1/4 Most people, especially academic economists, think that the controversy over the minimum wage is a contest over facts. It's not. It's a contest over power, status, and wealth. It is just like the contest over racial and gender justice.

2/Those with wealth and power want to keep it, so saying that raising wages kills jobs is simply a polite way to say, we are rich and you are poor and we aim to keep it that way, and if you try to change things, we will harm you. An intimidation tactic, masquerading as economics

3/4 Neoliberal economic claims are a persuasive and internally consistent narrative designed to keep the rich rich and the poor poor. They are collectively, a protection racket for the rich. It's not by accident that the Wall Street Journal so opposes increases.

4/4 The fight for economic justice is very similar to the fights for racial and gender justice. Notice that the very same people (old rich white men) are almost always on the opposing sides in all of these cases. Neoliberalism is similar to racism and sexism- it's just for money