It's been nine months since Florida's minimum wage increased, and state commerce hasn't ground to a halt.
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Yes, the wage increase is costing business owners. Chris Muller, a UCF professor and a partner in 'Za-Bistro! in Maitland, is paying an extra $435 a week in wages since the change.

"It's a significant jump for a small business," Muller tells me. And he's making up for it just how I would expect: He's made modest increases to his menu, charging a few pennies more for coffee and sodas.

But Muller, like the 71 percent of Florida voters who approved the increase in 2004, is in favor of the new wage. He says that workers who have more money spend it, putting their gains back into the economy

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As one opponent said to me: "The biggest worry at this point is the automatic increase. It's $6.15; it's $6.40, and it keeps going up. Five to 10 years down the road, people will have pretty good salaries."

That would be terrible.

Straight out of high school I made minimum wage. I was thrilled when there was a minimum wage increase. I never imagined I would spend my life making minimum wage, and luckily have not. I realize certain prices will increase due to a minimum wage increase. However, I also realize that since not everyone makes minium wage not all prices will increase and hopefully minimum wage increases will benefit society.

I wonder how many people in the US make minimum wage. What are their ages? What are the resulting products they produce for which the price might increase? I will try to research that later.