A law mandating a minimum wage increase is a classic liberal idea — it sounds good, it appeals to our sense of compassion, but it ends up hurting the people it is meant to help.
Now that the vote is over, the media is beginning to recognize that teens and other entry-level workers are losing their jobs because of this new law.
I think most liberals know this. Nevertheless, they know from public opinion polls that a minimum wage increase is immensely popular, mostly because it gives people who make substantially more than minimum wage a chance to feel like they are doing something to help the working poor.
Liberal politicians see the minimum wage increase as an issue that will draw their supporters to the polls. That’s why it was on Arizona’s ballot in the last election.
Now it has served its political purpose. And the working poor who lose their jobs are just collateral damage.
