I know this discussion has been going for around for a while here. Personally, I just thing a $15 national min wage may be a popular slogan, but it would be a pretty terrible policy.
Half the country already live in states that have min wages well over $10. I think ours is $11 in VA, but I don't know any companies paying less than $14 or $15, and most lower level jobs are advertised at $18 or so and still have trouble finding people.
After spending last week in the San Francisco area, I can't imagine living there for less than $30 an hour. We went for breakfast here at at a nice restaurant before we left and paid $30 for the 2 of us including taxes. Went to a diner type place in San Fran and $59 for nearly the same meal. Throw in $7 gas, and the living wage in that area is so much higher than here.
In VA, a living wage would likely be almost double someone in Alabama or Idaho that have $7.25 min wages.
A $15 min wage would be inconsequential in half the country, and be a huge burden for the economy in other parts. It's just really hard to see how a single number across the country makes any sense at all. Perhaps if Bernie good put together a proposal that made sense across the country, then it could start getting a little more traction.
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