Here's a letter to the editor of the Santa Fe New Mexican that I wrote today:
The editorial of Oct. 31 lauds Wal-Mart for turning over a new leaf because boss Lee Scott is asking Congress to raise the federal minimum wage. The writer acknowledges that "The company already pays higher-than-minimum wages" and concludes "so, we suspect, Scott wants other low-paid workers earning more so they'll buy more at his stores." That analysis is flawed. Wal-Mart is undertaking a predatory strategy of forcing its competitors to raise their costs because of a higher minimum wage in order to drive them out of business while Wal-Mart itself remains untouched because it already pays higher than minimum wages to the extent of almost 50%. Scott, far from being a laissez-faire capitalist, is in league with big government to stifle true competition. Those who don't like Wal-Mart will surely oppose the proposed minimum wage hike. Paul Hibbert
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