[alternatives?]

$3 or $5 is not important. Relative wages are declining particularly at the middle level and below. Corporations are trying to reduce labor costs. Where I work they are farming out a greater portion of the spreadsheet work (which requires a much higher skill set than the average worker) to offshore because labor costs are 1/3 of what they are here. Many of the trade workers pay is down as well. I deal with groups of physicians and they complain their compensation is down. With the reduced income workers (or former workers) won’t have the income to purchase the products for companies like Carrier. It is a vicious cycle where each company in turn cuts wages which reduces the available market for not only their own products but other products.

Not sure where the end is but having an increasing portion of the workforce not working creates social stresses.

Henry Ford increased pay for his workers partially because he recognized that he needed a market for his cars.

[11th Commandment]

You are correct to note that companies strive to reduce costs while increasing value to its customer. I have no disagreement and people can argue about the ethics or morality of labor economics. However, what your response shows, is that companies try many cost savings well ahead of moving production oversees. But the other part is driving value to customers. I just received a webinar invitation and the subject is how Dr Pepper relocated back to the back office operations it outsourced oversees. How, by driving better value from the US (using tools I am sure they will plug in the webinar).