The Minimum Wage Debate

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The 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 has split into a bipartisan debate in Washington. Liberal ideals stem from the belief that raising the minimum wage is positive and helps close the income gap; alternatively, conservatives feel raising the minimum wage causes unnecessary harm to employment demographics. Raising the minimum wage is a necessary course of action to aid the bottom half of an economically dynamic society.
Raising the minimum wage is a simple and effective way to reduce income inequality. Over the past thirty years, the depreciation of the minimum wage has contributed to a ten to twenty percent increase in income inequality (“President Obama’s” 12). The falling of the minimum wage value greatly affects the bottom half of poorer workers and average workers and their livelihood compared to the middle class. By raising the minimum wage, individuals and families living in low-income situations are given the means to improve their living conditions. Increased pay and a smaller income gap opens great potential for a better workplace and more content workers and overall citizens. Opponents of this matter may argue that increased labor costs lower overall profit for businesses (Mejeur 15). However, this argument overlooks the outweighing factor of the workers’ new potenti...

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...t jobs is completely negated and the benefits of raising millions out of poverty and workers receiving generous pay increases far exceed any drawbacks. An increase of the minimum wage is the ideal step in preserving a dynamic yet economically sound society.

Works Cited

Dickinson, Tim. "The Minimum Wage War." Rolling Stone 13 Mar. 2014: 33-36. EBSCOhost. Web. 1 May 2014.
Johnson, Nicholas. "Evidence Shows Raising Minimum Wage Hasn't Cost Jobs." Capitol Ideas Mar.-Apr. 2014: 22-23. EBSCOhost. Web. 1 May 2014.
Konczal, Mike. "It's Only Fair." Boston Review Mar.-Apr. 2014: 30-35. EBSCOhost. Web. 1 May 2014.
Mejeur, Jeanne. "Maximum Divide on Minimum Wage." State Legislatures Mar. 2014: 14-17. EBSCOhost. Web. 1 May 2014.
"President Obama's Minimum Wage Proposal: Raising Wage Rates for Working Americans." Congressional Digest May 2013: 12-13. EBSCOhost. Web. 1 May 2014.

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