Raising Minimum Wages For Workers Essay - 2564 Words

Charles Darwin once wrote, â€Å"If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin.† One can easily agree with this statement, as it can be an analogy to the effect that a modern institution called the minimum wage, may have on those who live in poverty. For many years, this institution has remained a controversial topic, separating people into two political groups: those (mostly republicans) who claim raising minimum wages for workers has a negative impact on the American people, and those (mostly democrats) who argue that raising minimum wages for workers has not only a positive impact on the American people, but is a necessity. I personally believe the latter, and find it necessary that wages be raised. In order to decrease poverty amongst the American working class people, minimum wage must be increased, in accordance to the constant inflation found in the American cost of living. One way to describe the American working class today is â€Å"60 minutes of work will just about buy you a Chipotle burrito (without guac).† As of 2009, the federal minimum wage has been 7.25 USD Hourly, and it continues to be the minimum wage in the majority of American states, the rest varying from a minimum wage of 8.00 USD, 9.00 USD, and 10.50 USD at an hourly rate, 10.50 USD Hourly currently being the highest, in Washington D.C. Given that most Americans in the working-class work by average 40 hours per week, a wage of 7.25 USD is equivalent toShow MoreRelatedRaising Minimum Wage For Fast Food Workers1001 Words   |  5 Pageshigh school, or have no education at all. How would that make you feel? Either way, a movement, called Fight for Fifteen, is lobbying elected officials to mandate minimum wage for fast food workers at fifteen dollars an hour, and I feel it is a slap in the face to America’s middle class. With the ridiculous demand to raise minimum wage to unp recedented heights, the economy will tank. In the long run, the people demanding the increase will find it harder to stay employed. Lastly, compared to otherRead MoreRaising The Minimum Wage Should Not Increase The Value Of The Worker s Labor1280 Words   |  6 PagesRaising the minimum wage does not increase the value of the worker s labor. It increases the cost of the worker s labor. And as everyone knows, the more something costs, the less of it we buy...† (Antony Davies, PhD, Associate Professor of Economics at Duquesne University, and James R. Harrigan, PhD, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Political Economy at Utah State University). In this day and age, the federal minimum wage is a very prevalent topic among Americans. Should it be raised? Or willRead MoreMinimum Wage And The Wage Essay1204 Words   |  5 PagesThe minimum wage is one of the most controversial issues on our country, which is United States has been facing last ten years. There have been never ending debates over this issue until the government, company, and others party stand together, and raise the minimum wage throughout the nations. There are communities that believe raise the minimum wage has negative impact of every sector of the country. Other communities have different beliefs over the issue, raising the minimum wage helps the poorRead MoreRaising Minimum Wage Will Benefit Our Economy1576 Words   |  7 PagesThere are many people who will debate whether-or-not raising minimum wage will benefit our economy. Money is what helps us survive and acquire our necessities of life. Most children are instilled with the thought that going to school, getting a good education, and obtaining a good job would guarantee success and happiness; although everyone does not have that privilege, and may end up with lower paying jobs. Almost anyone can get a job at a fast food restaurant, clothing store, or any general jobRead MoreEffects of Increasing Minimum Wage Essay988 Words   |  4 PagesThe idea of having a federal minimum wage is a good one. The idea is to protect low and unskilled workers from discrimination and allow all workers to earn a living wage. The recent debate on the floor, though, is whether or not to raise the minimum wage from the current $7.25 per hour up to $10.10 per hour. President Barack Obama made this proposal during his annual State of the Union Address on January 28, and following this there were many hot debates about it. The debates focused not only onRead MoreBenefits Of Raising The Minimum Wage908 Words   |  4 Pagesseemingly least controversial topics is the minimum wage. The popular opinion wants to raise the minimum wage, but is the popular opinion always right? Throughout recent years, politicians have made promises to raise the minimum wage to help low-income earners live a better life. Contrary to popular belief, raising the minimum wage actually hurts low-income earners and low-skilled workers. We must first define a low- skilled worker. A low-skilled worker does not mean that particular employee is notRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Debate870 Words   |  4 PagesThe minimum wage debate has recently made a large comeback in United States politics. Contemporary studies show over 3.8 million Americans are paid at or below minimum wage (Dickinson 33). Many have looked skeptically back on past wage systems and have questioned wage’s relationship to current market inflation. In response to this inquiry, a large majority of the general population, relatively unrelated to their degree of income, support legislation to increase the minimum. However, the issue hasRead MoreWhy The Minimum Wage Should Be Raised?1410 Words   |  6 Pagesraised the minimum wage to $7.25. However, six years later the minimum wage rage remains the same. It is time once again for the federal government to raise the minimum wage to spur the economy. Raising the minimum wage would help the American economy and the daily life of the citizens for a variety of reasons. The first topic is that it not only would help the people but it also would help the economy as a whole. The second topic is that companies are already raising the minimum wage because ofRead MoreEffect Of Raising Minimum Wage1215 Words   |  5 PagesEffects of Raising Minimum Wage The minimum wage in this country has been a controversial issue. Many people believe it will help reduce poverty and boost the economy. However, they are not looking at the downfalls this will bring to our country. This could make the unemployment population rise, it will raise prices of other things, and would have little effect on reducing poverty. Raising the minimum wage would have a negative influence on our country. This movement throughout our countryRead MoreRaising the Minimum Wage: A Counter-Intuitive Solution Essay753 Words   |  4 PagesWhile some believe that raising the minimum wage will resolve poverty issues and lack of pay with the signing of legislation, the raising of the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour (as advocated by President Obama and the Democrats) would cause the poverty issue to be worse than it already is; inflation would occur, employees would be laid off, and minimum wage employees would lose welfare benefits, thus offsetting the wage increase. The Government should consider the effects on the American economy as