No, it's unreasonable for a 16 year old to have a job.
A 16 year old should be in school, they should not be working at all. A college student should not be working more than 10 hours a week, if at all. Oh, and "saving for college" with tuition where it is today is just plain stupid. You come out behind if you try.
The minimum wage should be set to a level that someone working 40 hours a week should be well above the poverty level for a family of three. They shouldn't be competing for work with high school students.
And yes, if someone wants to make a career of a full time minimum wage position, they should be able to have a reasonable income.
Start it at $15/hour. Index it to inflation.
Nonsense. The product of a job for a 16 year old individual is not simply money.
Having a job in food service has a huge impact on the social norms the person has as an adult.
Having a physical job (say, loading trucks) has a huge impact on how active the person is as an adult.
Working with people who are stuck there in their 40's (after 5 DUIs and jail time for cocaine possession) has a huge impact on "gee, better not do that myself"
Those things people learn at that age makes them better, and results in actual "living wages" as a productive person in society. Instead of a highly-paid skag or drag on society. If you want a good society, you lead people into doing good things, not just give them good things.
The idea that everybody deserves a living wage for doing no personal development, no effort, no commitment (at least, learning to, not saying they have to be stupid loyal) to a job is foolish. You are creating another dependent, not another producer.
You sir, are an outright communist. There's no question anymore. Which is fine I guess, the problem is you are SO STUPID you think that it's going to work even in the face of real, big, dire, and far reaching consequences for what you want.
Hint: nothing happens if you lick a red hot stove burner element if your tongue is wet enough. Try it!