Minimum Wage and the American Dream

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Living in a nice home, a good neighborhood, and having nice cars is what most people think of as part of the American Dream. How are you supposed to get there though? Unless you're going to win the lottery you’re going to have to work in some form. Achieving the American Dream while earning minimum wage may take a person longer but it is still attainable. Through higher education or hard work individuals can achieve a higher standard of living. What is minimum wage? Minimum wage is the lowest hourly rate (dollars per hour) that employers can pay their employees. According to minimumwage.com Minnesota’s minnimum wage is $7.25 per hour but will be getting raised to $9.00 per hour. Minnesota’s minimum wage is a common rate among many states such as Texas, South Dakota, and Iowa. Oregon and Washington are states that currently have their minimum wage rate set at or above $9.00 per hour. For both of these states, raising minimum wage has not necessarily decreased the poverty line. Both Oregon and Washington are still among the top 20 states for high poverty rates while New Hampshire has the lowest poverty rate and also has minimum wage set at $7.25 per hour. According to familiesusa.org the poverty line is a single individual who lives alone with no dependents making $11,490 a year. The annual salary goes up by $4,020 for each person you add to the household. Minimum wage is mainly used for part-time jobs, and part-time jobs are not meant to support a family full-time. These jobs are meant for teenagers or people who have others to rely on for income. People who live on minimum wage typically live alone and can support themselves. If a woman has a dependent child she either is receiving additional monetary compensation through ch... ... middle of paper ... ... hour. In the most recent recession banks gave out loans that ballooned after a couple years and put many people without a job. During the recession the white collar workers did not lose their jobs as fast as blue collar workers. America needs to keep minimum wage at $ 7.25 and stop aiding the people to sit at home and let the hardworking Americans pay for them to do nothing! Works Cited Davidson, Paul. "13 States Raising Pay for Minimum-wage Workers." USA Today. Gannett, 30 Dec. 2013. Web. 07 May 2014. Alex, Er E.M. Hess, and Thomas C. Frohlich, 24/7 Wall St. "Eight States with the Highest Minimum Wages." USA Today. Gannett, 03 Dec. 2013. Web. 07 May 2014. "Cost of Living Calculator: Compare the Cost of Living in Two Cities."CNNMoney. Cable News Network, Mar. 2014. Web. 07 May 2014. "Federal Poverty Guidelines." Families USA. N.p., Nov. 2013. Web. 06 May 2014.

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