No good can come of this

A few years back, the Obama administration delivered a new program to "stimulate" the economy.  They called it the Car Allowance Rebate System (aka "cash for clunkers").  Basically, you turn in your old, beat-up, smog spewing vehicle and you get cash or a trade-in on a new, environmentally friendly car.  Sounds great, huh?  Free money for your car?!

Yeah, not so fast, Tex.  Turns out that all those people who turned their clunkers didn't actually get cash - they got vouchers to buy a new vehicle (like an SUV which isn't known for it's fuel efficiency, anyway) and had to pay income tax on their new found funds.  I guess the adage of "no good deed" comes into play, here.

Along the lines of government taking care of the people, you have the current debate of increasing the national minimum wage to $10 an hour.  On it's face, more (free) money is a good thing, right?  I mean, you didn't have to slave for the increase - it's a free gift from the government.  Ronald Regan is credited with saying: "The nine most terrifying words are: I'm from the Government and I'm here to help" which is, sadly, perfect for this situation.

Why should a (free) 24% increase be so terrifying?  Well, first off, companies need to make more than they spend (which is the point of business, after all).  If you pay people more, then companies will be laying off more people to maintain their bottom line.  Wait, what?!  People are going to be laid off work?  If they're not working then they could raise the minimum wage to $100 an hour and they'd never know it (because they're all unemployed)!

Of course, there's the added income tax.  Yeah - you get taxed on all "free" income.  Then there's the cost of living that keeps going up and up (which kinda negates that raise right off the bat).  Of course, we can't forget the claim that a raise for the "poor" will boost the economy.  Yeah, have you ever heard about people who win the lottery?  Most of them are bankrupt inside of a few years because they spend more than they win - which all equates to poor spending habits.  Just because you have more money doesn't mean you know how to spend or keep it.

Enough with the rhetoric - I'm a law Librarian and you didn't come here to hear me pontificate about all things politics.  You came here to read up on legal things.  In this case, labor law things such as:

• Labor and Employment Law (ABA)
• Fair Labor Standards Act explained : a wage and hour guidebook (CCH)
• Fair Employment Practices Manual (BNA)
• Your Rights in the Workplace (Nolo Press)

Yep - if there is any constants in the universe is that if government is behind something, it's going to come back to bite you.  "Buyer beware" has never been so true.  So, next time your "friendly" neighborhood G man comes to your door offering a hand out, run (don't walk) to your local county law Librarian because we're the only ones who are really looking out for your best interests.