It’s really easy for all of you at the Tribune who make $75,000 and up to pontificate about all of the bad side effects that raising the minimum wage will bring.
All I know as a non-economist is that the millions and millions of people working for $5.15 an hour will suddenly get a 20 percent to 30 percent raise, which will have a profound effect on their lives.
Raising the minimum wage to $7 or higher will also drive up the wages of all those making $5.50 to $8 an hour right now.
I, for one, would be happy to pay higher prices when I eat out or when I shop at Wal-Mart if it means that these struggling souls will have it a bit easier.
And what about the morality of arguing that businesses should be free to pay people far less than a living wage?
No one can feed, house and clothe a family of three or four on $5.15 an hour.
