The Minimum Wage Debate: Should Businesses Be Forced to Subsidize Mediocrity?
We would love an invite your opinions on what, if any minimum wage should look like. Here’s our take.
In a free society, employment should be a voluntary agreement—nothing more, nothing less. One person offers their time, energy, and skill. The other offers compensation in return. If both parties agree to the terms, a transaction is made. If not, they each move on. That’s how a free market is supposed to work. But thanks to government-mandated minimum wages, this once-simple arrangement has become a bloated, distorted mess—one that ultimately punishes businesses, workers, and consumers alike.
Let’s be clear: we don’t believe there should be any federal minimum wage. Why? Because value is subjective—and forcing someone to pay a set dollar amount for labor regardless of that labor’s value is both unfair and economically destructive.
A Free Market Corrects Itself
Here’s the truth that no politician wants to admit: if an employer tries to pay someone too little, they simply won’t be able to hire. Talented people will go elsewhere. This reality naturally pressures employers to stay competitive and offer fair compensation. Likewise, if a job candidate demands more than they’re worth, they won’t get hired. Eventually, they either adjust their expectations or improve their skills to justify a higher wage. This self-regulating balance is how the market weeds out exploitation and entitlement—without government interference.
Minimum wage laws, however, short-circuit this system. They essentially say, “We don’t trust adults to negotiate their own deals, so we’ll do it for them.” That’s not just condescending—it’s costly.
Value ≠ Needs
A major fallacy driving the minimum wage debate is the idea that wages should reflect personal financial needs. “People can’t survive on $12 an hour,” they say. But that’s the wrong question. Compensation should reflect value to the business, not someone’s rent or car payment.
Take a hard look at this example: a cashier at McDonald’s is not worth $19.31 an hour. That’s not an insult. It’s an economic fact. The position doesn’t require unique skills or specialized training. It’s an entry-level job meant to provide experience, not sustain a luxury lifestyle. If someone needs $20 an hour to afford their car loan, that doesn’t mean the employer is obligated to subsidize their life choices. Businesses pay for output, not personal circumstances.
The Real Cost: You Pay for It
When the government forces employers to pay higher wages, that cost doesn’t disappear—it shifts. Prices rise. Business owners cut staff or automate. The very people these laws claim to help often end up unemployed. And consumers? They’re the ones footing the bill. That’s why a Happy Meal now costs $10 in some cities. It’s not because McDonald’s got greedy. It’s because wage mandates turned every burger into a budget-buster.
Let the Market Work
Scrapping the federal minimum wage isn’t about being anti-worker—it’s about trusting people. Trusting that workers can negotiate their worth. Trusting that employers will pay fair wages to attract talent. And trusting that value—not politics—should determine compensation.
If someone can only bring $8/hour of value to the table, that’s what they should earn until they improve their skillset. If someone is worth $30/hour, the market will reward them. That’s meritocracy. That’s freedom.
And that’s the conversation we should be having. If your perspective, employees, or employer/manager who is responsible for payroll, we invite you to share your comments below. Keep it friendly.
About The Author
Jordan Blake is a B2B strategist and contributor at Price It Here, where she shares expert advice on buying decisions and business growth. She holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
With over a decade of experience in procurement and vendor strategy, Jordan helps businesses save money and scale smarter. Her practical insights make her a trusted voice for entrepreneurs seeking cost-effective, results-driven solutions.