The Southeast Missourian asked people what they thought about the November ballot issue that would raise the minimum wage by $2 in Missouri to $6.25 an hour in 1997, and to $6.75 two years later.

Elainna Froemsdorf: "I'm going to vote against it. When we raise minimum wage, then the price of everything else would rise. That is too much to raise it. Maybe a smaller increase would be better."

Nelson King: "I think they need to raise it, because it is too low. School kids who are working for that need all the help they can get. Prices would go up some, but not too much."

Janie Stout: "I can see both sides of the issue. I feel sorry for those working for four-something an hour, but I don't really know if that's the solution by raising the minimum wage."

Michele Parbury: "I hate to see people trying to support a family that have to work minimum-wage jobs. Maybe a smaller increase would be good, but a $2 increase would be a lot for an entry-level job."

Mark Statler: "I think that's too much of an increase. Maybe a dollar increase would be better. It should be a little at a time so everyone can adjust to it."