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In reply to the discussion: Centrist Democrats raise concerns over $15 minimum wage push [View all]paleotn
(18,120 posts)The majority of small businesses sell retail and their incremental labor costs are much lower than overhead and material costs...well, unless their a sewing sweat shop. And gee, when people have more money in their pockets...you know, those who actually spend most of their earnings...they're able to buy quality products from those same small businesses. In many cases they're able to actually shop at small businesses to begin with verses being locked into the depressed prices at massive discount chains. You know, those same massive companies who's labor costs are subsidized by government assistance, while a the same time employing armies of tax lawyers and accountants to avoid actually paying taxes to support said public assistance. It's small businesses who can't afford tax shelters and avoidance schemes who are paying for Walmart's labor subsidization.
Beyond the economics, which I can argue all week....it's simply the moral thing to do. We all benefit in ways that can't be enumerated by all of us being able to earn enough to care for ourselves and our families in a decent manner. Just the psychological benefits are enormous. One of the most significant drivers behind the opioid epidemic are people who've lost hope since they can't find a way out of wage slavery and reliance on public assistance.