2009:
"I hear that Washington State's minimum wage is now $8.50 or more an hour. How can you justify paying someone to flip burgers or wash dishes for that kind of money? No wonder we are raising a generation of spoiled, unmotivated workers who feel they are entitled to a way of life they refuse to work for. If the wage rate keeps climbing, where do you suppose Burger King is going to make cost cuts to keep their cheeseburgers below a dollar a piece?"

In 1974, people (those that were making more than minimum wage) said the same thing when California raised the minimum wage from $1.65 to $2.00. California survived the calamity.

7-24-07
"Today, and every summer through 2009, the federal minimum wage will increase $0.70 an hour. For those working full time at the federal minim wage, the increase to $5.85 an hour will mean an extra $1,400 over the previous rate. This 14% raise is pretty significant, but it still keeps the minimum wage earner who provides for a family of three in poverty. If minimum wage increases kept pace with inflation since 1970, the minimum wage today would be $8.77. If it tracked inflation since 1956, the wage would be $7.27. Interestingly, the minimum wage would be $3.39 if 1938’s rate of $0.25 was adjusted for inflation." http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/07/24/federal-minimum-wage-will-increase-today/

The trickle-down effect of poor decisions by people in power (not just government) affects the low-wage-earner more than the higher wage-earner.

Sue