$15 an hour wage, what does it do to recruiting, retention, the pay chart, and other areas of our lives?

People who demand this $15/hr or higher for NO hard work or time in a job are lazy, cop outs. There will never be equality in jobs and pay for everyone. Every person is not smart enough, skilled enough, nor has the same work ethic. Wages and salary are paid to those with the time, skills, and experience put into a job. It's insulting to those, like myself and countless others who have worked very hard to get where we are.
Economy changes in good and bad ways. Simply giving free money is only going to ruin things for all. Soldiers, among our NECESSARY jobs for a country to function are HIGHLY underpaid. Police, firefighters, EMTs, nurses, and other various EMS services that never close. Where is their equal pay in regard to their job and risk? Hmmm? Exactly, too many selfish people wanting a handout for nothing. Probably milking govt assistant as long as they can get it.

Our elected officials firmly repeatedly engage in "Do as we say, not as we do" legislation.

Service to country not self. The service makes sure we all have access to food and shelter. If most service members choose to live well beyond their means, like most Americans, they need to be reminded that service does not mean that the govt will pay you extra to have a nicer car or fancy phone.

employers need to pay more, automation and get rid off employees, why would i pay for a hamburger at 4$ when i can go to fully automated establishment and get 1$ cheaper, the flaw in your post is that businesses want your business, just because they can dosn't mean they will, and any company that follows your philosophy will close

did you figure in health and dental, life insurance, if your single housing (barracks), food its the other benies that most dont account for, go to civi life, you pay for your food, you pay for your housing, you pay for all the other stuff mentioned above, if you go by you figures 15x 160 i dont make that in civi world, and i make 12.45/hr been with the company 10 years, i have to work over time, thats 6 days a week, on the 7th day its taking care of my house and property, you signed the papers the inheriant danger exists, the long hours exist thats the millitary 24/7/365, health risks that there its also part of the job, sometimes unknowingly agent orange, camp lejeune drinking water, etc, ect, your in the millitary your health is at risk every time you leave the wire

Also, do you think anyone that works a job for four years is still going to make $15 an hour. Typically this pay would go up by a few dollars over 4 years. Most people could be a shift manager at (name your fast food restaurant) and probably make 17-22 an hour.
Hiring and training of new employees is typically a businesses' biggest employee expense.

As a former Army recruiter and counselor, monthly pay is hardly ever a buying motive or factor in making the decision to join. Neither was college money or bonuses. They were "nice to haves", but were add-on incentives that came with certain jobs the Army was pushing. Before that even came up, the person had to be interested in military service and committed to joining in the first place. Once that decision was made, then it was "what kind of bonus can I get?". We were "supposed" to go over the pay chart with everyone in the initial interview, but again, people don't have an interest in military service because of the pay. I think you could triple the E1 pay and it wouldn't make any difference in increasing the propensity to enlist.

1. It forces a small amount of inflation as the costs associated goods or services go up. That $3 burger might now cost an extra quarter to make, and most of that cost will likely be passed on to the consumer.
2. The number of people who qualify for benefits such as food stamps will drop significantly. Today millions of workers are able to work full time and qualify for extensive state and Federal benefits. At $15 an hour, working people will be relying on their employers instead of taxpayers to make ends meet.
3. Working people will have some extra money to spend, which will help the economy.
4. Wages for low skilled workers will eventually rise as employers struggle to attract workers who can make $15 stocking shelves or flipping burgers.
5. A family with two adults working will earn at least 62K a year, which means they will likely also begin paying Federal Income taxes.
6. Higher income means increased Social Security tax which means the Social Security program will last longer.
7. We will see more automation as employers conduct technological upgrades to their businesses. Instead of lots of unskilled positions there will be a few skilled positions available servicing bad maintaining equipment.