Earlier this week I noted the hypocrisy of In These Times and its hotshot labor journo Mike Elk for their exploitation of unpaid labor despite claims that they support all workers earning a "living wage." Of course, In These Times isn't the only hypocritical leftwing magazine when it comes to the minimum wage. The New Republic—which has argued for a minimum wage as far back as 1915!—also refuses to pay its interns. Here's Vice, the mag that broke this scandalous story:
The New Republic is another liberal outlet with a problematic labor record. Owned by a co-founder of Facebook worth more than $600 million, the magazine is currently hiring interns whose responsibilities include "conducting research for editors," as well as "pitching and writing blog posts and web pieces." Previous experience in journalism is "preferred, but not imperative."
TNR used to advertise that its internships "are full-time, unpaid, and based in the DC office," but that language was removed soon after the magazine became aware of this story. Spokesperson Annie Augustine told me that despite the change in language, "there has not been a change in policy." However, she added that "interns are given the option to work flexible hours so they can take part-time jobs."
Chris Hughes, awash in Facebook millions, exploits unpaid laborers even as his magazine continues to advocate for job-killing wage hikes. And Hughes isn't alone in this crusade: His hubby, Sean Eldridge, is trying to gin up support for his effort to buy win a seat in Congress by encouraging folks to urge Congress to increase the minimum wage. In a plea for funds sent out just this morning, Eldridge decried the fact that, "For more than four years, the minimum wage has been frozen at $7.25. A family with two children that earns minimum wage lives below the poverty line. That’s unacceptable." Emphasis in the original because it's super-duper-unacceptable, you guys. Is there an "unlike" button I can click to show my displeasure? Where's my frownie emoji?
It's unclear if Eldridge thinks Hughes should pay his interns the minimum wage. I'm guessing that, since Eldridge is relying on Hughes' Facebook fortune to buy win his seat, he won't make a big deal out of it.
It's worth noting that, contra Eldridge's plaintive missive, virtually none of the benefits of a minimum wage increase would go to people living in poverty:
A report issued by the American Action Forum found that congressional proposals to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour would affect "only 7.8 percent of all hourly-paid workers in poverty [who] earn at or below the minimum wage."
The greatest beneficiary could be teenagers living with their parents, who make up about 37 percent of minimum wage workers. Many of these minimum wage earners come from privileged backgrounds.
The Earned Income Tax Credit is way, way better at targeting poverty. But that's harder to explain to people than "We should raise this wage!" And why bother with things like "facts" and "figures" when you can make nakedly emotional appeals with which to attack your political enemies?