George,

I am fascinated that Will has a number of lower-paid employees who "are not loyal to me, that stop working when their supervisor’s back is turned, [and] that steal from me and shareholders," but that he is not going to keep paying "this type of uncaring, unfaithful and lazy employee at $7.50 an hour."

Will, can you tell me how many such employees you have and how long you have had them? If the answer is one or more who have worked for you for more than a week can you tell me how much you are worth as a manager? $5.15 or $7.50 an hour?

Since an increase in the minimum wage would lower your costs and increase your profits, why haven’t we heard about your support before? Is it just your compassionate heart?

Gene Foster (electronic mail, January 3, 2007)