Minimum Wage In America Essay
analytical Essay
1621 words
What is it like to live on minimum wage in America? It has never been fun, but it is getting harder and harder as the cost of living keeps rising. While the cost of education, housing, groceries, healthcare, and utilities continuing to cost more, the American worker is scrambling to make ends meet on low wage incomes. Marco Rubio, author, politician, and attorney of law reveals, “Today the current federal minimum wage is $7.25 a hour, and has not been raised in seven years. In reality, a person working full time at a hourly wage of $7.25 will make about $14,000 a year”. Given that, the federal government deemed that the poverty line is anyone who makes less that 17,000 a year. Imagine supporting a family on those figures. Since it is apparent that the current minimum wage earner can not make enough money to support themselves, let alone a family, the minimum wage needs to be raised. To be brief, the minimum wage has been around for the past …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the minimum wage was established by president franklin d. roosevelt in 1938 to stabilize the economy and to get people out of poverty from the great depression.
- Explains that increasing the minimum wage will increase the standard of living and help keep people out of poverty.
- Analyzes how the american worker is struggling to make ends meet on low-wage incomes. the current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, and has not been raised in seven years.
- Explains that working poverty is a constellation of difficulties that magnify one another. an increase in the minimum wage would reduce the number of people living in poverty by 2.4%.
Since the cost of living has gone up drastically, raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do to boost the economy, lift workers morale and productivity, and improve the self sufficiency of potentially millions of American workers. Raising the minimum wage is a vital step in decreasing poverty and giving every family the opportunity to survive and succeed. Even businesses agree raising the minimum wage would give many customers more money to spend in turn increasing sales and higher profits for the companies. Therefore, raising the minimum wage would help and not hurt the economy and it would give many Americans a better livelihood and a more secured life. In today’s society it is very expensive to live in American and even getting by daily is difficult if you are living on minimum wage. Therefore, anyone who thinks the minimum wage should not be raised should try living in
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- Raising The Minimum Wage Research Paperopinionated essayRaising the minimum wage has been a recent topic that has raised the concerns of many people located in the United States. Raising the minimum wage has a list of many pros and cons. The minimum wage should not be raised though, because the downsides of doing it, outweigh the pros by far. Raising the minimum wage would provide the loss of many jobs and the increase of the price of many consumer goods. Consequently, if we end up taking the path of increasing the minimum wage, the prices of homes and the many other things we need will increase in price, do you really want that to happen?
In this essay, the author
- Opines that raising the minimum wage has many pros and cons, but the downsides outweigh the pros. raising it would provide the loss of jobs and increase the price of many consumer goods.
- Opines that the minimum wage should not go up because it will cause the outsourcing of jobs to countries that will produce things for much cheaper.
- Opines that raising the minimum wage is almost pointless based off of economics and causes the prices of every other necessity to inflate.
- Opines that the possible increase in the minimum wage can cause the loss of over 500,000 jobs, but will it truly benefit the whole business and our economy?
360 wordsRead More - The Controversial Issue Of Raising The Minimum Wageexplanatory essay“A job must lift workers out of poverty, not keep them in it.” Raising the minimum wage has become a huge controversial issue, an issue that presidential candidates, such as Bernie Sanders, discuss. Many factors come into play when deciding whether or not to raise the minimum wage include the percentage of poverty Americans live in, the amount of jobs it can bring, and much more. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Hard working families work long, tiring hours only to get an insufficient amount of money to provide for themselves and their family. “Since 1968, the minimum wage has lost more than 25% of its purchasing power,” (Bernie). The decline has lead to at least 43 millions of americans to live in poverty which include families
In this essay, the author
- Explains that raising the minimum wage has become a controversial issue, an issue that presidential candidates, such as bernie sanders, discuss.
- Explains that 45 million americans are living in poverty because jobs are not paying enough to provide a sufficient salary. rent, bills, clothing, and food are all expenses that come out of paychecks.
247 wordsRead More - Persuasive Essay On Minimum Wageanalytical essayRecently in the news and in our most recent election, minimum wage has been an issue that’s been a high priority item in our country as a whole. With many people in our communities thinking of this as a way to better themselves and our economy, it’s no secret why this idea is spreading like wildfire. While this may fix problems for a short time, it may also hurt us all as a whole in the end. Throwing money at a problem, doesn’t necessarily mean it will fix the issue, which is why now is not the time to raise the minimum wage is. There should be a set minimum wage, but for the times we are in now, it should continue to stay at the same rate.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the national minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, but many states and cities have increased theirs accordingly to what they believe is best for the community.
- Explains that three-quarters of americans (76%) support a hypothetical law to increase the minimum wage to $9 per hour.
- Argues that if minimum wage was raised, more people would be above poverty levels and be self-sufficient.
- Describes the canadian press and business source premier's "in cities, states across us."
- States that the journal of the historical society 12.1 (2012): 47-78. academic search complete.
- Cites the monthly labor review / u.s. department of labor, bureau of labor statistics.
- Argues that the minimum wage should be set at the same rate as it was before the new deal, which banned child-oppressed labor.
- Argues that a higher portion of the population would not think to save money for future times. if employers are forced to pay employees more, they can either raise prices or cut down on employment.
1957 wordsRead More - Minimun Wage and Poverty in the United Statesanalytical essayTo begin with, the government in the US needs to raise the minimum wage in order for people to rise above the poverty line, which will result in reduced government expenditures. Millions of people every day are working to support one’s family, but the Federal minimum wage is not enough money for families to spend on food. With 46.5 million people living in poverty in the United States, the government is f...
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the minimum wage should be raised by congress to help the working and middle class in the us.
- Argues that raising the minimum wage would reduce the poverty rate by as much as 1.7 percentage points.
- Argues that the federal government needs to raise the minimum wage or else the poverty rate will keep increasing. inflation is causing the cheques of the working class to decrease in value.
- Explains that raising the minimum wage creates wage growth which provides people with more money to spend on additional products.
- Explains that raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour would result in an added income of 35 billion dollars for over 27 million employees.
- Argues that the american and canadian governments need to raise the minimum wage to reduce the inequality gap.
- Argues that the minimum wage should be raised to allow more people to afford post-secondary education.
- Argues that raising the minimum wage is beneficial to the economy as it creates jobs and raises the income of millions of people across the united states and canada.
1470 wordsRead More - The Minimum Wage Should Not Be Increasedanalytical essayWith the current economic market still reeling from the effects left by the recession that consumed the United States for eighteen months, we should take the time to weigh the benefits against the possible results that raising the minimum wage could cause. Statistics show that an increase in current wage would do more damage to the already unstable market, than the good that so many government officials want everyone to believe. The misinformation that is being delivered to the ever growing population of poor individuals provides them with false hope that the extra money that they will be receiving in their paychecks will pull them out of poverty and save them.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that raising the minimum wage would do more damage to the already unstable market than the good that so many government officials want everyone to believe.
- Explains that the minimum wage debate has been ongoing since its inception when signed by franklin roosevelt on june 25, 1938. while this seemingly innocent legislation was intended to help the economically challenged, it has subsequently hurt the economy.
- Argues that an increase in the minimum wage is a hot topic for political debate and the party who saves the citizens of the united states from poverty will become the political winner.
- Explains that an entry level job that pays minimum wage is not just about wage, but about learning skills while working to advance to a better, more secure position.
- Argues that raising the minimum wage will affect the profit margin of larger corporations. this is misleading to suggest that a business would reduce their profits to support those who have not made an effort to help themselves.
- Analyzes how politicians use a wage increase to boost the economy, and hyping the benefits of welfare reform, but fail to mention that the $10.10 option could reduce total employment by about 500,000 workers.
- Explains that raising wages for individuals will place them and their families into a higher tax bracket, increasing their taxes but leaving them in the same financial situation.
- Opines that the decision to increase salaries of employees should ultimately be left up to the employer, who is the one with firsthand knowledge of an employee’s productive worth.
- Explains that most economists were concerned about the effects of a minimum wage increase. they were under the false impression that an increase in wages would create jobs.
- Explains that cost of living and demographics are key components that should influence a wage increase in an area.
- Opines that the proposed wage increase could benefit the poor, for example, if they live in areas where the cost of living exceeds what a minimum wage employee would make.
- Opines that with the negative effects associated with a wage increase, we must focus on the important questions. are the mandated raises really intended to benefit the poor, or is there an alter motive fueling the push to change the salaries?
1299 wordsRead More - Raising Minimum Wage Essayanalytical essayWould raising the minimum wage help the economy? Such a question exposes a massive controversy, one that involves every American citizen, and all who have opposing opinions regarding this economic debate. Most individuals would agree that a worker should be paid a sum equal to the quality of work they provide. Though this a nice concept on paper, its implementation is not as simple as one might assume. Although the intentions are true, raising the minimum wage could easily cause certain repercussions that could hinder the economy in ways that far exceed the potential benefits.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that raising the minimum wage would help the economy, but its implementation is not as simple as one might assume.
- Analyzes jared bernstein's argument regarding the benefits of raising the minimum wage in an economy driven in no small measure by consumer spending.
- Argues that raising the minimum wage would "neither reduce poverty nor boost growth," as stated by douglas holtz-eakin.
- Opines that raising the minimum wage would result in more money for those working for such wages, but it would have very little effect on the u.s. economy.
486 wordsRead More - Raising Minimum Wageanalytical essayThere are millions of hard workers in America that are barely balancing themselves above the national poverty line and desperately need to be paid more. Minimum wage needs to be higher, because it will lessen poverty and help the employed to support their families. The development of economic policies was created in 1933. Franklin D. Roosevelt called it “The New Deal”. Minimum wage became one of the policies that had been included. It basically promised that all American employees would earn a sufficient salary to support their families. The New Deal was the beginning of control of wages by the federal government. It made sure that every worker would be capable of earning a living wage. Because $7.25 per hour is not a living wage, that promise has been
In this essay, the author
- Argues that the idea of minimum wage is an intense argument that holds various opinions. it was created to lift low-income families out of poverty.
- Explains that the united states' minimum wage is about to be the lowest it has ever been. inflation is the core reason why workers are being paid less every hour than they were 40-50 years ago.
- Argues that an increased minimum wage would pull countless families out of poverty. the official poverty rate now stands at almost 15 percent.
- Explains that raising minimum wage is a fundamental step in lessening poverty and providing every family the chance to be successful and just survive.
- Argues that raising the minimum wage would result in employment growth, since businesses would pay more to their workers and hire staffs with more skill than the ones that they already have.
- Opines that higher minimum wages would boost the economy, since there are always shortages in jobs that require college degrees. 88 percent of those who would benefit from a federal minimum wage increase are 20 or older.
- Opines that a constant increase in minimum wage could cause higher living costs, since the cost of living is always rising.
- Argues that the middle and upper classes of society are taxed to provide welfare and support to the poor. a higher wage means that people who don't have jobs will work harder to find a job instead of relying on welfare.
- Argues that small business owners can't afford to pay their workers more, and therefore don’t support an increase in the minimum wage.
- Argues that minimum-wage workers work twice as hard as they did in the seventies. fast-food companies hold their employees at wages that dig them into the hole of poverty.
- Opines that minimum wage workers deserve a raise, even though they didn't attend college. fast food workers' jobs are stressful, especially when the prices of everything are rising.
- Opines that raising the federal minimum wage is an ethical way to help others that are struggling. it would provide for the poor families who would otherwise not earn a decent living.
1943 wordsRead More - The Minimum Wage Must Be Raisedanalytical essayIn 1938, Congress began the minimum wage at 25 cents per hour, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (Sherk, 2013). By July 2009, the minimum wage had been raised to $7.25 an hour. Washington State boasts one of the highest minimum wages in the country--$9.19 an hour (Sherk, 2013). The number of Americans who earn minimum wage has always been in question. In 2011, it was reported that 3.7 million Americans earned minimum wage, and that is equivalent to just 2.9 percent of the working population in the country (Sherk, 2013). Next, it is important to note what types of workers get minimum wage earnings. According to Sherk (2013), there are two categories----young workers (still in school) and old workers (out of school). Moreover, these young adults are not likely to live in middle or high income families, and they are typic...
In this essay, the author
- States that los angeles lawmakers voted to boost the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020, the largest city to try to help its lowest-paid workers survive amid the nation's growing income inequality.
- Argues that the minimum wage should be raised to assist american families, aid economic recovery, and help people get out of debt
- Explains that the minimum wage was set at 25 cents per hour in 1938, and by 2009, it had been raised to $7.25 an hour.
- Explains that president barack obama has pledged to support an increase to the minimum wage of at least 9 dollars per hour.
- Explains that the minimum wage mixes up the climate within the workforce by increasing high quality labor, which increases the demand for labor.
- Explains that the minimum wage has fallen in value since its change to $7.25 because congress has not raised it to keep up with inflation. the white house wants to offset the surging rates of income inequality.
- Argues that increasing the minimum wage gives people a reason to work and improve their skills as they move up the career ladder further away from debt.
- Opines that the battle to raise the minimum wage raised will not be easy. there are naysayers who denounce this movement.
- Recommends that the american people rally behind supporters of a $10.10 minimum wage by calling local congressmen, writing letters to lobbyists, appealing to the community, and backing president obama.
- Opines that raising the minimum wage is good for business.
- Cites sherk, j., what is minimum wage: its history and effects on the economy.
- Analyzes the negative effects of a raise in minimum wage on the working class, including youth, disabled, lower-skilled and ethnic minorities.
- Explains that the white house believes that raising the minimum wage and adjusting it automatically with inflation will assist american families.
- Explains that the process of getting a national increase to the minimum wage is highly politicized. the fair minimum wage act of 2013 will take effect in 2015 and adjust for inflation.
2989 wordsRead More - The Golden Age Of Americaopinionated essayWith ever increasing prices on commodities and scarcer jobs, hard work alone is not enough to pay the bills when they are due. Imagine that you are stuck out in the ocean. The waves are pounding and every time a wave rolls in you are sucked in underneath. After surfacing you only have 15 seconds to catch your breath before the next wave hits. Over time your body starts to give out, 15 seconds is not nearly enough time to recover between each wave. You can only hold on for so long before your lungs give out and you are permanently sucked in underneath. This is what living on minimum wage feels like. People work so hard for money that barely covers their basic needs. Minimum wage is those precious 15 seconds of air that you get. It barely keeps you afloat. Americans need help to keep afloat, and the government could remedy the situation by adding more seconds(increasing minimum wage), so to speak, so that a person does not have to barely hold on, and actually make enough money to live
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the united states of america has long advertised itself as the land of opportunity, but it has kept on advertising this message even though it no longer is true.
- Opines that a smart government can't afford to have its economy plummet. when not enough americans own homes, the government passes out mortgage legislation to cut down on mortgage premiums.
- Argues that there needs to be more stimulation in the stagnant economy of the united states in order to get americans back on their feet.
- Explains that americans struggle with making ends meet with ever increasing prices on commodities and scarcer jobs.
- Explains that an increase in minimum wage could see people having enough money to buy a house, car, or other material goods.
- Explains that raising the minimum wage would naturally close the income gap between the rich and the poor. the government would save $4.8 billion from reduced welfare spending.
- Argues that raising the minimum wage will force small businesses to lay off employees and stop hiring new ones due to the higher increase in wages.
- Opines that raising the minimum wage would launch many americans out of poverty and many more into the life of the middle class, which is essential for a productive society.
1366 wordsRead More - The Minimum Wage Should Be Increasedanalytical essayA person working at minimum wage will only make about $10,700 a year. When rent, groceries, bills and gas are all added up, it appears to be a nearly impossible task to keep a family afloat. But working 40 hours a week at $5.15 an hour, one makes less than $206 a week after taxes. Making $206/week, one brings home about $824/month. Adding 17 gallons of gas at $2.20 a gallon in a car; the cost ends up to be about $38 a week, $152/month. The gas and electricity bill about $120, $50 for cable, $147 for property taxes, $45 for the telephone bill, $25 for water, and $42 for house insurance. All this totals about $580 (Abrams, H). Making it difficult to afford cable, and make the smallest payment possible on all the bills causing one to slip into debt. This is reality for many of the people in the United States. At the current minimum wage level, a full time, year round minimum wage worker in 2005 will earn $5,378 less than the $16,090 needed to lift a family of three out of poverty (Minimum).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the federal minimum wage is $5.15, but should be about $8.50 if congress had adjusted it for inflation over the past 35 years.
- Opines that the minimum wage should be increased due to the rising gas prices. 7.3 million individuals in the united states of america would benefit from an increase.
- Argues that the current minimum wage situation in the united states is unsettling, but when compared to minimum wages over seas, it seems almost unfair.
- Opines that the minimum wage hasn't changed since 1997, and it's imperative that democrats start a nationwide debate that frames economic justice as moral issue.
- Cites abrams, jim, associated press writer, and abc news. senate fails to raise minimum wage.
- Cites cauchon, dennis, "states say $5.15 and hour too little." usa today, 20 may 2005.
- Explains the minimum wage for under-18s. bbc news: world addition, 15 march 2004.
- Explains that the minimum wage has been a hotbed for debate since its inception. if today's leaders could increase it, millions of families would benefit.
- Argues that the republican party is the obstacle to a fairer minimum wage.
- States dreir, peter, kelly, candaele, and kane, tim ph.d., "minimizing economic opportunity by raising the minimum wage".
1846 wordsRead More