[snarf21]

Honestly, no. There are opportunities at all the fast food chains (convenience stores, etc.) to move up into manager or assistant manager. These jobs usually pay $40K+ and benefits. This is a living wage in most areas. But they invested in themselves and are no longer unskilled. All I am saying is that dumping fries into a basket doesn't create enough economic value for it to pay a living wage. Not all jobs are designed to have a career path. We have much better tools to help those in poverty than minimum wage hikes. I think anyone under some X * federal poverty should pay no state or federal taxes. Trivial to implement and their take home would match a hike to $15/hour mw.