I just did a little primal scream therapy on minimum wage, over at The End.

One of the commenters over there makes a good point, and I think the problem is actually a serious one. And, since I have not seen it made very clearly anywhere else, I'll make it here.

The question: why not index the minimum wage, maybe with some lag or going up by regular amounts every two years, based on the CPI?

The answer: Politicians wouldn't be able to claim credit for an index, a one-time solution that actually fixes the minimum wage in real terms. This way, without indexation, they (the supporters) get to look like big heroes.

And, the more the increases get dragged out, and the bigger the consequent increase (which really only restores the minimum wage to its previous real value), the bigger the heroism.

The challenge: if liberals really want to solve the minimum wage problem, they should be explicitly advocating indexation. Instead, these periodic increases simply ensure that the minimum wage will always be a good campaign issue, and fund-raising device.

In short, the minimum wage combined with secular inflation is a nearly perfect job security device for liberal members of Congress: we will fight for a wage increase, for YOU! But we will not fight for indexation, which would make you outgrow your need for us. We need to be needed.