How dare you suggest that state and municipalities ask for something in exchange for subsidizing a private business. I hope my sarcasm comes across because I am constantly apppalled at the one-sided way these corporate welfare payments are made and by the lousy analysis of the benefits.

In addition, given the description of this business it sounds like it's a classic example of the "help us move so we can get away from the coloreds and hire docile Mexicans", I mean obsolete plant move.

A pain free political miracle could come next if America legally mandates universal unionization to equally balance the labor/ownership power equation in our free market economy.

The civilized, orderly approach to unionizing all of a nation all at once is legislation -- Germany did it post 1945. Most European nations needed not to adopt mandatory labor agreements because their unionization was well along. Law structures all of economics: or only our neighbors would know whose our house is (was once so); $20 bills are legal/economic instruments that everyone grasps (ever since they replaced private bank dollars). We are the lone non-unionized nation of the first world (Germany went all the way up at once and we came gradually down) -- which adds up to our growing banana Republican way of life.

20% of Americans now earn less than the minimum wage of 1968 -- $8.50/hour -- even though output per person has increased 80% since then. 40% earn less than what the minimum wage could have quite pailessly evolved to -- $12/hour -- at three-quarter pace with that growth. 50% say they would sign a card to join a union. The electorate is ready.

When are the union leaders and pundits going start pushing for universal unions? I am a cab driver and I figured it out. I am going to be 60 this week -- I'd like to be able to make a living again in this country before I die.

I must add: the difference between Democrats and Republicans when you have 9% unions in business is the Democrats will help you a little and the banana Republicans will try to hurt you a lot (cutting overtime pay and social security, etc.). If we get 90% unions (German style), the Democrats will help you a lot (ala, FDR and Truman) and the Rebulicans will try to help you a little (IKE and Nixon, who instituted revenue sharing with the states, for instance).

One quibble--you say "handing over money without demanding that the workers get decent health care?" In my economic development experience, while government can require community benefits such as a living wage, it is preempted by ERISA, the federal law governing pensions and employer health insurance, from requiring health care. Accordingly, many local living wage laws require one wage level with health care, and a higher one without.

One progressive tax change I have heard little about recently is uncapping the payroll tax. What are your thoughts on the payroll tax, progressive changes to it that you favor?

What's wrong with $6/hour? Without these jobs, the immigrants who can't speak english and have no skills to set them apart would have no jobs to come to our country for.

My mom came to this country with no valuable work skills and couldn't speak much english, but she was able to find a job. She worked her way up and made a decent living.

Who is going to pay $12/hour for an immigrant laborer? And if they do, who is going to want to pay 2 extra bucks for their McDonald's Value Meals?

The best result of raising the minimum wage is that more immigrants will stay in Mexico, since the jobs will be shipped there. If that is what you want, keep pushing for it. Just know who your hurting, the poor, the immigrants, and the disabled.