I watched both videos. Re Fox: I’d be ready to buy arguments for lowering minimum wage if they were backed up by data from real economists BUT what about all the federal money that went to corporate executives in the bail-outs? What about super-salaries that these CEOs give themselves? THAT’s where the company savings should begin, NOT with lowering a minimum wage that doesn’t cover the cost of living for an honest 40-hr-wk worker!

The other video (top one) tore my heart, Mary Ann. Texas A&M alone would make me homesick for the Lone Star State. But listening to “Amanda”, “Manuel” & Diego” tell their stories was what grabbed me. It was like hearing again the dear folks I rubbed elbows with in San Antonio. I didn’t need the translations at bottom of screen, of course, to understand these three. In fact, I longed to be able to reach thru the screen somehow & give each one un abrazo de entendimiento y sosidaridad (an understanding hug of solidarity). When I lived in Texas, thru books read for a book club & other reading I was quite familiar with the Anglo stereotype of chicanos as “lazy” and “shiftless” and knew from personal acquaintance with some of them and the writings of others, how untrue the stereotype is!

Those who do the “menial” jobs (janitorial, housekeeping, service, etc.) tend to be the hardest workers. And the most appropriate recognition for such hard work is not a plaque for “employee of the year” like Manuel received, but rather a pay raise! You used to see the yearning for a pay raise as a repeated theme in the comic strips. Not any longer. Do you suppose the uber-rich have managed to silence (i.e, censor) the cartoonists?