> After the mandated increase in pay Another perspective is that without the mandated pay increase these people were working for a wage below the poverty line.

> After the mandated increase in pay Another perspective is that without the mandated pay increase these people were working for a wage below the poverty line. (An assumption on my part, but why else would a pay increase be forced upon a business?) So what you really mean to ask are we better off paying folks a wage below the poverty line, or force business to pay a livable wage? I think history has provided numerous examples of why labor laws are important. So, my question to you, are you unfamiliar with history and why labor laws are important?