I suggest a graduated minimum wage. The scale, whatever the minimum wage might shake out to be: 

1. Dropouts, under the age, of 25 make wage ‘A’ 

2. Minors in school, make wage ‘B”, $.50 above ‘A’, because they are staying in school. 

3. 25 Year-old dropouts also make wage ‘B’, simply for the sake of adult human dignity. 

4. High school graduates make Wage ‘C’, $1 over wage ‘B’, and $1.50 over wage ‘A’. 

5. No extra for 25 year-old high school graduates. It has to stop somewhere, and merit-based pay needs to kick in. 

Why does the adult wage not engage until age 25? 

Because 25 seems a lifetime away to a 16 year-old thinking about dropping out, 

and Wage ‘B’ will help keep these vulnerable kids in school. 

It might be that a dropout can earn Wage B, if they re-enroll in school and have two quarters of passing grades and acceptable attendance. 

The poor are the most likely to favor socialism and are also the most likely to receive food commodities. 

Throughout our marriage, my wife and I have known a few elderly poor people who relied on commodities to make ends meet. 

We have shared meals with them, and I haven’t been impressed with some of the offerings. 

I would like to suggest a reality show with chefs who would:

 

a) Teach folks how to use commodities & food subsidies to create good meals. 

b) Teach them how to shop wisely with the commodities available. 

c) Teach them how to connect with local gardens to improve their food supply and raise their children’s GPA. 

    Gardening increases a child’s ability to learn; by teaching cause and effect, planning and scheduling, investment and return. 

d) Provide a public review of the commodities to show us how our tax $$$ are being used. 

e) Help locals prepare a meal made of only commodities and meals-on-wheels products, to be shared at dinners with mayors, 

    city council and other leaders to see what the elderly and poor really have to work with. 

Understand that I grew up on 10 acres and we grew or raised most of our own food at different times, except wheat, salt and spices. 

We raised our own meat, had a milk cow, a large vegetable garden, potato patch and fruit trees. 

We harvested, canned, froze, butchered and baked much of our food. I know good food in its raw form. 

Some of the government commodities I’ve sampled should have been composted and sent back to the soil from whence it came, 

not packaged for distribution. Not to say all by any means, but some.  

Eric J. Rose