The original question was: Should minimum wage be: Higher? Lower? None?
My Comments:
1) Raising minimum wage will help the individual in the short term.
2) Raising minimum wage will have future, long-term effects on the country.
3) Companies, much smaller than Wal-Mart, purchase products, supplies, etc from foreign countries because it's cheaper (and often lower quality).
4) When products are cheaper to buy from foreign countries, it eliminates American jobs.
5) When American jobs are eliminated we end up with part of a work force that is not working and receive government subsidies to exist (i.e., food-stamps, welfare, unemployment, health care, housing assistance, etc..). I read a report (April 2014) that stated that Wal-Mart employees cost the American tax payer $6.2 Billion per year in govt subsidies.
6) At some point, whole industries leave America and manufacturing industry shifts to foreign countries.
Almost 6 million manufacturing jobs have left the United States in the last 15 years. What Is Going On??? | The Alliance of Americans for America
In 1970, 17.8 Million manufacturing jobs were available for men and women who wanted to work hard and enjoy productive, comfortable lives. Now we have only 12 million manufacturing jobs left in this country, 6 Million lost since 2000.
7) With less and less manufacturing jobs in America, what jobs are the illegal and legal immigrants taking? Construction, house keeping, gardening, agriculture, food service, etc...
8) With more & more illegal immigration, the playing field is not level. Just as importing merchandise is cheaper, so is hiring illegal labor. As we raise minimum wage, employers look for ways to lower costs (which can include using cheaper illegal wages, importing cheaper foreign merchandise, replacing humans with machines, etc...)