Reform economic system; ensure justice

You don't have to be an economist to figure out the minimum-wage question. Seventy percent of the economy is consumption. Employees are consumers, so more wages means more consumption and more economic growth.

Conservative business people hate government welfare programs, but what they fail to comprehend is that welfare programs are a subsidy for business. If we demanded business pay a living wage and backed it up with tariffs, there would be no need for welfare programs except for the disabled.

Conservative business people fire workers and throw them in the street and tell their purchased politicians to cut welfare programs. When they hire, they expect society to provide them with a healthy, intelligent and trained employee.

Even the slave holders of the old South knew that slaves were an asset and provided a certain amount of care for slaves, but the modern-day business person hasn't figured it out yet. The same conservative business types told us they would go out of business if we passed a no child labor law. Any law that keeps business from doing anything it wants when it wants and to whom it wants is terrible in their view.

It is the duty of every American to ensure equal justice for all citizens. No one has a right to live off other people's poverty and misery.

Congress created this economy and its evils and Congress can create a good economic system if we make them.

Dean E. Owens

Palo