It punishes the poor because prices for goods and services rise much sooner than wages or salaries. Those making the lowest wages are hurt the most by this. If

It punishes the poor because prices for goods and services rise much sooner than wages or salaries. Those making the lowest wages are hurt the most by this. If we are going to have a minimum wage, it would be a bit more sane to have it change automatically and regularly, pegged to inflation by some agreed-upon and not-constantly-screwed-around-with formula ... but that doesn't mean the BLS wouldn't fudge the numbers anyway, in order to help / hurt those in power.