With the new minimum wage increase almost guaranteed to pass, there are many people in America who feel as though this a victory for everyone.  Liberals, especially, believe that this is a great change.  The problem is that minimum wage increases hurt more people than they help.  In fact, only 4% of America’s workers are even affected by this increase, according to this article at Yahoo News.  So where is the victory?  Well, for one thing, this pay raise will help some of America’s lowest paid employees pay for their groceries, which is definitely a good thing.  Less people on welfare benefits us all, especially when tax time comes around. 

Unfortunately, the cost is high.  A minimum wage increase will also increase the prices of some goods and services, specifically those that are produced and performed by these low paid workers.  Since the owners lose profits when they pay employees more, they will compensate.  It is simple economics.  This forces all of us to pay a higher price.  By far the dumbest thing I have ever heard is this statement by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), “This is a great day for America’s middle class.  America’s workers have been waiting for a raise for too long.”   First of all, did he not realize the above figure of the 4% of workers that are currently making below the new $7.25 minimum wage?  Second of all, how does that help the middle class?  Are America’s lowest paid workers members of the middle class?   Somehow, I can’t see how helping the poorest members of work force benfits the middle class.  In fact, most middle class citizens are entrepreneurs who own or run their own business.  These are often the businesses that EMPLOY these low paid workers that are affected by the raise.  Technically, you are taking money from the middle class, not creating a “great day” for them. 

Even more ridiculous is the fact that most of the lowest paid workers are illegal aliens that have crossed the Mexican border.  These workers are not factored into the pay statistics.  In fact, this won’t help them because they can’t report the illegally low wages because they themselves are illegal.  So really, how is this minimum wage increase a true accomplishment.  Sadly, most of the people making below $7.25 are college students like me, who are just working part time jobs to spend the money on weekends.  Sometimes people don’t think things through before they react to an issue.

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