Padgett : Institute Living Wage

Mike Padgett, in his plan for rural America, takes a bold step in supporting a National living wage, which would set the minimum wage at 50% of the average wages for all Americans. In 2006, according to Padgett's numbers, this would've meant a minimum wage of $8.40, or $2.55 higher than our current $5.85 minimum wage set in July of '07.

While support for the minimum wage is strong all across America, including in the more conservative South, there might be a limit to how much people would like to see it raised (though that limit is much higher in a Democratic primary). Setting it against the average of all wages could be problematic, as increasing the minimum wage would likely have a ripple effect on other wages, thus hastening a higher annual increase.

The question ultimately comes down to what you believe the minimum wage exists for. If you think it should be there to help a person make a living off of a 40 hour work week on the minimum wage, Padgett's plan might be closer to your thinking. If you think it exists more as a labor protection, to prevent exploitation of labor...this might be a little extreme.

Lest you think Padgett is a radical leftist though, he does support effectively eliminating the Inheritance tax on 99.7% of estates. Though there isn't a specific number in place for when the tax on inherited wealth would be implemented.

(h/t Kleinheider)