No politician ever says, “Workers must independently improve their basic skills.” Why? The message of higher wages to this minor group of voters garners favor with a major group of voters. He will serve the former after elected by the latter.

A couple of my business maxims were:
“More money doesn’t make your employees better, more money gets you better employees.”
The other, “I don’t want to hire the unemployed, I want to hire the underpaid.”

Too true to be funny:
Employer to prospective employee, “Come work for a week and I’ll pay you what you’re worth.” Reply, “Screw that, I’m making more now!”
Employer to prospective employee, “What is your trade?” “Well, I don’t have one but I can learn to do anything.” “In that case I think you need to find a field less competitive.”