Thoughtful article Kurt Andersen.

Raising the minimum wage can be done and be helpful. That said, there maybe yet simpler ways of getting money into peoples pockets by introducing at some political point some kind of UBI. This would have the advantage of not having the work requirement, not telling business owners what to pay and so not interfering with the workings of the labor market.

The rent price for apartments is not determined by landlord but by the market. Same for labor (although collective bargaining can skew the price).

I wrote "Wings to Fly -- A Platform for All" which I invite you to read here on MEDIUM.