Few issues of economy get on my nerves as much as the notion of "minimum wage" (or, more politically correct, a "living wage"). In Tennessee, the legislature is working to pass an increase in the minimum wage. I know it's not popular to oppose such a measure, but I do. First, while government can make labor more expensive, it cannot make it more valuable. The cost of employing people to do certain jobs will rise, but it will not worth more. This is inflation. Secondly, why to proponents of this micromangement insist on working so incrementally? If a $1 increase is good, surely a $35 dollar increase is better. Wouldn't it be great to see even a part-time burger flipper making $40 per hour. Wouldn't that help? Obviously, it would not. The resulting burger would cost $12, and people would simply stop buying them. Nobody would have a job. It's crazy at $35 dollars and it's crazy at $1. Finally, it destroys the freedom to contract. It's one of the fundamental freedoms that exist. Two consenting adults should be able to enter into an agreement to do anything that doesn't take life, liberty, or property from others. If I want to compete for a job offering my services for less than someone else, I should be able to.

Oh well, I still think freedom works, so I'm obviously out of touch.