On July 31 Gov. Schwarzenegger signed his executive order that reduced the salaries of state workers to federal minimum wage and left thousands of student assistants without a job. This action was viewed as a political move by the governor to force the hands of the state legislature to sign the overdue budget.

When we think of California’s financial problems, the first image that comes to mind is of screaming state workers in their purple union T-shirts storming the steps of the Capitol. Of course the thought of making only $6.55 an hour is unthinkable to anyone living in high-priced California.

The truth to the federal minimum wage scare is that no state workers are actually in danger of not receiving their full-paychecks. The Golden 1 Credit Union and many other financial institutions offer no interest loans to cover the difference in pay until the budget is passed. So what is all the fuss about?

I would have taken that option over what really happened to many student assistants, including myself, on the day the executive order was signed. Ten minutes before my scheduled time to leave, I was told not to come in to work the next day. With the budget still unsigned that one day has turned into weeks with no foreseeable end in sight.

Politicians claim to have the interest of the middle class at heart. Tuition was raised this semester and now they take our jobs. I guess college students are not an important enough segment of the population.

Or maybe we are just not loud enough. We could learn something from those annoying state workers in their matching T-shirts. Who knew all you need is a bulk order of colorful shirts and a silkscreen? Is that all it takes to get the state government to do what is right for us and our futures?

Crystal Kirk can be reached at [email protected]