Total bs, I'd say on both sides of the debate. The measly 70 cents increase in minimum wage to an unlivable $5.85 an hour is so insubstantial that it would both not bring up any significant raise in standard of living for minimum wage earners, as well as not effectively bring up prices at all.

Here in Ohio, the minimum wage was adjusted more realistically with inflation to a $6.85 (as well as indexed to future inflation), but even at that rate I saw no effective increase in prices, and that rate is still poverty level, especially for people needing to support families. It's becoming increasingly evident that we need to make living wages in the United States. It would be in more proportion with each area's cost of living, but on average I would probably say around 9 to 10 dollars an hour rather than half that, as the Democrats are hailing as so wonderful.

Good, point, sgt. I'm not too sure how exactly a waitress is really effected by a minimum wage increase (at least one so insubstantial). Such a job is competitive, and most of their money being earned is through tips, etc. I know a busser (gets less than a waiter's share) who probably brings home on average 10-12 dollars an hour, even though his official wage is like 2-3 dollars and hour.