That was completely off topic, but since it came up...
Economics is what turned me from a Democrat to a Republican. The issue that did it: minimum wage of all things. I reasoned, "Who would be so heartless as to be against the poorest workers getting a higher wage?" It didn't make sense. Then I learned the truth: raising the minimum wage actually HURTS the poor! Why? Because the minimum wage destroys low-skilled jobs when it is higher than the equilibrium wage for that market. Think of it this way if it is difficult to think of marginal changes: What would happen if the minimum wage went to $1,000 per hour? Would we all be rich? NO! We would all be UNEMPLOYED! That same unemployment effect happens at the margin, so that the higher the minimum wage is above the equilibrium wage, the fewer workers are hired. Now, this isn't a problem currently since a low skilled worker can get a job at In-N-Out for much more than minimum wage. But, in the late 70's and early 80's that wasn't the case. Even fast food jobs were incredibly hard to get due to the relatively high minimum wage. I know from experience. I had to actually know someone to get one of those jobs in high school. Bottom line: The poor are better off without a minimum wage. Hard to believe, but it is true and even liberal economists admit it.
This same supply and demand analysis can be used for almost any issue. The government usually makes things worse for those it tries to help, not better.
