Reply #137: Agreed - and we should offer them additional direct support

[Psephos]

The minimum wage raise is highly inefficient, because although it does increase the cash in the pockets of those who have a job, it keeps many thousands of others unemployed who would have had a job.

The demographics of the low-wage labor force are highly heterogeneous. The majority of those working minimum wage are not trying to support a household on a single minimum wage income. Why not target those who *are* trying to support themselves or dependents with additional assistance? (They already get assistance, by the way - food stamps, medicaid, EITC, etc.). We could ramp that support up without adding to already-nightmarish unemployment.

Why use a two-by-four when you can use a scalpel? If we don't run this economy better, there are going to be serious problems on voting day. Serious.