcome center Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud Our View: One tree vs. the Ashland community Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Letters Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Letters to the Editor, April 4 Letters to the Editor, April 1 Letters to the Editor, March 30 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Columns Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Kent Bush: Facebook isn’t going anywhere Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Submit a poem Best Bets, April 9-16 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Community blog: Get a poem a day A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Theater Ticket Availability Ticket availability in Ashland theaters, April 7 Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Movie review: ‘The Longest Ride’ is a sweet ride Movie Listings: April 10-16 'Furious 7' — buckle up for another great ride Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Movie review: The action is even more insane in ‘Furious 7’ Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford App Finder: Top humor apps Looking Up: Watch the Lion chasing Jupiter Health Watch: Combat common running and walking ailments Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Tree-planting event at Ashland Creek Park will celebrate Arbor Week ... Community meeting highlights solar issues in Oregon ... Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford ... Tree-planting event at Ashland Creek Park will celebrate Arbor Week ... Community meeting highlights solar issues in Oregon ... Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford ... LOCAL TAKE Should workers be paid at least $15 an hour? Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 6, 2015 at 8:12 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 6, 2015 at 8:12 PM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter . » Social News Oregon’s minimum wage was raised to $9.25 at the start of the year. It’s well above average for the nation. Half of states, including Oregon, have a minimum wage above the federal standard of $7.25. Five states — all in the south — have no minimum wage (other than the federal minimum).  The minimum wage is widely decried as a starvation wage, something the average person can’t live on, thus requiring a second job. Others say it's not intended to support a family, just to offer an entry-level position for those new to the workplace. The debate has raged for many decades: upping the minimum wage, on one hand, spurs spending and helps the economy, but others say the added expense means some people get laid off and extra costs are simply passed onto consumer prices, so there’s no real gain for anyone.  The Oregon legislature — Democratically controlled in both houses and the governor’s office — appears to be avoiding this political minefield this year. A bill (HB2009) that would hike the wage over three years (to $11.50 an hour in 2016, $13.25 in 2017 and finally to the magic number, $15 per hour, by 2018) is stalled in the Legislature. One sponsor, Sen. Chip Fields of Portland proclaimed the new slogan, “People in my district want a chance, not charity.”  This may pass the hot potato to voters and trigger a likely ad war against it from business interests.  We asked Ashlanders: “Should all businesses have to pay workers at least $15 an hour?”  Eli Jaxon-Bear — That’s criminal. It should be $20 an hour. People need to be able to live on what they earn as a comfortable existence. It’s never hurt to raise the minimum wage. If we have more money, we spend more and everyone is more prosperous.  Nicole Morgan — It’s a good idea to raise the minimum wage more than 50 cents at a time. The question is whether it will cause workers to have their hours cut. I want the minimum wage raised because the dollars per hour now is not enough to live on.  Mark D’Olivo — After seeing the large jump in minimum wage in Seattle, it seems not such a great idea because it’s a hardship on mom-and-pop businesses, and can put them over the edge. It’s a real noble idea, but the bureaucracy and red tape and taxes that small businesses have to go through to run a business are hard. Large businesses should be able to afford it, though.  Kevin Kennerly — The more money you pay workers, the more money is going back into the economy. Workers are the ones paying the cash into the economy. Businesses will pass the cost off to us but it will be minimal because the cost of retail goods only goes up so far before people stop buying. If the minimum wage is too low then no one’s buying anything. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected].   By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 6, 2015 at 8:12 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501