lpq's Journal: minimum wage's roots in eugenics

This is an eye opening piece -- in the early 20th century, progressives were the ones promoting ideas of eugenics. Their work later was drawn on by Hitler, the results of which are all too well known, but other ideas were promoted to exclude unfit workers, protect women from hazardous work, "uplift" more "deserving" workers, protect male head of households from excess competition and free women to engage in their roles as "mothers of the race".

The minimum wage was a way of eliminating those who would not or more often could not sell their work 'output' for some "base" rate. This had the effect of creating a "minimum wealth" level that was required to be able to stay (and be paid) in this society. The idea was that people below minimum wage would not be paid in this society and would eventually disappear out of the, "local", area where minimum wages were required to be paid.

One might question the objectives of those wanting to increase the minimum wage while not addressing the population that exists below that line -- the unemployables.

For those that purport to help the disadvantaged, it seems the most honest way of helping the disadvantaged would be to aim benefits at those below the employable line. If life is made more comfortable "below the line", then employer's paying at, or near the "line" would eventually have to pay more (increase pay over the minimum wage) to attract workers "off of the dole".