[Superman]

I have been dealing with employers and their associations and think tanks and attorneys for so many years that even when these arguments are presented in a seemingly objective (yeah, right) fashion, I have a hard time staying awake. Both research and common sense dictate, in crystal clear fashion, that the price of a hamburger is not going to rise by a dollar because of a minimum wage hike. Or even twenty cents. This assertion that resulting inflation will nullify these workers' wage gains......is embarrassing for you guys. I don't even like to see YOU guys make such obvious fools of yourselves.

When I said that economics is not for folks who draw simple conclusions quickly, I meant it. Many economicsts, and perhaps the majority, would argue that the price of hamburgers would FALL. Frankly, it is curious that business owners might decry price increases in the first place. Increases in business volume also increast profits. But again, if more low wage earners had financial access to outside dining (if more poor folks could afford hamburgers.....remember that a full time minimum wage worker earns $900/mo before taxes), then sales volume would increase as would profits. And the price of a hamburger would have more pressure downward than upward.

Economics, and many of the more important lessons in life, are counterintuitive. The folks who think they can guess at the economic impact of a wage adjustment.....should be careful around people who actually understand economics.