And besides, what business is it of the government's to interfere in a transaction between employer and employee? If they agree on a certain wage, why should the government be able to say no? The purpose of government,after all, is to secure our rights.
As has always been the case, the REAL minimum wage is $0. If a prospective employee does not add a marginal value to the company that is at least equal to the cost of hiring that employee, a rationally managed company will simply not hire that worker, and he will earn the real minimum wage. Simple economics, but the left just doesn’t understand it.
I had actual experience managing a business and can tell you that absolutely, raising the minimum wage equals lost jobs. Only an idiot is unable to comprehend that increased wages can only be made up in two ways, raising prices and cutting scheduled hours. Employers will not take a pay cut so they balance increased prices with reduced labor in the effort to maintain profit.