Well, I'm no rich guy (even by Democrat standards), but I couldn't look myself in the mirror each morning if I didn't pay the interns that work for me. In fact, the first lesson I think any intern should learn is "my time has value".
When the initiative to pay them is on YOUR side, that’s grand.
Anyhow, people will quit interning if the process becomes so taxing that they cannot see an overall gain from it. As long as the gummit keeps its grubby little fingers out of the picture.
I agree with how you feel. Though, as a lifelong learner, I’ll take someone willing to teach me without cost over paying to learn anyday. I think the government has no business making these lives miserable (and it will), but then again, I don’t agree with most government regulation, because it generally harms those it’s supposed to help. minimum wage increases, and those under 25 have about a 50% unemployment rate (IIRC). Government intervention seldom... if ever...helps.