High Wages, Low Ambitions
Supporting one's family and being able to make ends meet are a few of the goals and reasons for working, right? Many think that if the government would rise the minimum wage across the United States then they could finally support their families and they would not have to worry about making low wages anymore. Raising the minimum wage may look like it will solve multiple problems that have risen over the years for low-wage workers, but there is more behind the curtain that would cause even more of a concern that already exists with the current minimum wage being what it is. Minimum wage has caused constant controversy over the years and it is a subject that needs to be looked at on, and under the surface, as well. Raising the minimum wage, in America, minimizes the amount of work available, creates a lack of benefits during employment, and reduces the desire of advancement in jobs.
Raising the minimum wage is a constant debate in America and has been ever since the minimum wage law was set in 1912. Through the late 1900's to 2007, the minimum wage had remained $5.15 per hour. During the year 2007, there was a turning point in Congress. They decided to pass legislation that there would be a process in which they would raise the minimum wage. During the 2007 summer, the minimum wage was set to be raised to $5.85, in the summer of 2008 it was set to be raised to $6.55, and by the summer of 2009 $7.25 per hour (Minimum Wage). Over half of America's workforce in the year 2008 were individuals who were making minimum wage or below. During the year 2010, the minimum wage had remained $7.25 in most states. The reasoning behind minimum wage laws being put into play in America was to allow the people of the United States to support themselves and their families sufficiently. Many believe that the reasoning behind creating the minimum wage has not been carried out and accomplished to it's fullest degree. Before President Obama was voted into office in 2009, he had a goal of making the minimum wage raise even higher, to $9.50 per hour, yet even after taking office, there had been no signs of action in doing so. It is clear that over the years, the goal has been to continue raising the minimum wage. America has come far from the stingy $5.15 per hour that was implemented many years ago, but with raising the minimum wage came along challenges that have been brushed under the rug and have made those who make, or want to make minimum wage, blind to what would potentially come if it were to raise any higher.
Minimum wage being risen may result in low-educated and low-experienced teens and young adults not being able to find employment. The problem does not lie in the person who is under-educated and one that does not have much experience. The problem lies in the hands of the government and is passed down the chain of command from there. With raising the minimum wage, it makes employers have a keen lookout for those who have the talents necessary to make the amount that they offer. For example, if a teen that is in high school goes to McDonald's and applies for the job that offers $15.00 per hour with no cooking experience who is up against a former cook that has the experience necessary to carry out the job, who would have the better chance? On the other end of the spectrum, let's say that that teen was up against another teen with the same amount of skills and they got the job, it creates a steady wage for them that would deter them from leaving the job that they are making adequate money at. Most people who currently work for minimum wage have a desire to get out of their jobs and apply at other places so that they can land a higher salary. Individuals that do not make enough money with their low-wage jobs look into getting a higher education so that they can get into a career field that would make them more money. "If people are unhappy with what they are making, MacKenzie and other minimum wage opponents contend, they should take responsibility to negotiate higher wages, look for other jobs, or improve their education and skills to make them more marketable" (Minimum Wage). Not making enough at a minimum wage job gives those workers the need to build skills that fit the needs of a job that pays a greater amount and gives them the motivation to continue their education after high school.
Although minimum wage workers do not have the privileges that individuals in higher paying jobs have, there are ways out of the situation that they are in. Entrepreneur Unz presents the argument, "...no one with a family working full time at the minimum wage can possibly survive without major assistance. Keep in mind that if one works 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year at $7.25 an hour, that means an annual income of $15,080-assuming no time off and no sick days" (Unz). Minimum wage workers in America do not get paid sick-days, they have no health-care benefits, and get no pension. Because these workers do not get these privileges, it creates a need for them to receive the benefits and makes them work harder for them. Minimum wage workers work tons of hours and continue to lack the amount of money to support their families and themselves. Yet, those workers can easily get a higher education than what they already have with loans and can move into a higher paying career that way. Not having these benefits like highly-educated workers have gives the ones who are making minimum wage the choice to either work harder and continue to work for minimum wage or better themselves by getting into community activities and programs that will increase their skill levels for certain careers.
"...more than 28 million Americans who constitute the working poor-employed but typically for low hourly wages without health care, pensions, paid sick days, or other benefits. Climbing up the economic ladder, even in a robust economy, is increasingly difficult, the authors argue..." (Conlin, Bernstein). The working poor is a major problem that the United States faces, but it is a problem that can be easily fixed. Those who are in difficult situations that life throws at them regarding bills, grueling hours of work, and still not coming home with enough to take care of themselves or their families have a hard time seeing a way out, but there is always a way to turn things around that do not seem to be going in the direction that was initially intended. The workers who work for minimum wage make up the working poor and, for most, require government aid and assistance to get by. Those who support raising the minimum wage make the argument that by raising the minimum wage, the actions will lead to a decrease in the need of government assistance and government spending as a whole. Although people think this argument is valid, they do not think of the repercussions that raising the minimum wage would have on the United States government and the working poor. Raising the minimum wage affects the consumer of businesses, as well as the government due to businesses potentially having to pay their employees more. As a result, those businesses will need the funds to pay their employees more and will need to raise their prices on their products and services. The economy will be affected tremendously in a negative aspect if Congress decided to pass legislation on raising the minimum wage.
Congress has had the constant battle of whether to raise the minimum wage or keep it the way that is it. Congress has spoken out about possibly raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and Obama stands behind the decision to do so. Although the minimum wage law was set across America all those years ago, the fight to raise minimum wage protests have made a difference in individual states. In fact, 21 states in total have changed their minimum wage to being above $7.25 an hour. The minimum wage law has not been changed since 1997, although; many states have taken the initiative of changing it themselves on behalf of the communities and the states needs and wants. Although the minimum wage law is technically the lowest rate that an employer is legally allowed to pay their workers, many work for less than this amount due to the cost of labor being more than employers can afford for the workers that they have. Imagine if the minimum wage was raised to even more than what it already is. Employers would really be in a bind with not being able to pay their workers the minimum amount required due to increased cost in services and products in their businesses. In America, there will always be a lower, middle, and upper class, but there is also a way for every one to get the education that they want. In order to do so, workers and students have to put in the effort to make what they want and to accomplish what they want so that they can achieve their goals of success.
The minimum wage has been a constant debate in the United States and has affected people of all ages throughout the years. A common misperception people have is that if the government raises the minimum wage then the problems regarding the cost of things such as products, mortgages, taxes, and bills will be easier to cope with by having a higher salary, which is not the case. Raising the minimum wage will not only make the cost of products skyrocket, it will decrease the amount of work available, lessen the ambition to continue education and gain skills, and create a lack of benefits in jobs.
Supporting one's family and being able to make ends meet are a few of the goals and reasons for working, right? Many think that if the government would rise the minimum wage across the United States then they could finally support their families and they would not have to worry about making low wages anymore. Raising the minimum wage may look like it will solve multiple problems that have risen over the years for low-wage workers, but there is more behind the curtain that would cause even more of a concern that already exists with the current minimum wage being what it is. Minimum wage has caused constant controversy over the years and it is a subject that needs to be looked at on, and under the surface, as well. Raising the minimum wage, in America, minimizes the amount of work available, creates a lack of benefits during employment, and reduces the desire of advancement in jobs.
Raising the minimum wage is a constant debate in America and has been ever since the minimum wage law was set in 1912. Through the late 1900's to 2007, the minimum wage had remained $5.15 per hour. During the year 2007, there was a turning point in Congress. They decided to pass legislation that there would be a process in which they would raise the minimum wage. During the 2007 summer, the minimum wage was set to be raised to $5.85, in the summer of 2008 it was set to be raised to $6.55, and by the summer of 2009 $7.25 per hour (Minimum Wage). Over half of America's workforce in the year 2008 were individuals who were making minimum wage or below. During the year 2010, the minimum wage had remained $7.25 in most states. The reasoning behind minimum wage laws being put into play in America was to allow the people of the United States to support themselves and their families sufficiently. Many believe that the reasoning behind creating the minimum wage has not been carried out and accomplished to it's fullest degree. Before President Obama was voted into office in 2009, he had a goal of making the minimum wage raise even higher, to $9.50 per hour, yet even after taking office, there had been no signs of action in doing so. It is clear that over the years, the goal has been to continue raising the minimum wage. America has come far from the stingy $5.15 per hour that was implemented many years ago, but with raising the minimum wage came along challenges that have been brushed under the rug and have made those who make, or want to make minimum wage, blind to what would potentially come if it were to raise any higher.
Minimum wage being risen may result in low-educated and low-experienced teens and young adults not being able to find employment. The problem does not lie in the person who is under-educated and one that does not have much experience. The problem lies in the hands of the government and is passed down the chain of command from there. With raising the minimum wage, it makes employers have a keen lookout for those who have the talents necessary to make the amount that they offer. For example, if a teen that is in high school goes to McDonald's and applies for the job that offers $15.00 per hour with no cooking experience who is up against a former cook that has the experience necessary to carry out the job, who would have the better chance? On the other end of the spectrum, let's say that that teen was up against another teen with the same amount of skills and they got the job, it creates a steady wage for them that would deter them from leaving the job that they are making adequate money at. Most people who currently work for minimum wage have a desire to get out of their jobs and apply at other places so that they can land a higher salary. Individuals that do not make enough money with their low-wage jobs look into getting a higher education so that they can get into a career field that would make them more money. "If people are unhappy with what they are making, MacKenzie and other minimum wage opponents contend, they should take responsibility to negotiate higher wages, look for other jobs, or improve their education and skills to make them more marketable" (Minimum Wage). Not making enough at a minimum wage job gives those workers the need to build skills that fit the needs of a job that pays a greater amount and gives them the motivation to continue their education after high school.
Although minimum wage workers do not have the privileges that individuals in higher paying jobs have, there are ways out of the situation that they are in. Entrepreneur Unz presents the argument, "...no one with a family working full time at the minimum wage can possibly survive without major assistance. Keep in mind that if one works 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year at $7.25 an hour, that means an annual income of $15,080-assuming no time off and no sick days" (Unz). Minimum wage workers in America do not get paid sick-days, they have no health-care benefits, and get no pension. Because these workers do not get these privileges, it creates a need for them to receive the benefits and makes them work harder for them. Minimum wage workers work tons of hours and continue to lack the amount of money to support their families and themselves. Yet, those workers can easily get a higher education than what they already have with loans and can move into a higher paying career that way. Not having these benefits like highly-educated workers have gives the ones who are making minimum wage the choice to either work harder and continue to work for minimum wage or better themselves by getting into community activities and programs that will increase their skill levels for certain careers.
"...more than 28 million Americans who constitute the working poor-employed but typically for low hourly wages without health care, pensions, paid sick days, or other benefits. Climbing up the economic ladder, even in a robust economy, is increasingly difficult, the authors argue..." (Conlin, Bernstein). The working poor is a major problem that the United States faces, but it is a problem that can be easily fixed. Those who are in difficult situations that life throws at them regarding bills, grueling hours of work, and still not coming home with enough to take care of themselves or their families have a hard time seeing a way out, but there is always a way to turn things around that do not seem to be going in the direction that was initially intended. The workers who work for minimum wage make up the working poor and, for most, require government aid and assistance to get by. Those who support raising the minimum wage make the argument that by raising the minimum wage, the actions will lead to a decrease in the need of government assistance and government spending as a whole. Although people think this argument is valid, they do not think of the repercussions that raising the minimum wage would have on the United States government and the working poor. Raising the minimum wage affects the consumer of businesses, as well as the government due to businesses potentially having to pay their employees more. As a result, those businesses will need the funds to pay their employees more and will need to raise their prices on their products and services. The economy will be affected tremendously in a negative aspect if Congress decided to pass legislation on raising the minimum wage.
Congress has had the constant battle of whether to raise the minimum wage or keep it the way that is it. Congress has spoken out about possibly raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and Obama stands behind the decision to do so. Although the minimum wage law was set across America all those years ago, the fight to raise minimum wage protests have made a difference in individual states. In fact, 21 states in total have changed their minimum wage to being above $7.25 an hour. The minimum wage law has not been changed since 1997, although; many states have taken the initiative of changing it themselves on behalf of the communities and the states needs and wants. Although the minimum wage law is technically the lowest rate that an employer is legally allowed to pay their workers, many work for less than this amount due to the cost of labor being more than employers can afford for the workers that they have. Imagine if the minimum wage was raised to even more than what it already is. Employers would really be in a bind with not being able to pay their workers the minimum amount required due to increased cost in services and products in their businesses. In America, there will always be a lower, middle, and upper class, but there is also a way for every one to get the education that they want. In order to do so, workers and students have to put in the effort to make what they want and to accomplish what they want so that they can achieve their goals of success.
The minimum wage has been a constant debate in the United States and has affected people of all ages throughout the years. A common misperception people have is that if the government raises the minimum wage then the problems regarding the cost of things such as products, mortgages, taxes, and bills will be easier to cope with by having a higher salary, which is not the case. Raising the minimum wage will not only make the cost of products skyrocket, it will decrease the amount of work available, lessen the ambition to continue education and gain skills, and create a lack of benefits in jobs.
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