> But joblessness hit an eight-year high in August of 4.2 percent after the new minimum wage took effect, though it has since improved. Growth was at 2 percent in the third quarter compared with the same period a year earlier, down from 2.8 percent in the second quarter.

A 4.2 percent unemployment rate is remarkably low, and 2% growth in a quarter, isn't bad either.

Increasing taxes and raising the minimum wage is certainly not going to lead to increased economic growth or lower unemployment. The primary benefit of such moves, is to improve the quality of life for the middle-class and lower-middle-class. Neither of which was mentioned in the article, which is surprising considering that's the primary motivation and metric against which it should be measured.