The Purpose of Minimum Wage
Federal minimum wage is a common discussion, now days, but why? How did it all begin? What is the purpose of minimum wages?
Well, before minimum wage was a thing, people will work extremely hard and get whatever the employer demanded. As you could imagine, many employers would try to find the cheapest person to work for them, so it was kind of hard to say "No." to the pay rate given. Since this was the way things worked, people would find themselves overworked and underpaid.
Can you imagine!?
I can because it is happening as we speak.
Annually, due to inflation, prices go up. That doesn't sound too bad, I mean , it's normal right. But, after years of federal minimum wage not increasing while price continue to grow, it becomes difficult to afford necessary expenses.
In 1938, the first federal minimum wage legislation was passed starting minimum wage at $0.25, which was a decent amount in that time. Later, federal minimum wage increased to $7.25 by President Roosevelt and it has not been changed since.
I know! Insane, right!
Many people don't see it as a problem because their state might have lifted their minimum wage, but trust me, it is a huge problem! States like Alabama has one of the top five highest sales tax rate, yet, receive the lowest minimum wage. Why? Because the state minimum wage in Alabama hasn't been raised. The state refused to raise it because if it is not breaking any national law, but it harms so many people.
Making a living out of our federal minimum wage is like making a snowman out of rain drops, literally impossible, right? People who make $7.25 have the most challenging time living, yet, they work so hard. Sadly, the people who are more likely to receive minimum wage are people of color, females, and children, so it becomes an even bigger issue than pay grade.
There is no way a person can live decently receiving $7.25 an hour, let alone a whole entire family.
It should be made to allow people to live on their feet with the necessities of living, not choosing between clothes or food. Raising the minimum wage to $15 is what we are fighting for because that is what will give people a life of necessary livings. Anything less than that is giving not fair to people living in Urban communities because that's where workers get paid the bare minimum.
Arguments Against the Fight for $15
Many people don't support a minimum wage at all! I know! That is completely insane!
Back when people were fighting for a federal minimum wage to begin with people feared that the work demands would go down. Now that we have minimum wage and most Americans are still employed prove those negative thinkers wrong, but that doesn't change their way of thinking.
People believe the same thing when it come down to increasing federal minimum wage. Somethings seem to keep repeating itself, right?
Well, I say let's prove them wrong, again! It is nothing wrong with getting the payment we deserve. If our employers finds something wrong with that, then that is an environment that shouldn't have the privilege to have us, hardworking people around, anyway.
We can't work 2+ jobs to get enough to live and still barely make the mark! No! That is not happening because we are worth more than that! We are worth more than overworking our bodies for under pay. That is not anybodies purpose and if we let the fear of decreasing work demands get in our way, we will never earn what we need and deserve to earn.
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