Recently Wyoming Public Media ran an article on their website claiming that raising "Minimum Wage Could Reduce Suicide In Mountain West."

This "study" claims that "increasing minimum wage by a dollar actually decreased the rate of suicide by 3.4% to 5.9% among those with a high school diploma or less."

There are several problems here.

First, this research is most than just a little incomplete. When we look at those cities and states that have raised the minimum wage, we see those who got the raise had their hours cut back - therefore no increase in pay. Then there are those who lost their jobs in order for the minimum wage to be raised.

Seattle Washington is one good example of what goes wrong when the minimum wage is raised. On the other coast, New York City is another sad example. In both cases, hours were cut, jobs lost, businesses closed.

Just how are these horrible results supposed to make anyone feel better about their situation?

Looking at Wyoming itself, there was a recent Rolling Stone article about suicide in the state that showed how making more money in a good economy did not lower the numbers.

It is obvious that this "study" was nothing more than a poorly veiled attempt to convince folks that we must increase the minimum wage to save lives. Obviously anyone who opposes a raise in the minimum wage does not care if people die.

The fact is that this is the best the economy has been in over 50 years and the middle class is making more than ever before. Anyone not taking advantage of this booming market should be asked why they insist on remaining where they are in life rather than improving their job skills and giving themselves a raise.

The Wyoming Pubic Media Story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUER in Salt Lake City, KUNR in Nevada, the O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, and KRCC and KUNC in Colorado.

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