Member-only story
American Greed
Republican Rants
I was inspired to write this short by a reader’s response to a LinkedIn article. The question posed had to do with the hospitality industry in particular. They can’t find the people to clean the rooms, meaning they can’t fill their houses because they can’t get all the rooms cleaned. Thus, room rates will soar.
Quite the catch-22.
I am in semi-retirement after being laid off from the airline industry. As such, I am also a recipient of the enhanced federal unemployment program. I do want a part-time job because Medium isn’t paying the bills. They’re only buying me a couple of lattes a month at Starbucks. A place I don’t go because of $5 lattes.
Twenty-two states have nixed the enhanced federal unemployment program, which pays an additional $300 per week in benefits until one is gainfully employed.
All 22 states are Republican-led. All. 22. States.
Fortunately, I live in New Mexico, a state continuing to pay these benefits (although questions are being raised).
The minimum wage in New Mexico is $9/hour. Woo-hoo! That’s $1.75 more than the federal minimum wage. There are people out there who are only making $7.25/hour! Working at these wages is not cost-effective when you, for instance, consider things like transportation, child care, and…
