$7.00 Minimum Wage????

[Lunar]

California is at $6.75 and our economy is just fine.

[Lunar]

The minimum wage elminates competition for work and hurts starting businesses, and increases cost to the consumer because that money is going to come from somewhere.  

That money goes somewhere too.   The worker who recieves the extra money spends it at a store, and the people who work at that store recieve it and then spend it again.

[Lunar]

And the workers who are fired because the employer can't afford to pay all his employees this new higher wage aren't getting any money.

As long as it's kept within reason, no one will be fired.  In addition, the slight raise will allow other companies to expand and hire new workers as Mr. Smith buys their products with it.  It goes in a circle, they pay more but they also get more in return.

I disagree with such a huge leap in minimum wage, but I do think it should be raised to deal with inflation and make sure everyone has enough money to eat 3 meals a day comfortably rather than barely enough to survive (the natural minimum wage).

[Lunar]

I don't think any politician actually wants to stop poor people from making money.  Most politicians love raising the minimum raise because it's a cheap way to brag that you've done something for your constituents.

Precisely the reason why the minimum raise isn't indexed to inflation.  How can you claim credit for something every couple years if it's automatic?

[Lunar]

He refuses to cite facts because "Republicans don't either."  Good luck.

[Lunar]

Most manufacturing jobs already pay more than $7.00 per hour but raising the minimum wage will probably drive all wages up accordingly. Thanks to NAFTA and GATT american companies have to compete with 2 buck an hour labor in Mexico and buck an hour labor in China. How will raising the wage make us more competitive?

Aren't libertarians radically in favor of free trade?