MINIMUM WAGE
Should Minimum Wage Be Raised? By: Alyvia Kuhl
MY OPINION
I think that minimum wage should stay the same, especially for those who are under the age of 18. On the other hand, I do believe that if there is a person who meets the requirements, they should be able to get paid a little more than minimum. Those requirements would be things like having to support other individuals (having a family), you would have to have been looking for a job for some time/ are currently have a job, and etc.
FACTS
1. According to the United States Department of Labor, the current minimum wage is $7.25, although some states have their own minimum wage laws.
2. In the 2014 State of the Union Address, President Obama wanted to change the minimum wage to $10.10 for those working on new federal service contracts according to the White House's webpage.
living on minimum wage barley supports an individual
3. After taxes, a person who makes minimum wage that works 40 hours per week will make somewhere around $1000. Along with the costs of the day to day necessities needed to live, the wage is enough to live in a decent place, have cheap food to eat, and maybe have leftovers to spend on other necessities like for transportation and hospital visits. (info from CBS)
4. Although the United States is the richest country in the world, by the year 2013, about 15 percent of the population was in poverty (kff.org).
5. People at or below the federal minimum are:
- Disproportionately young: 50.4% are ages 16 to 24; 24% are teenagers (ages 16 to 19).
- Mostly (77%) white; nearly half are white women.
- Largely part-time workers (64% of the total). from pew reasearch
VIDEO REFLECTION
I think that the video really made me realize that there are really people out there who are struggling to get the things that I take for granted. I wasn't really aware that people actually do live off of minimum wage, I thought that it was mostly for jobs for teenagers or those who have a part time job in college. It really did make me feel more thankful for what I have and it makes me cherish the fact that I grew up with a well off family that can support me with my necessities and more.