Charles Koch’s plan to fix the economy: Destroy minimum wage and ‘addictive’ welfare

By Travis Gettys
Monday, August 11, 2014 12:52 EDT

The chairman and CEO of Koch Industries outlined his economic plan with an opinion piece published Monday by USA Today, where he expressed deep concern over chronic underemployment and diminished opportunities for younger or disadvantaged workers.

“The effects of underemployment are not just economic, they are also social and psychological,” Koch said. “Real work is an important part of how we define ourselves. Meaningful work benefits both us and others. Those who lack real jobs often end up depressed, addicted or aggressive.”

Koch argued that welfare benefits provided “addictive disincentives” to work, citing a recent Cato Institute study that found low-income assistance paid more than a minimum wage job in 35 states, and he claimed Obamacare encouraged business owners to hire part-time workers instead of full-time employees.