Minimum Wage/Talk

Arguments for/against a Minimum Wage increase:

For:

• It helps people that make the least money. -- How ?
• It helps union workers because many union contracts are based on a fixed percentage/dollar amount over minimum wage. Indirectly helps union funds used for to pay union officials, retirement plans, and for lobbying political issues (such as an increase in the minimum wage) because union dues are a percentage of the hourly wage.

Against:

• It increases the cost of basic goods and services in proportion to the increase in labor costs from an increase in the minimum wage. It is claimed to offset any increase minimum wage workers receive.
• Minimum wage workers usually earn minimum wage only for a short period of time and move to higher paying jobs.
• Many minimum wage jobs are performed by part time workers and students.
• It harms the people who make the least money -- a minimum wage law doesn't create any jobs, it simply outlaws some jobs (those which create little value).

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There have to be some real reasons to be for or against an increase in the minimum wage. Not some generic 'it helps the little guy' or some generic 'it costs jobs'

Can anyone list all off the things that are directly tied to the minimum wage level?

• [Social Security]? taxes paid (6.25 percent paid by wage earner and 6.25 percent paid by employer)
• Medicare? taxes paid (1.2 percent paid by wage earner and 1.2 percent paid by employer)
• Union contracts based on a fixed percentage/dollar amount over minimum wage
• Unemployment taxes ??
• Worker's compensation insurance ??