The Hot Seat A Weekly Look At People In The News

What we really need is a maximum wage

It appears an increase in the minimum wage is dead. House Republicans replaced the raise with several proposals to help low-income wage earners. Conservatives see the minimum wage as a price control (the price of labor) and therefore a bogeyman to a free market. Smart Democrats would accept the Republican proposals, then work through organized labor to lobby for a maximum wage indexed to the current minimum. Say 10 or 15 times higher. That is the surest, fastest way to raise the minimum wage.

Give Gritz a chance

Why not give Bo Gritz and Randy Weaver a chance to talk the freemen into surrendering? Bo knows how these guys think. Chances are they’d listen to him faster than the feds. Denying the Ruby Ridge folk heroes access to these holdouts only fuels the paranoia of the radical right. It could even call freemen fans to action. As LeRoy Armstrong, a friend of Weaver’s, said, “I hope some good comes out of Randy and Bo going there - that they help to get those guys (the freemen) in court where they belong instead of in the cemetery, where they don’t.” We say give Bo a chance.

Sharma, this is not the end of the world

We can’t close the book on Sharma Shields without sending her a word of encouragement. Sharma, don’t worry about the self-righteous cause-aholics who went on talk radio and wrote letters to the editor. There are always a few of those people around. Just continue to do good work. Go on and be successful. Make us proud. And when the time comes, and it will, for you to pass judgment on the mistakes of others, remember your experience with the purple coats. Do the right thing and treat people the way you would have them treat you. Good luck. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 3 photos

MEMO: The Hot Seat is an irreverent look at controversial issues in the news. The views expressed are those of the writer. Today’s Hot Seat was written by Scott Sines.