Letter's comments similar to Communist Manifesto

I was puzzled by the letter to the editor (Dec. 17, 2006, Daily Bee) by Virginia L. Withall. I studied the letter, trying to place where I had heard these sentiments before.

"Many manufacturing and corporate businesses relocate to Bonner County because they have been told it is an area that historically pays low wages to workers and nothing is done about it." She failed to mention that any of us whom are dissatisfied with the prevailing low unemployment and rising pay, can easily move to any area of our choice. Even the slowest of us can manage that decision.

That most important factor aside, I believe Virginia to be a sincerely honest and caring individual, so I'm assuming that she has immediately solicited investors to buy into a new socially ground breaking business whose primary purpose is to pay "a living wage," forgetting about those ugly old capitalist profits.

Virginia will, of course, decide what "a living wage" is, not the free labor market. She said, "A couple with two children needs a combined income of $29 per hour to afford shelter, food, clothing and transportation. I wonder if these factor were considered before the decision to get married and have two children. I'll ignore the quote about "needs to attract more honest, decent and forthright employers …"

I wondered where this preoccupation with "needs" was coming from. Try Karl Marx and The Communist Manifesto, "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. Karl Marx would love you, Virginia and I love a businesswoman who is willing to put her money where her mouth is.

DALE D. ROBERTSON

Laclede