Raise Minimum Wage?

Question

Why in the world would anyone want to raise minimum wage? I have NEVER heard a solid argument about why raising minimum wage is good.

I've made minimum wage myself, thanks.

Answer 1

I guess you don't know anyone working jobs with minimum wage, or else, you would feel sympathetic.

Answer 2

I had struggled greatly when I got my first job and was on minimum wage.. I had just turned 17 and my parents decided to move to a town 15 hours drive away ... My choices were to move to a small mining town with them.. or to stay put get a job and rent a place.. I chose the latter, having no work experience beforehand I got any job I could.. (working as a stockfiller at Big W) while still doing Tafe 2 days a week.. now I was on minimum wage for a 38 hour week, This equated to $180 a week.. I was paying $77 a week rent in a share house, and the remaining $103 was meant to feed me, pay bills, put petrol in my car & go out occasionally... lets just say I lived off boiled rice & soy sauce, (or baked beans on toast if it was a good week) for about a year.. I struggled greatly, but I did a good job finished my Tafe and ended up getting a reasonable paid job.. I think minimum wage should be adjusted to be across the board, just because I was 17 didn't mean I didn't have the responsibilities of a 25 year old...
Minimum wage needs to be raised so people can work and live a reasonable life.. why do you think so many people go on the DOLE.. probably because it pays almost the same as minimum wage and you don't have to work!!

Answer 3

I think it might be safe to say that you come from a fairly well-to-do family and do not know anyone personally trying to survive on those type of wages.

There are 5 million more families that have fallen into the ranks of poverty since 2000. That is enough for me to be in favor of raising the minimum wage.

Answer 4

Because I am in nursing school and I am trying to raise my three children, pay tuition and support a household on $6.30 per hour. If you would like me to become a more productive member of society, ie: saving lives!!!! It would be much easier if I were to be paid a wage that would allow me a bit of wiggling room. No one can get ahead in life if they are struggling to the point of breaking. At this point I am almost forced to choose between living and eating Should I quit school and give up on my dreams and work as much overtime as I can to make ends meet?
Apparently you make enough money to not have to worry about that. Not everyone was born into a situation where that is not a concern. I am not unhappy for you. Truly. I do not harbor resentment that you make more money than I do. I just ask that you give me the opportunity to better my life by allowing me to make at LEAST 7.00 per hour so that I may pay my bills while I attemt to make a life for myself and my children. Not everyone is born into the same life situations as others and I do not assume that your life has been all peaches and cream. But understand that MY life has been quite difficult due to circumstances WAY beyond my control starting at birth. I struggle to make my life better everyday which is more than I can say for some of the people fortunate enough to make substantially more money than I do. Even after I graduate, when I make good money, I will never forget where I have come from and how hard I have struggled to make ends meet and to be a good mother, worker, and citizen. I can't help but to think that given a better wage, my road to success would have been a lot less bumpy.

Answer 5

Increases the standard of living for some.
Reduces worker exploitation ( ie; wage slavery)
Forces employers to pay at least the wage society thinks human labor is worth.
Stimulates consumption, and thus economic growth, by putting more money in the hands of poor people who spend their entire paychecks.
Stimulates economic growth by discouraging labor-intensive industries, thereby encouraging more investment in capital and training.
There would be more people on welfare if it didn't keep up with the consumer index.

You must be an employer.

Answer 6

It passed in Ohio and I'd bet that no one read the whole proposition that they voted on. Indexed increases! Couple of years down the road it will be too expensive to have minimum wage earners. NO WAIT! Hows that going to work? Oh I see wages will get high enough that to have adequate staff the higher paid people will either have to take a cut or be let go. So thats how you redistribute wealth in a socialist economy. Seems that will reduce tax revenue too so we'll have to raise taxes on the litle guy and that puts him right back at zero.

Answer 7

Everything in life is going up. So why not raise minimum wage?
How can one live normal when everything is going up but the pay.
I think they should raise it.

Answer 8

I BELIEVE THE MINIMUM WAGE, HERE IN TENNESSEE IS ABOUT $5:15 AN HOUR, AND IN OTHER STATES IT IS MUCH HIGHER, WHO CAN LIVE ON THAT, THIS IS WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO PEOPLE IN THE HOME TO WORK, AND ARE CHILDREN ARE GETTING WORST, IN THIS WORLD, B/C THE PARENTS HAVE TO WORK ALL THE TIME, AND THEY HAVE NO TIME FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

Answer 9

a minimum wage job is not meant to be for life.it is a starting wage for someone that has no skills.i dont know of anywhere that doesnt give raises every so often to good workers.

Answer 10

ever try raising a family on minimum wage????

try it then you might understand the NEED for it!!