15 into 14; it won't go

If it is true, as was said in the Chamber of Deputies at the time of the French Revolution, that more evil has been done by poor logicians than by evil men intentionally, Seattle might soon see the unskilled labor market become a black market thanks to some with less than rigorous logic skills;

Studies by the Economic Policy Institute show that a $15 minimum wage would directly affect workers and indirectly benefit an additional the public in general. That’s a lot of people, the majority of the workforce and their families who would be more able to buy cars, clothing and food from our nation’s businesses.

• An objection to a significant wage increase is that it would force employers to shed workers. Yet the evidence points the other way: Workers earn more and spend more, increasing demand and helping businesses grow.

• Critics of raising the minimum wage also say it will lead to more outsourcing and job loss. Yet virtually all of these low-wage jobs are service jobs that can neither be outsourced nor automated.

• Raising the earnings of all American workers would provide all businesses with more customers with more to spend.  Seeing the as Henry Ford did would redirect our country toward a high-growth future that works for all. 

Of course workers can only earn more, and then spend more, if they can first get jobs. Workers who cannot produce $15 in value--as consumers see it--won't have jobs at all, and their incomes will drop to zero (unless they work off the books).

Also, service jobs CAN be outsourced and automated. Anyone seen an elevator operator lately, or noticed the self-check out lanes at Safeway?

Henry Ford was only able to raise his workers wages because he found ways to raise their productivity first, to a level that could support those wages. He wasn't forced to do it by legislation, but by his own self-interest; he wanted the most productive workers working for him, not his competitors. The market, operating without interference, produced those high wages.

What is truly hilarious--if we ignore the potential human tragedies should 15in2014 get its way--is that for support, Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center is cited. Apparently ignoring that institute's motto; Improving lives through market solutions.