Thanks, hotrod.... being that Bert's post didn't mention Japan and I didn't take the time to go back to check JT's post, I mistakenly thought that the 1.6 drop in GDP that Bert posted was referring to the USA's GDP.
Sometimes I go too fast for my own good! <sigh>
On another note seeing that I have your attention, here is a Seattle 'minimum wage' article posted yesterday @ another board that I think may be of interest to you.