Firstly I agree minimum wages do not provide a minimum standard of living, but at the same time a part of me finds it hard to support larger minimum wage increase requests. I know people are struggling, I am struggling too, so I can't imagine the struggle for those on the bare minimum but we all started somewhere. For example with a BA and large student loans I earn $19 p.h and have been in the industry for over 5 years. A minimum wage increase to $15 would mean no wage increase to myself despite large amounts of student debt and years of experience.
Is it jealousy, a lack of empathy, my inability to forecast future job demand, inability to let go of the wasted years studying and accruing debt or a combination of the above that makes it hard to support these increases? Anyone else here feel the same? Are there any other perspectives you can share to help me feel differently? Would it be wrong in thinking a large influence of minimum wage increase demands are due to the recent boom in housing and rental prices, and taming this would be a more suitable approach? Granted wages have been stagnant despite inflation, but smaller increases in line with inflation would make it easier to justify?