The truth for most SBO's is that the bulk of their workforce is unskilled labor or entry level labor. Perhaps you have a janitor?

You seem to be sincere at your arguments so I am not trying to mock or be sarcastic. But your experience with wage level is not in the same arena as someone who is employing people at a Subway or McD's.

I think both of us can agree that business owners should be generous, and pay as much as the market can bear to reward employees for their contribution to the success they are having. That is neither a right or left viewpoint. It is just common decency.

The argument is how those wage levels get determined. Is their wage coming from a government mandate that eliminates the employer's ability to be generous or from the employer themselves.

It takes every person in a business to have success. I am motivated to help my employer succeed because he is the one who is paying me, and decides how much I earn. The more we succeed the more I expect to be paid. If my employer doesn't comply then I am free to go somewhere else and work for another employer.

The flip side of that is what is so detrimental to the economy. If my pay comes from a decision made by the government then I have no incentive to see the company succeed except the fear of losing my job if they go out of business. If we are moderately successful why try any harder. My focus should be getting people elected who will force my employer to give me a raise, not trying to help my employer be more successful.

If you google Seattle minimum wage you get as many negative reviews and positive ones. The fact that the minimum wage has only increased to $11+ is a significant piece of information. When it is $15 for a year or two then google that issue and I think we can both agree the negatives will outweigh the positives.

Someone running a law practice might not feel the negatives but someone trying to keep a family owned fast food place open certainly will.