My solution to making minimal wage was finding a better job. I never depended on big gov to help me do squat. I now run a fairly successful construction company with nothing but a high school diploma. I did what I had to, did without many things to do this. People must not understand that if you raise those wages, cost of goods and products will increase as well. Not counting the millions who work 40 hours at the current rate deciding they want to only work 20 because they only need that amount to scrape by.