So you’re having a conversation with your Liberal friend and the subject of minimum wage arises. You’re liberal friend probably wants to raise the minimum wage to a “living wage”.
Time Out: What exactly is a “living wage”? Basically it is a wage that helps someone who works full time to stay above the poverty line. In theory, this is a good idea.
You point out that minimum wage is bad in the long run because it can cost people jobs. Of course this prompts your Liberal friend to go irate, scream in your ear, and promptly end the discussion. So how do you win the argument before that happens?
Agree with them. I know it sounds crazy, but listen to me on this. Let’s take for example a factory worker who is earning $5.15 an hour (the current Federal Minimum Wage). Now, your Liberal buddy will say they should be earning probably $9-$10 an hour. That is when you agree. Except don’t stop. Say, well why stop there? Why not pay them $15 an hour, because $15 is better than $9 or $10 and certainly better than $5. Your buddy will probably agree with you. Don’t stop. Say, well why stop there, why not pay them $20 an hour….
Essentially, keep going until you get this type of reaction. “Well you can’t pay them that much” (or something to that affect). This is when you know you have “won” the argument. You chime in with the “why not”. Now, they’ll probably say something along the lines of “you can’t set the minimum wage at $X because not every job is worth $X amount”. Then zing them! “Well if we can’t set an arbitrary amount of $X why are we setting one now?”
GOTCHA!!!
Congratulations, you have now dispelled the myth of a minimum wage!
« All done!
