Listen to Dori Monson weekdays on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM
 Dori Monson


obamasotu.jpg
Dori says President Obama is wrong to propose an increase in the minimum wage. (AP image)

Dori: Don't raise minimum wage and stop having kids

BY Josh Kerns  on February 15, 2013 @ 2:23 pm (Updated: 2:57 pm - 2/15/13 )

President Obama's call for an increase in the minimum wage during this week's State of the Union address continues to draw plenty of criticism. And it should come as no surprise Dori is one of those blasting the proposal.

"The whole point is you start learning the work ethic and then you work your way into being more marketable so you can command more money from your employers," says Dori, who had more than his fair share of minimum wage jobs growing up on the mean streets of Ballard, and sometimes worked for even less.

"When it was $2.50 I went to a little grocery store in Ballard and asked for job. I got $2.00 hour," Dori says. "I needed a job and I said 'yeah sure, I'll do that.' Because it was worth it to me," he says.

Dori is incredulous President Obama claims the minimum wage needs to go up to $9 per hour because a family with two children lives below the poverty line, mainly because he's vehement people making minimum wage shouldn't be having kids in the first place.

Comedian and talk show host Adam Carolla couldn't agree more. On his podcast this week, Carolla blasted Obama's proposal

"The best parenting of all is not (expletive)ing out the kids when you can't afford the kids," Carolla said. "Again, all these speeches that all these politicians make, right and left — they discuss the problem. Basically, what they're discussing is how to take a ship that's capsized and drain it and get it back up. But they never discuss what capsizes the ship, which is the only fucking discussion they should be having — is ballast-oriented: How did it get capsized? Not how do we un-capsize it."

Carolla echoed Dori's sentiment the low wage jobs are meant as starters that are supposed to propel people to better skills and wages, then they can have kids.

"The idea is — I worked at McDonald's when I was 16. The whole idea isn't let's make Adam Carolla comfortable working at McDonald's. I was like, ‘I'm getting $2.43 a hour. This place sucks (expletive.) I want out of here as fast as I can possibly do it.'"

Both Carolla and Dori call the minimum wage nothing more than "gold plated handcuffs."

"Giving someone who has no skills an extra two bucks an hour, it makes them absolutely beholden to that politician. It's financial handcuffs on poor people," Dori says.

What do you think?

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
More Dori Monson

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (30)


  • Add A Comment

  • fartforce1 wrote...
    People who cant afford kids should not have kids - and down with planned parenthood.
    February 16, 2013 4:48 pm
    Cant have it both ways.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Dori says, - " I worked for less than minimum wage!"
    February 16, 2013 4:52 pm
    Dory last week on the radio - "I dont mind telling people that I made $34000 last year. Dori also has a but load of kids. Well, looks like you are still making less than you should Dori! Some things never change.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    I dont mean to be a Dic Dori, but you have mad skills on the radio, you are vastly underpaid .
    February 16, 2013 6:53 pm
    I remember that you took a pay cut to help out the station when the economy collapsed, and you are a cornerstone for KIRO. That company should coin up to pay what you are worth to them, at least double your pay. Imagine what a stink hole ti would be without you, even though you are wrong on 55% of the topics because you are a total scum bag back washing republican hypocritical along party lines - you really are getting ripped off and taken advantage of by KIRO. You should be making 75K not under 40K.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • diamondmask wrote...
    Oh Boy
    February 17, 2013 11:30 am
    Will we get to hear Dori talking about how he started working when he was 3 for a penny a week so he could buy his own diapers? We get it Dori. You have the most American Work Ethic that has ever been had. You are whom all others are judged by. "Yeah, well, Dori Monson used to scrape the hulls of ocean liners with his fingernails to clean them for painting for $2 a month because it was worth it to him!"
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpitantso wrote...
    Tip good pay good
    February 19, 2013 1:37 pm
    By keeping labor that does pay the bills feed one self or family what you get is cutting cornors,cheating, dishonor,reality tv showing a fake spoiled world to people who have no hope, Dori's right to think for others who want to roll back womens rights, then tell people not to create life.Adam Carolla can afford $400,000 toys and could care lee if he ever made a dime of a poor chap, who though he was funny and saved a paycheck or two to see his show. What greed from a off mic anus
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cuba_pete wrote...
    Better Yet...
    February 21, 2013 8:07 am
    Don't eat out so you don't need to tip (you can't afford it anyway), don't eat fast food (it'll kill you in the end), don't pay people for menial tasks (do it yourself), etc. If poor people want to complain about the small paychecks which they receive then don't become poor. Make good choices, get a good education, and stop being selfish with the public's money. Life is not an instantaneous event..you have to work at it. I have paid into Social Security for over 30 years (and continue to) and now make too much money to ever collect it. Hey! Poor people! Stop spending my money on stupid decisions!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }