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> If we can again become a country that values hard work and takes pride in *not* taking government handouts, we'd see a big increase in the portion of the workforce willing to do those jobs that we currently "need" illegal immigrants to do for us. And if we can get rid of minimum wage laws, we'll save employers from having to hire illegals and pay them under the table in order to properly compensate for the work done.

I can agree, sort of. I realize that raising minimum wage is inflationary, and now that I have enough income to live comfortably, it is less important than it once was.

But when I was a starving college student working for 75 cents an hour and Congress decided to raise my wage to a whole dollar an hour, I thought a minimum wage was wonderful. I know this sounds somwhat egocentic, but the point is that it depends on you situation.

I don't know what the minimum is right now, but I wouldn't want to work very hard for that kind of money. Uuuuuuh, $5.30 maybe? That seemed to jump into my mind, but it may be way out of date.
Howard