The papers this morning say that 21 states have now raised their minimum hourly wage to a level above the federally mandated $7.25. This campaign, they say, will be the Democrats rallying cry during the 2014 mid-term congressional elections.
Republicans say there's no way businesses can justify hiring more people and pay skilled labor wages to workers who can do little more than sweep floors or flip burgers. Raising the minimum wage will be a job killer.
Democrats say they're concerned about the disproportionate spread of low-wage jobs, creating millions of financially strained workers and putting too little money in consumers' pockets to spur faster economic growth.
No doubt, there are millions of minimum wage workers who would like to buy more "stuff" for their families, but can't afford to. With higher pay they could, which would spur more production, AND HIRING.
Chicken....or egg?
Democrats seem to have the momentum here. Polls show 70% of "moderate" voters, 64% of Independent voters, and even 57% of Republicans agree with the idea of raising the minimum wage.
Looks to me like the Republicans better get on board. An increase of $1-$2 probably wouldn't sink the ship. That $15 an hour wage that Walmart workers (among others) are demanding likely will.
Remember the old "This is your brain...this is your brain on drugs" ad from the '70's? Maybe they need to update that:
This could be your life.
This will be your life with no skills.
S
