Quote from empee:
Obviously, the problem is that with government intervention we are falsely overpaying people and distorting the free market. In fact, businesses are seeking the free market by hiring illegals since they approach what is more "fair-value". If we removed the minimum wage, we would allow wages for Americans to fall and reach equilibrium with illegal immigrants, which would drive them out of the country since there wouldn't be incentive for them to come here since they would earn the wages they get in Mexico.
By artificially creating a lower-band in terms of wages, businesses are incentivized to go for illegals because of the lack of enforcement/penalties versus the massive savings from using illegals.
Plus, when we pay American's $3.50 an hour, we can TAX that income such as FICA/FUTA/etc. which will help pay for public services, whereas illegals pay nothing into the public coffers.
In fact, why stop there? Perhaps we should penalize these people for earning so little with a "education tax" (ie a tax for not being educated) since they will be using a disproportionate amount of public services and its not fair that the rest of us have to pay! (Such as for their incarceration or their drug abuse issues).
Ultimately, we will be paying close to Mexico wages to workers. Imagine how the markets would rally with extra strong earnings from companies that are suffering like XOM (ExxonMobil)! The sky would be bluer, cancer would be cured, and "we'd" all be happier.
... Actually I'm a liberal but I'm waiting to see this on FOX NEWS BUSINESS BLOCK.
