I don't think most who obsess over it actually earn minimum wage. Among those who earn more that obsess over it, at best they are being empathetic to those who do, which I agree with. There are people who do earn the minimum wage, including adults living on their own, and it is real tough for them.

The rest are a combination of thinking their current wage or salary will go up accordingly or think this is a point to focus on to encourage people we need to have a revolution, general strike, or vote for third parties (just not Democrats, with a few exceptions, or Republicans).

I really wish the focus was not so much on the minimum wage specifically but on trying to address price gouging by companies and landlords and to push the government to offer more benefits (increase SNAP, increase eligibility for it too and for Medicaid) and housing that they keep affordable. I have seen prices and rent skyrocket all around me at the same time minimum wage has gone up to $15 in my area. The people struggling are still struggling due to these price increases.

The price increases have been exceeding the wage increases so it still makes more sense to be putting our energy to pressure the government to do more to curtail price gouging. I don't agree with the minimum wage focused that if the government made $25 / hour the minimum wage across the US that companies using low wage workers would not increase their prices accordingly to not affect their profits, and landlords would not increase their rent to squeeze more out of people, resulting in no change for those struggling.