Comment by gavinray

  > that many, many non-criminal members of that public are doing the $10.50/h thing with no such support and very limited opportunity.

The two ideas are not mutually exclusive. The non-criminal members of the public shouldn't be subjected to this either.

Yes, there must exist unskilled, low-paying labor -- but there also must exist ample opportunity for education and self-betterment for (almost) ALL individuals.

The most heinous of persons excepted, of course.