Regardless of the associated wage, I would not pay $10 for a latte. No latte is worth $10. Something is wrong with your business model if you have to charge $10 for a latte. Maybe in a major airport because franchise fees and concourse rent it might be necessary. Similarly, I guess in a prime major city downtown location. To me, dump the franchise, Starbucks does not offer me anything that other non-chain coffee shops can't. I think that a minimum wage is necessary, but I also think something is flawed in that livable wage calculation. I also think something is flawed in the assumption that a person with no skills should be able to support themselves working only 40 hours a week. There is no way that an unskilled single parent is going to be able to support themselves and their children without some sort of help.

We can raise the wages for low income workers but it must be done carefully or it will backfire.

TEK