Wacky Wednesday--Minimum Wage Increases Are Good

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~We outlawed slavery over a hundred years ago, but working for minimum wage is practically the same thing.
~No one can make a living or raise a family working in a minimum wage job.
~Paying anyone so little is just a way of exploiting their inability to command a higher wage.
~Stimulates growth by raising the purchasing power of workers.
~Stimulates economic growth by requiring development of technology rather than labor-intensive jobs.
~If the price of something is artificially low because of unfair wage rates, then we should be forced to pay more for it anyhow.
~With the wealthy in America always becoming more wealthy, how can we look at a guy earning minimum wage and seriously tell him this is a land of fair opportunity?
~“In the United States of America, we should not have anybody working full time and living in poverty.” Sen. John Edwards
~“I believe that anyone who works 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, should not live in poverty in the richest country in the world.” Sen. Ted Kennedy
~Encourages those who would take low paying jobs to stay in school and develop their earning potential.
~“A job should keep you out of poverty, not keep you poor.” Paul Sherry Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign in Cleveland

Bible Resources: Gen 2:5, Gen 2:15, Gen 3:19, Exodus 20:9-11, Deut 24:14-15, Matt 10:8-10, Matt 20:1-16, Luke 3:13-14, Acts 18:1-3, 1 Cor 9:4-14, Gal 6:6, Eph 4:28, 1 Thess 2:9, 2 Thess 3:7-15, 1 Tim 5:8, James 5:4

Links:
MW Q&A (Dept of Labor)
History of MW (Dept of Labor)
MW in the 50 states (Dept of Labor)
MW (Wikipedia)
MW resources (Economic Policy Institute)
MW and fairness (Mackinac Center for Pub Pol)
Raise MW to minimize opportunity (Heritage Fdn)
MW, max folly part 1, part 2 (Walter Williams)
MW, keeping prosperity away (Vision and Values)