The Daily Dose/August 22, 2020
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience.
USA! USA!: It’s a presidential election year, so it is almost obligatory the Democrats are championing an increase in the minimum wage. It’s what Democrats do because they are never entirely happy unless they are running everyone’s lives.
Dry, Technical Matter: The first federal minimum wage was 25 cents/hour – a bit less than $5 in today’s money – established in 1934. The current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour has been in effect since 2009 and Democrats want to increase it to $15, just a bit above the poverty level for a family of five.
Gaylon For…Oh, Hell, He’s Not On The Ballot This November: There are a couple of arguments against the minimum wage, one philosophical, the other economic.
Some Philosophy Crap: One, it is not the government’s job to mandate wages. A wage, or any other condition of employment, is a contract between employer and employee that the government must stay out of. Anyone not happy with what they are making is free to put the work into getting the skills, education and experience that will get them the work they want.
More Dry, Technical Matter: Economically, some businesses will not be able to afford this. Either they will go out of business or they will make do with fewer workers. Those that can afford the increase will, of course, pass the cost on to their customers. This means those with government-mandated minimum wages will face a higher cost of living, making their buying power about what it was before their raise.
The Bottom Line: The purpose of our government is to provide a free market for businesses to sell their wares and for workers to sell their labor. A minimum wage is beyond the scope of both a democratic government and a free market.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody: Sparrow is still torn about getting a haircut.
Recall in June, after lockdown was lifted, I went to this dolt in the next county and he butchered it and there was Wednesday’s fiasco at the chain place here in town where I couldn’t get in…Ol’ Sparrow was actually tempted to let it grow then but recall I was US Senate candidate with a primary coming up and it was best to present as professional a look as possible…Now that I punted my primary this past June, I can look like Charles Manson and nobody would care.
Backstairs at the Monte Carlo: Gaylon is in dispatch and the crew is very shorthanded.
This left one officer, Bi-Bob, available, but even he was busy taking money from some tables to the cage, so pit one could set up for a slot tournament.
88Dick had actually called me a couple of hours earlier and instructed me to find two officers for this evolution. I said yes, sir and checked the schedule and saw we would only be able to produce two officers if we hired and trained one in the next ten minutes.
Free Stuff
The same trick the drug dealers use.
Backstairs at the Monte Carlo
Clock in with the graveyard crew of the Monte Carlo Security Department on the glamorous Las Vegas Strip.
Click here for the first two months of the funniest Vegas memoir ever.
Criminals, Courtesans and Constables
Gaylon’s latest novel takes place everywhere from throne rooms to death row.
Click here to read the first four chapters with our compliments.
The Regular Guys
Coming soon! Meet Lenny and Larry, two comedians going nowhere on their own who team up and become the biggest act in show business.
Click on the button to get started to read The Diary of a Nobody, Backstairs at the Monte Carlo and Criminals, Courtesans and Constables for only $4.99, a steal.
On This Date
History’s long march to today.
In 1485 – The crown of England changes hands as forces led by Henry VII – who began the day as Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond – defeat forces led King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in central England. Historians still have rather dull arguments over whether this ended the War of Roses or whether the war actually continued through assorted plots to overthrow Henry VII. Henry had returned from exile in France in August, remains the last monarch to earn the English crown in battle and would reign until his death in 1509.
In 1851 – The yacht America, sponsored by the New York Yacht Club, wins the first of what is now known as the America’s Cup off the coast of the Isle of Wight off the southern coast of England. The race was organized by the Royal Yacht Squadron, featured 15 yachts and was known as the RYS £100 Cup. America won the 53 nautical mile race in 10 hours and 34 minutes and the America’s Cup remains the oldest trophy competed for in international sports. The next one is scheduled for 2021 in New Zealand.
In 1970 – Bread is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the only week with Make It With You. It was first chart single for the group, their first of twelve Top 40 and six Top 10 hits and remains their only #1 song. The song spent 13 weeks in the Top 40 including ten weeks in the Top 10. Make It With You also peaked at #5 in Great Britain and was Billboard’s 13th biggest song of the year.
Quotebook
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Never in the world does hatred cease by hatred; hatred ceases by love. – Buddha
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
It’s not who you know, but what you know.
The four members of the Crew Cuts met in Toronto, where they sang in a choir together as boys.
Today’s Stumper
Cheaper than Trivia Night at the bar.
Which was the first country to defeat the United States for the America’s Cup? – Answer next time!
