Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity

July 2, 2011 by Dan Mitchell

My Cato colleague, Mark Calabria, recently explained how the minimum wage destroys jobs, and I’ve written on several occasions why government-mandated wages can create unemployment by making it unprofitable to hire people with low work skills and/or poor work histories. And I’ve attacked Republicans for going along with these job-killing policies, and also pointed out the racist impact of such intervention.

But this cartoon may be a more effective argument for getting government out of the business of interfering with market forces. It’s simple, direct, and gets the point across. I’m not sure that always happens with my writing.

My former intern, Orphe Divougny, also did a very good job in explaining why politicians shouldn’t interfere with the right of workers and employers to enter into labor contracts.

Posted in Economics, Government intervention, Humor, Political Humor, Union Bosses | Tagged Economics, Government intervention, Humor, Labor, Minimum Wage, Political Humor, Union Bosses, Unions | 56 Comments

56 Responses

on March 23, 2022 at 7:38 pm Dan Mitchell: Joe Biden is pushing for a massive tax increase, for instance, but his proposed spending increase is far larger. | The Daily Hatch

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity […]
on January 1, 2022 at 4:45 am Dan Mitchell: “I share this map from the Tax Foundation’s annual State Business Tax Climate Index, showing Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, and Florida with the best scores and Connecticut, California, New York, and New Jersey with the worst scores!”

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity […]
on November 20, 2021 at 12:37 pm Dan Mitchell article: Biden’s Boondoggle(s) and the Burden of Government Spending | The Daily Hatch

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity […]
on November 2, 2021 at 5:36 pm Dan Mitchell: Demography + Entitlements = Fiscal Crisis | The Daily Hatch

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity […]
on October 11, 2021 at 6:19 pm California Town Sees Businesses Vanish Following Minimum Wage Hike - Dr. Rich Swier

[…] If you want some minimum wage-themed humor, you can enjoy cartoons here, here, here, here, […]
on September 28, 2021 at 7:28 pm Dan Mitchell: “President Biden actually claims that expanding the burden of government won’t cost anything!” | The Daily Hatch

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity […]
on September 19, 2021 at 1:14 pm Dan Mitchell: “What really worries me is that we may eventually reach a tipping point of too many people riding in the wagon (and out-voting the people who pull the wagon)” | The Daily Hatch

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity […]
on June 26, 2021 at 7:55 pm Dan Mitchell article Deconstructing Biden’s Corporate Tax Cartel, Part I | The Daily Hatch

[…] If you want some minimum-wage themed humor, you can enjoy cartoons here, here, here, here, […]
on April 25, 2021 at 3:10 am OPEN LETTER TO BARACK OBAMA ON HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY “A PROMISED LAND” Part 155 OBAMA’S VIEW ON MINIMUM WAGE “I was campaigning to push the country in the opposite direction…I promised to strengthen unions and raise the minimum wage as well as t

[…] P.P.P.S On the lighter side, here are some good cartoon on the minimum wage from Steve Breen, Lisa Benson and Henry Payne. […]
on April 2, 2021 at 3:17 am OPEN LETTER TO BARACK OBAMA ON HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY “A PROMISED LAND” Part 132 OBAMA’S VIEW ON MINIMUM WAGE “I was campaigning to push the country in the opposite direction…I promised to raise the minimum wage as well” | The Daily Hatch

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity […]
on March 15, 2021 at 12:01 am California Politicians Help Workers…into the Unemployment Line (Reblog) | Mogadishu Matt

[…] If you want more memes and cartoons about the minimum wage, click here, here, here, here, […]
on March 14, 2021 at 8:41 pm Dan Mitchell article California Politicians Help Workers…into the Unemployment Line | The Daily Hatch

[…] If you want more memes and cartoons about the minimum wage, click here, here, here, here, and […]
on March 14, 2021 at 8:40 am California Politicians Help Workers…into the Unemployment Line | International Liberty

[…] If you want more memes and cartoons about the minimum wage, click here, here, here, here, and […]
on February 26, 2021 at 2:02 am OPEN LETTER TO BARACK OBAMA ON HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY “A PROMISED LAND” Part 96 OBAMA’S VIEW ON MINIMUM WAGE “My message was the same. I promised to raise taxes on high-income Americans to pay for vital investments in education, research, and infrastru

[…] If you want some minimum-wage themed humor, you can enjoy cartoons here, here, here, here, […]
on February 4, 2021 at 2:19 am OPEN LETTER TO BARACK OBAMA ON HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY “A PROMISED LAND” Part 75 OBAMA LOVES RAISING MINIMUM WAGE, but Milton Friedman observed: “The real tragedy of minimum wage laws is that they are supported by well-meaning groups who want to reduce po

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity […]
on February 2, 2021 at 9:46 pm Amazon’s Shameful Effort to Sabotage Small Businesses | The Daily Hatch

[…] P.P.P.S On the lighter side, here are some good cartoon on the minimum wage from Steve Breen, Lisa Benson and Henry Payne. […]
on December 28, 2020 at 4:07 pm OPEN LETTER TO BARACK OBAMA ON HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY “A PROMISED LAND” Part 67 OBAMA’S VIEW ON MINIMUM WAGE “I was campaigning to push the country in the opposite direction…I promised to strengthen unions and raise the minimum wage as well as to

[…] P.P.P.S On the lighter side, here are some good cartoon on the minimum wage from Steve Breen, Lisa Benson and Henry Payne. […]
on November 15, 2020 at 2:20 pm My rough draft letter to President Elect Biden that will be mailed on April 6, 2021! minimum wage with Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams | The Daily Hatch

[…] Here’s a very good cartoon showing the impact of raising the minimum […]
on May 12, 2020 at 10:50 am Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Supply-Side Economics, in a Single Image | International Liberty

[…] the minimum wage, Henry Payne effectively shows – in this cartoon and this cartoon – how mandating above-market wages is very bad news for those with limited […]
on June 9, 2019 at 6:50 am California Town Sees Businesses Vanish Following Minimum Wage Hike – Dr. Rich Swier

[…] If you want some minimum wage-themed humor, you can enjoy cartoons here, here, here, here, […]
on May 30, 2019 at 7:00 am Politicians in California Town Wipe Out Jobs and Businesses with Higher Minimum Wage | International Liberty

[…] If you want some minimum-wage themed humor, you can enjoy cartoons here, here, here, here, […]
on June 27, 2017 at 10:38 am Minimum Wage Increases Are Bad News for Low-Skilled Workers in General, not Just for those Who Lose their Jobs | International Liberty

[…] If you want some minimum-wage themed humor, you can enjoy cartoons here, here, here, here, and […]
on March 7, 2016 at 12:59 pm In One Cartoon Strip, Everything You Need to Know about the Minimum Wage | International Liberty

[…] the minimum wage, I think Henry Payne effectively shows – in this cartoon and this cartoon – how mandating above-market wages is very bad news for those with limited […]
on January 22, 2015 at 4:21 pm Increasing Minimum-Wage will kill Jobs!!! | The Daily Hatch

[…] P.P.P.S On the lighter side, here are some good cartoon on the minimum wage from Steve Breen, Lisa Benson and Henry Payne. […]
on January 15, 2015 at 10:04 am Minimum-Wage Laws Are a Triumph of Emotion over Logic | International Liberty

[…] P.P.P.S On the lighter side, here are some good cartoon on the minimum wage from Steve Breen, Lisa Benson and Henry Payne. […]
on August 15, 2014 at 7:31 am A Little Café shows the USA the real cost of the Minimum Wage Increase!!!! | The Daily Hatch

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity […]
on December 8, 2013 at 9:28 pm Obama Visits Poor D.C. Neighborhood – Announces Policy That Will Worsen Their Unemployment | Necessary and Proper Gov't

[…] (graphic credit) […]
on December 5, 2013 at 1:48 am Open letter to President Obama (Part 468) (Minimum Wage Laws includes editorial cartoon) | The Daily Hatch

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity […]
on November 7, 2013 at 12:52 pm Rich Grise

Orphe should make a rap video of this and put it on youtube.
on September 24, 2013 at 1:41 am Milton Friedman observed: “The real tragedy of minimum wage laws is that they are supported by well-meaning groups who want to reduce poverty. But the people who are hurt most by higher minimums are the most poverty stricken (includes editorial cartoon)

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity […]
on September 18, 2013 at 2:43 pm yaşanmış komik hikayeler

bir gün bi adam ailesiyle kız istemeye gitmiş.adamın babası kızın babasına ee nasılsınız,neler yapıyorsunuz .,demiş. kızın babası eh işte yuvarlanıp gidiyoruz.demiş adam da niye efenim top musunuz,demiş…devamı için: http://www.komikti.com/viewer.asp?ino=192
on September 16, 2013 at 10:02 am yaşanmış en komik olaylar

namaz kılmayı daha yeni öğrenmiştim.camiye girince yaşlı bir amcayı örnek alayım dedim.Şanssızlık bu ya adamın bir ayağı kırıkmış.Namaza az kaldığında adam ayağının birini salıverdi önüne.Ben de örnek alıyodum ya ben de adamı örnek alarak bir bacağı…devamı için: http://www.komikti.com
on June 27, 2013 at 6:57 am Open letter to President Obama (Part 350) | The Daily Hatch

[…] Payne cartoon in this post, you can enjoy some of his other work here, here, here, here, here, here, here, […]
on June 12, 2013 at 7:13 am Cartoons from Dan Mitchell’s blog that demonstrate what Obama is doing to our economy (Auto bailout humor) | The Daily Hatch

[…] you like Payne’s work, you can view more of my favorites here, here, here, here, here, […]
on June 7, 2013 at 7:20 am Cartoons from Dan Mitchell’s blog that demonstrate what Obama is doing to our economy (Minimum wage humor) | The Daily Hatch

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity […]
on June 6, 2013 at 7:22 am Cartoons from Dan Mitchell’s blog that demonstrate what Obama is doing to our economy (Robinhood cartoon) | The Daily Hatch

[…] Other good Payne cartoons can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, […]
on February 22, 2013 at 7:15 am Open letter to President Obama (Part 245) | HaltingArkansasLiberalswithTruth

[…] Here’s a very good cartoon showing the impact of raising the minimum […]
on February 18, 2013 at 8:06 am Open letter to President Obama (Part 243) « HaltingArkansasLiberalswithTruth

[…] Other good Payne cartoons can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, […]
on February 15, 2013 at 2:31 pm Cartoons from Dan Mitchell’s blog that demonstrate what Obama is doing to our economy Part 3.1 (Obama’s Valentine’s Day Card to USA) « HaltingArkansasLiberalswithTruth

[…] can enjoy some of Payne’s best cartoons here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. My favorite is the one with Robin […]
on February 14, 2013 at 2:22 pm Happy (Government) Valentine’s Day « International Liberty

[…] can enjoy some of Payne’s best cartoons here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. My favorite is the one with Robin […]
on December 14, 2012 at 9:12 am Republicans seem to give in most of the time on spending issues « HaltingArkansasLiberalswithTruth

[…] Payne cartoon in this post, you can enjoy some of his other work here, here, here, here, here, here, here, […]
on December 9, 2012 at 10:25 am For both Policy Reasons and Political Reasons, the Fiscal Cliff Is Better than Surrender « International Liberty

[…] Payne cartoon in this post, you can enjoy some of his other work here, here, here, here, here, here, here, […]
on September 14, 2012 at 8:36 am Why do the liberals want to increase unemployment more by increasing minimum wage? « HaltingArkansasLiberalswithTruth

[…] Here’s a very good cartoon showing the impact of raising the minimum […]
on September 3, 2012 at 7:53 am With Unemployment Already High, Why Are Leftists Pushing for an Increase in the Minimum Wage? « International Liberty

[…] Here’s a very good cartoon showing the impact of raising the minimum wage. Rate this:Share […]
on August 20, 2012 at 11:32 am Stop Maligning Robin Hood! « International Liberty

[…] Other good Payne cartoons can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Rate this:Share […]
on August 18, 2012 at 8:06 am Auto Bailout Humor « International Liberty

[…] you like Payne’s work, you can view more of my favorites here, here, here, here, here, […]
on July 18, 2012 at 7:27 am Cartoons about Obama’s class warfare « HaltingArkansasLiberalswithTruth

[…] clever Payne cartoons can be seen here, here, here, here, and […]
on July 14, 2012 at 1:47 pm Obama’s Bumbling Class Warfare Agenda – Daniel J. Mitchell – Townhall Finance Conservative Columnists and Financial Commentary « Gds44's Blog

[…] clever Payne cartoons can be seen here, here, here, here, and […]
on July 13, 2012 at 8:53 am Laughing at Obama’s Bumbling Class Warfare Agenda « International Liberty

[…] clever Payne cartoons can be seen here, here, here, here, and […]
on April 16, 2012 at 7:27 am Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth: The Costly Impact of Big Government|Politifreak

[…] we get policies like Solyndra. We getFannie Mae and Freddie Mac. We get TARP, the minimum wage law, and a 72,000-page tax […]
on April 13, 2012 at 9:22 am Labor, Capital, Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth « International Liberty

[…] and capital, we get policies like Solyndra. We get Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. We get TARP, the minimum wage law, and a 72,000-page tax […]
on April 6, 2012 at 9:13 am Using Labor Department Data to Indict Obama’s Dismal Performance on Jobs « International Liberty

[…] I’ve already made the point that Obama’s policies are bad news for Black Americans, particularly policies such as higher minimum wage requirements that cut off the bottom rungs of the economic ladder. […]
on March 7, 2012 at 9:59 am Fluke Humor « International Liberty

[…] Keynesian economics, this cartoon about Obama’s stimulus, this video on Halloween taxes, this cartoon about the minimum wage, and this joke about the perverse incentives of […]
on July 5, 2011 at 5:15 pm Luis Di Mare

Wow! Great post! And great comment by Mr. Adam Feller!
on July 2, 2011 at 7:37 pm Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity | goldcountrypatriots

[…] Funny…but Sad…Look at How the Minimum Wage Destroys Opportunity Posted on July 2, 2011 by goldcountrypatriots My Cato colleague, Mark Calabria, recently explained how the minimum wage destroys jobs, and I’ve written on several occasions why government-mandated wages can create unemployment by making it unprofitable to hire people with low work skills and/or poor work histories. And I’ve attacked Republicans for going along with these job-killing policies, and also pointed out the racist impact of such intervention. Read more and watch the video… […]
on July 2, 2011 at 6:09 pm Adam Feller

There is also a reason why Wal-Mart and other large retailers are always lobbying in support of a higher minimum wage. It may seem counter-intuitive, but economies of scale allow these larger companies to absorb the costs, while their smaller competitors cannot, thus increasing market share. Crony capitalism at work again.

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