Pass
The Buck
 I think
it's clear to many of us that "minimum wage" is
an inexact description. It should be called "maximum
profits"
as it's designed to benefit the owner, not the worker.
A set minimum
wage
turns
an employee
into
a widget,
a perfect
little
cog
in
the accounting machine, exactly the same as office supplies
and toilet paper. And just as expendable.
Since the government lacks the political will to force
employers to pay a living wage, which might increase the
cost of your Quarter Pounder by an unthinkable couple of
cents, might I suggest that the next time you encounter
an employee you're
pretty
certain
is
working for federally-mandated peanuts, and yet is still
working their little buns off, that you
quietly slip them an extra buck when you pay for your burger
or your
copies. This
is not a tip, this is a token of appreciation. It's something
even Jesus might do. Or Cthuhlu.
By the way, for all you guys not tipping your waiters,
FUCK YOU! Tip those folks or stay out of places where decent
people eat. Park
in
the alleys behind the 7-11 and gorge yourself on frozen
burritos,
you
useless twats.
But I digress.
The dual benefit of sharing a little of one's wealth, very
little, is that not only will the poor bastards behind
the counter have a few extra
bucks at
the
end
of the
week
but
it will encourage
them to serve the customer better in future in hopes of
additional merit rewards. That's called "win-win", chaps
and chappettes. And what's a buck or two nowadays... unless,
of course, you're trapped behind a cash register all day,
deciding
whether to pay the doctor or the electric company.
If you think about it, such donations could make the difference
in keeping a family in their home. Wouldn't you rather
see them at work than standing by the side of the road?
Unfortunately, it wouldn't take long for employers to
catch on to this avenue of generosity and use it as an
excuse to reduce employee wages even more. There would
even be the occasional total bastard who'd demand his charges
fork over their gratuities. Head first into the fry machine
for them, says I.
Anyway, think about. Certainly can't hurt and you might
even sleep better for the effort.
------------
 One
last thing... today's comic almost didn't make it as my
beloved 9-year-old Mac G5 suffered a sudden attack
of circuitboard thrombosis and collapsed in the middle
of an otherwise normal Save. Valiant efforts to resuscitate
proved
fruitless
and
the patient
was
declared DOA
at approximately 5:15 PM. It provided faultless, yeoman's
service over the years and I offer not grief, but gratitude.
It is survived by a Mac Plus, an SE/30, a 7500/75, three
iPods, a G3 clamshell, and a G4 Cube. In lieu of flowers
the family is requesting donations
be sent to Raging Pencils
Replacement
Computer Scam Fund.
(Note: Because a surprising number of
visitors have inquired, yes, I'll be very happy to accept
your commiserative
generosity. To
that
effect, you'll find
a nearly invisible "Donate" button at the
top of almost every page of Raging Pencils. And thank
you.)
=Lefty=
|
