Opinion: Good Intentions and Pricey Burgers

Letter writer argues raising minimum wage too high can backfire on low-income customers

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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In a letter to the editor, Arthur Saginian responds to a previous letter about rising McDonald's prices pushing away low-income customers. Saginian argues that raising the minimum wage too high, even with good intentions, can have unintended consequences and end up hurting the very people it's meant to help.

Why it matters

This opinion piece touches on the ongoing debate around minimum wage increases and their potential impact on low-income consumers. It highlights how well-intentioned policies can sometimes lead to unintended outcomes that end up disadvantaging the very people they aim to assist.

The details

Saginian's letter is a response to a previous letter by Lois Eisenberg, who criticized rising McDonald's prices for pushing away low-income customers. Saginian argues that raising the minimum wage to the point where a teenager's part-time hourly wage resembles a college graduate's full-time starting salary is not helpful, and that this is an example of 'the road to hell being paved with good intentions'.

  • The original letter by Lois Eisenberg was published on December 9.

The players

Lois Eisenberg

The author of a previous letter criticizing rising McDonald's prices for pushing away low-income customers.

Arthur Saginian

The author of this opinion letter responding to Eisenberg's previous letter.

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What they’re saying

“The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.”

— Lois Eisenberg (signalscv.com)

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

— Arthur Saginian (signalscv.com)

The takeaway

This opinion piece highlights the complex and sometimes counterintuitive effects that well-intentioned policies can have on low-income consumers. It suggests that simplistic solutions like raising the minimum wage may not always achieve the desired outcomes and that policymakers need to carefully consider the broader implications of such measures.