Readers React: Tax credit is no substitute for better minimum wage

To the editor: As an alternative to hiking the minimum wage, Allen R. Sanderson proposes increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is essentially redistributing the income of other wage earners and companies. (“Why mandating higher minimum wage isn’t best way to address poverty,” Op-Ed, Sept. 20)

This is economically inefficient and socially unfair. Shifting the burden of an equitable wage from any company to the government dole (through the tax credit, food stamps or other programs) essentially subsidizes that company, disincentivizing innovation and efficiency.

A minimum wage broadly applied penalizes no individual, while failing to establish a level playing field penalizes those socially responsible companies that pay a living wage.

Further, it is socially more fair to assure a worker receives at minimum a livable wage for his or her work than to incentivize a work-free life on the taxpayers’ dole.

Edward Hull, Seal Beach

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