[for-q-clinton]

So the high school kids across the country get a big raise so they can afford to party more on weekends, but the men raising families in America Somoa don't get a raise so they can put milk on the table.

Surely this must be a mistake. The democRATs would never do such a thing.

[billhilly]

"So the high school kids across the country get a big raise so they can afford to party more on weekends, but the men raising families in America Somoa don't get a raise so they can put milk on the table."

That is an excellent summary of the minimum wage.

[raftguide]

"Surely this must be a mistake. The democRATs would never do such a thing."

Nancy's office stated that the exemption of America Somoa from the minimum rate hike had nothing to do with any contact between the speaker's office and Star Kist. There is no scandal. End of story. There's nothing here to see folks.

[Wuli]

"So the high school kids across the country get a big raise so they can afford to party more on weekends"

No, high-school-age unemployment always goes up initially when the minimum wage is raised. When employers have to pay more anyway, they would prefer to deal with single women high-school graduates, who are more flexible with what hours they can work than high-school students, so they quit hiering as many high school students.

Minimum wage laws always hurt the lowest eligible people entering "minimum wage" jobs. Just like "union wages" under union contracts protect the higher wage of the union worker, they also prevent or make more difficult, the hiring of workers willing and financially able to work for less.

Minimum wage laws and union contracts shield incumbant workers from labor-market forces at the expense of the unemployed and the under-employed.©wuli 2007