Reader says, be a sole proprietor

Recently the Northwest Herald published my Letter to the Editor, in which I expressed dislike for the proposed law to increase the minimum wage in Illinois to over $10.00/hour.

Northwest Herald reader Joe Alfe, of McHenry, has his rebuttal published this morning. He suggested that I "just become a sole proprietor. Then you can happily pay yourself as little as you wish."

Thank you, Joe. With rare exceptions in the 47+ years I've been working, I have been self-employed or a commission salesman.

I'd guess you have never been a sole proprietor. If you had been, you'd know the long hours that most sole proprietors work. Work starts before 8AM; work doesn't stop at 5PM. There is no such thing as a lunch "hour". There are no coffee breaks. No paid vacations. No expense account. No employer-paid health insurance or retirement plan. Sometimes, no health insurance or retirement plan contributions at all. No year with 11-12-15 paid holidays. Open for business on all holidays, except New Year's Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Cough up an extra 7.65% of net business income for Social Security/Medicare.

But there is freedom... something most employees don't experience. And there is one more advantage. The sole proprietor is the last one to get laid off!