re: In 100 words or less how can raising the min. wage help the middle class?**

This minimum wage debate is a direct appeal to the lowest common denominator, at least in terms of its framing.

The decrease in the minimum wage has been nearly perfectly offset by the earned income tax credit, the sum of which is now equal today to where it was in the 1970s and in the mid to late 1990s. Some inflation adjustment is likely needed but, remember, the government tells us we don't have inflation because they remove food and energy from the calculation, so I don't know if they can even argue for said adjustment unless it's over a multi-year timeframe (which would be reasonable).

The key difference between the two is that the earned income tax credit is more effective at benefitting its intended audience. Everyone benefits from an increase in the minimum wage - even the 15 year old selling subs at Jimmy John's (for whom an increase is not needed from an economic perspective). Only the real low-income earners trying to support a family benefit from the earned income tax credit. It's simply more effective than the minimum wage.

Read this:

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