Increasing the cost of labor in a time when people are already having trouble finding a job is catastrophic to those with the least amount of skills and experience (the poor). Big businesses can comply with the costs, but smaller companies in their early stages of production can not afford to do so, which creates oligopolies. Abolishing the minimum wage would give those without the ability to find work, gain experience and get their foot in the door to work their way up the ladder; as well as give the middle class a chance to become self employed and employ others. The business can choose to pay a person $0.00 by not hiring them, while preventing them from entering the labor market. Morally, the state should have no say in coming between two consenting individuals.
In order to argue for a raise in the minimum wage must show- that increases overtime have not effected teens entering the labor market, promotes competition, doesn't favor big business, and the state can morally use the threat of force to stop an employer for hiring an employee under the minimum wage.
