Yesterday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a new statewide minimum wage bill in to law. This bill raise the state’s minimum to $8 an hour, further eroding any competitive advantage California may have had to attract new business. Passage of this bill should come as no surprise, given the political climate in the nation’s most populous state.

The people of California have long embraced the premise that it is the responsibility and duty of government to hold the hands of its citizens from cradle to grave and thus such entitlement minded legislation is understandable. Any politician who hopes to remain in office, as all politicians do, would be wasting his or her breath to appeal to common sense in noting the inescapable fact that increases in minimum wage have a detrimental impact on the economy and actually cost jobs. Likewise, any politician who dare suggest that individuals earning minimum wage should forgo raising a family until they can afford to do so would be soundly repudiated.

The case of Governor Schwarzenegger is a perfect example of the spineless pandering nature of today’s politicians. Schwarzenegger is seeking a second term as governor, as such he will do anything to appeal to the uneducated masses, which account for a large proportion of the California electorate.

The example of California will soon be followed by other states as the lust for government handouts and the utter rejection of individual responsibility is far to great for the inept and unproductive amongst us who are growing exponentially.
Link to LA Times article