Wow.  Just tried to read through the comments and it certainly wasn't a thoughtful discussion of the ideas presented here. Thomas Brandt and his endless pontificating on the results of his crystal ball gazing completely high jacked any relevant discussion. 
I, for one, would love to know how the corporations, most of which have destroyed the economy as we knew it, would deal with such a scenario. If the out of control corporations were kept in check we most likely would not even need to consider 'giving' a minimal wage to people. 
Several comments touched on the results of giving money to people not having a positive outcome.  This is a true concern. If is done it would also be better to give drugs to the druggies, homes to the people who chose not to work for shelter, and forced treatment to the mentally ill. 
The people who chose not to make positive contributions to society and community have already been given quite enough.