I would contend that $10.10 will NOT hire better employees. It’s still not worth it for someone to get off entitlements. The same “quality” of people will be applying.
Now that it’s $10.10 minimum (and as we all know, most fast food etc pays that now) $11-$12 p/h will have to be offered. I would further argue that 4 workers are already doing the work of 5 based on the PERCEPTION that they’re doing the work of 5.
The work ethic of a Father of 4 would be much higher then what they have to hire now. And that Father likely has a better paying job as it is. Fast food restaurants have their kitchens down to a science and I doubt they can streamline any more then they already do.
What I notice when I walk into a McD's (etc) is that they have to pay someone to stare at their employees every minute and do the work for them if you do something "confusing" like order a McChicken without a roll. They don't seem to have any employees that stay very long, so training must be a constant expense.
Republicans want to appeal to the mainstream? Go out there and campaign for the higher minimum wage with the caveat that jobs have to go to qualified and competent US citizens before foreigners, legal or illegal are even considered for the job.
The other part of your concern....too many freebies. Well, yeah. Part of turning things around is ending being unemployed as a comfortable life choice.