Minimum Wage Persuasive Essay
Randy Oczkowski
Mrs. Kenny
March 25, 2013
Persuasive Essay $7.25 equals two gallons of gas, one fast food meal, or a simple school supply. With the minimum wage at the current rate you must work one hour to earn the seven dollars and twenty-five cents that only supply you with small necessities for everyday living. This problem was encountered before and was resolved with the agreement to higher the minimum wage from $5.85 to the current $7.25. Although that was a big increase in salaries, was it truly enough? This controversy can lead to a major change in everyone’s everyday lives and boost our economy to a period of prosperity. The minimum wage should be increased to bring our economy out of a recession, bring families together, and to create a country of prosperity. Our country is held together by the families that it holds within. With the current minimum wage, 73% of our working population lives in poverty. (Furman) Many might assume that the majority of the minimum wage workers are teenagers or college bound students. This is false. Studies show that more than 50% of minimum wage workers are over the age of 25. (Conlin) At this you already have influence on our economy and what it may become. Do we really want our economy to stay at a low-point when we can simply higher this rate and become a country known for prosperity? For a typical family of four to live comfortably in today’s world, they must earn an average $8.44 an hour to cover all necessity expenses. (Sklar) This simple change can and will be done to benefit the overall population of our country. Another major problem with college students are their student loans. Even if you did or did not attend college you know the afflictions that student loans have upon your financial stability in your later on life. With constant growing interest rates and the constant need for supplies, the average college student leaves their college already in debt. If the minimum wage is increased, so will
Mrs. Kenny
March 25, 2013
Persuasive Essay $7.25 equals two gallons of gas, one fast food meal, or a simple school supply. With the minimum wage at the current rate you must work one hour to earn the seven dollars and twenty-five cents that only supply you with small necessities for everyday living. This problem was encountered before and was resolved with the agreement to higher the minimum wage from $5.85 to the current $7.25. Although that was a big increase in salaries, was it truly enough? This controversy can lead to a major change in everyone’s everyday lives and boost our economy to a period of prosperity. The minimum wage should be increased to bring our economy out of a recession, bring families together, and to create a country of prosperity. Our country is held together by the families that it holds within. With the current minimum wage, 73% of our working population lives in poverty. (Furman) Many might assume that the majority of the minimum wage workers are teenagers or college bound students. This is false. Studies show that more than 50% of minimum wage workers are over the age of 25. (Conlin) At this you already have influence on our economy and what it may become. Do we really want our economy to stay at a low-point when we can simply higher this rate and become a country known for prosperity? For a typical family of four to live comfortably in today’s world, they must earn an average $8.44 an hour to cover all necessity expenses. (Sklar) This simple change can and will be done to benefit the overall population of our country. Another major problem with college students are their student loans. Even if you did or did not attend college you know the afflictions that student loans have upon your financial stability in your later on life. With constant growing interest rates and the constant need for supplies, the average college student leaves their college already in debt. If the minimum wage is increased, so will
Cited: Furman, Jason, and Sharon Parrot. "Raising the Minimum Wage Will Reduce Poverty." Poverty. Ed. Viqi Wagner. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "A $7.25 Minimum Wage Would Be a Useful Step in Helping Working Families Escape Poverty." www.cbpp.org. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. Conlin, Michelle, and Aaron Bernstein. "The Working Poor Are Not Getting By in America." Poverty. Ed. Viqi Wagner. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Working ... And Poor." Business Week (31 May 2004). Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. Sklar, Holly. "Raising the Minimum Wage Will Help the Poor." How Can the Poor Be Helped? Ed. Jennifer Dorman. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. At Issue. Rpt. from "Raising the Minimum Wage in Hard Times." Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. Peirce, Neal. "A 'Living Wage ' Is Necessary to Help the Working Poor." Inner-City Poverty. Ed. Tamara L. Roleff. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. Contemporary Issues Companion. Rpt. from "Living Wages '—It 's About Time." Liberal Opinion Week. 2000. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.