[DugwayDuke]

“If workers are going to get a wage they can survive on, there has to be public education involved. Younger generations don’t demand “made in the USA”. Except for discount store merchandise, low wages aren’t causing the merchandise to cost less. It’s endorsers, corporate profit, and transportation sources that get the savings.”

Raising wages will certainly require raising prices. Rising prices will result in less demand and a lower standard of living.

The economic impacts of raising the minimum wage is very similar to the impacts of imposing tariffs on imports.

[central_va]

Raising wages will certainly require raising prices. Rising prices will result in less demand and a lower standard of living.

Having a job raises your standard of living. More tariffs, less income taxes.

[grania]

I disagree. Low-income folks making $12 and hour ($15 is too much of a jolt) will spend the money as quickly as they earn it. Most of that spending will be local. As far as merchandise is concerned, folks will have to buy less, which is better if what they're buying is made in the USA. Maybe they'll decide (gasp) that they'll have to get sneakers without LeBron's name on them or get a minimal cell phone plan. Free antenna TV is not the end of the world. Perhaps if technology, clothes, furniture (etc) cost more, folks will make what they have last longer.

A system where a full-time, fully trained worker cannot bring home enough money to survive on is what's not sustainable.