The nature of the thing

"LET'S BUILD THIS THING"

 

When it is pointed out that many of the jobs projected by DMC are low wage jobs that will be below the current local median wage, qualify families for income supports, free and reduced lunch programs, and not provide employment upon which they can sustain themselves, that these jobs create the working poor, the response that often comes is an echo: "High-wage jobs create low-wage jobs." But, too often when it comes time to respond to the consequences of these low-wage jobs, those who receive these wages are blamed for the circumstances their wages create. As if the jobs would somehow pay better if these workers "worked harder" or "had made better choices". As if they are responsible for the wages they are paid.

It does little good to berate the working poor to work. It is all well and good to call upon them to improve their circumstances. But, when the low-wage worker manages at last to find a job with better wages, what remains is the low-wage job and another worker hired to be impoverished by that work.

If economic development does not reduce the number of low-wage jobs, if it even creates more of them, depends upon them, permits and supports them - what kind of plan is that?

We are now being called upon to "build this thing". "This thing" being a destination that will enhance the well-being of a vital sector of our local economy. Well, OK, "let's build this thing" and in doing so provide all who are doing the "building" with wages, benefits, and opportunities upon which their families can be sustained and prosper. To the extent we do not do so, then we should at least acknowledge that saying "High-wage jobs create low-wage jobs" is not simply a statement of fact, it is also an admission of intentional and material culpability.

We would do well to contemplate the nature of this thing we have set ourselves to build.