The thought of increasing the minimum wage to reduce poverty always appeared to have the best hypothetical outcome--until I began my summer job. I filed papers and logged information at a wine bottling company alongside three middle-aged women. My pay, as well as the pay of my coworkers, was fourteen dollars an hour--a significant increase from California’s current minimum wage. The pay exceeded my expectations as an upcoming college student with no debt, no bills, nor a family to provide for; however, after hearing the numerous complaints and financial issues encountered by my co-workers, I realized that even fourteen dollars an hour hardly creates a stable standard of living. This new understanding is the framework for my opinion that the
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Through the juxtaposition of historical references and today’s employed lower class statistics, Surowiecki highlights the significant differences between minimum wage then and now. Surowiecki calls large employers out on their deprivation of supplying their employees with good benefits and wages even though the companies are completely capable. While he is a proponent of increasing the minimum wage, Surowiecki does not neglect to mention that other actions must be taken in order to eradicate poverty. According to Surowiecki, the economy needs to stimulate a wider array of middle class jobs in addition to boosting the minimum wage. Through these ideas, Surowiecki believes that increasing minimum wage will lead to an improved …show more content…
For example, Surowiecki mentions that the minimum wage in 1968 was “worth about $10.70 an hour in today’s dollars”. By providing this supplemental information, Surowiecki is able to convey the absurdity that pay was much higher over forty years ago. Based on this historical statistic alone, the reader is prompted to feel persuaded to side with Surowiecki. Furthermore, Surowiecki places General Motors from the 1960s in comparison with fast-food chains of today to convey that big employers are now treating their employees poorly. All of these statistics originate in the 1960s which had a significantly better economy than that of today. While the initial shock of these numbers may persuade a reader to conform to the beliefs of Surowiecki, a more in depth look at what the statistics truly project do not have a substantial
Through the juxtaposition of historical references and today’s employed lower class statistics, Surowiecki highlights the significant differences between minimum wage then and now. Surowiecki calls large employers out on their deprivation of supplying their employees with good benefits and wages even though the companies are completely capable. While he is a proponent of increasing the minimum wage, Surowiecki does not neglect to mention that other actions must be taken in order to eradicate poverty. According to Surowiecki, the economy needs to stimulate a wider array of middle class jobs in addition to boosting the minimum wage. Through these ideas, Surowiecki believes that increasing minimum wage will lead to an improved …show more content…
For example, Surowiecki mentions that the minimum wage in 1968 was “worth about $10.70 an hour in today’s dollars”. By providing this supplemental information, Surowiecki is able to convey the absurdity that pay was much higher over forty years ago. Based on this historical statistic alone, the reader is prompted to feel persuaded to side with Surowiecki. Furthermore, Surowiecki places General Motors from the 1960s in comparison with fast-food chains of today to convey that big employers are now treating their employees poorly. All of these statistics originate in the 1960s which had a significantly better economy than that of today. While the initial shock of these numbers may persuade a reader to conform to the beliefs of Surowiecki, a more in depth look at what the statistics truly project do not have a substantial