[rant]

Because the minimum wage laws are made by the US Congress, which acts in part to the benefit of the public, and in very large part to the benefit of those who fund their next campaigns. The restaurant industry finds it extremely beneficial to continue the current system: this applies not only to owners, but also to the majority of those who receive a large portion of their wages through tips.

Don't forget, the lawmakers who came up with the minimum wage rules are the same ones who developed the tax laws. Next time you read about the baseball star who's making $11 million/year, remember that you are subsidizing him. Teams can afford to pay those salaries because of corporations paying ungodly amounts for their corporate boxes (or even just season tickets), and those amounts are tax deductible. (If you want to take your kids to a game, you cannot, of course, use that as a tax deduction -- it's only businesses that write it off.) And, if 100 corporations deduct, say, $1 million each for the corp boxes at you local ballyard, then the rest of us taxpayers get to make up that $100 million. And if there are 30 major league ballparks, plus another 30 NFL stadiums ...

[/rant]

Phew, that feels much better. Thanks for asking!