A rising tide lifts all boats, as former U.S. president John F. Kennedy was fond of saying. According to his speechwriter, the phrase was lifted from a New England regional chamber of commerce. Deservedly so. In terms of communicating economic concepts, it hits all the right notes: clear imagery; inclusive messaging; a whiff of hope.

People quibble with the aphorism, of course. Boats differ widely. We all benefit from a healthier economy, but we don’t benefit equally; some folks are cruising on yachts while others are clinging to life rafts.

Still, the principle is sound. Lives improve across the board when communities can maintain roads and public parks, and people can afford shelter. So why is it that whenever someone takes a serious stab at hiking the minimum wage, so many forecast economic disaster?

Governments at every level acknowledge the perfect storm of an affordable housing crisis, skyrocketing food insecurity and pain at the pumps. No one disputes lower wage earners feel the squeeze most acutely. These are the folks making the hardest choices: to pay their credit card balance........

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