Gap Between Rich and Working Poor

* Re “L.A.’s Growing Pay Gap Looms as Political Issue,” Sept. 7:

The remarks of L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (“You have the potential for serious social upheaval”) seem to show a fear that this Dickensian tale will end like “A Tale of Two Cities.” Ironically, we Americans have a constitutional right to freedom of speech, religion and assembly, but no constitutional right to food, shelter or medical care. The working poor have to rely on the vagaries of the political climate in Washington, the personal discomfort of local officials and the good works of organizations like United Way.

We need to take an honest look at the economic system we live under, which seems to enrich a few and impoverish many. If wealth is redistributed, perhaps the elite will only be able to afford one house and will have to work five days a week. However, they (and everyone else) won’t have to worry about whether to choose between seeing a doctor and feeding their child.

A living-wage ordinance is a good idea as a Band-Aid remedy, though it won’t change things in the long run. Of course people don’t eat in the long run and for that reason it should be supported.

JOSEPH GIUS

Los Angeles

* Your article failed to identify what is probably the most significant factor behind the low pay scales for low-skilled labor--the huge rate of immigration into this area. The value of human labor follows the law of supply and demand. When there is a surplus of cheap labor the value of that labor is diminished. We can pass all the minimum-wage laws we like and it will not alter that fact.

Minimum wage laws and laws against the hiring of illegal aliens are not being enforced, in any case. Such laws will just cause more companies to hire immigrants at sub-minimum wages.

STEVE EVANS

Anaheim

* In America, the rich have given billions of dollars to many causes that help everyone. They are taxed more heavily than anyone else. They are the ones who run corporate enterprises that give jobs to millions of Americans. They are the ones who have the vision and the knowledge to make these huge businesses work and prosper and this prosperity is passed on to millions of others.

Let’s stop envying these people for what they have and start realizing all of the good they have done and continue to do. Let’s use their successes to encourage others to use their imaginations and energies toward building their own businesses so that all may profit. It is unfortunate that the poor are always cast as the victims of someone else’s good fortune. Let’s stop using the poor as an excuse for disparaging the rich.

DAVE FISCHER

Irvine