Erin Yearling
Problem Solution Essay
02/11/16
Mrs. Biddlecome
Minimum Wage
Minimum wage has been the topic of many debates over the past few years. The question is not how much people should make, but whether or not they can support a family and live comfortably on it. As of 2016 the District of Columbia holds the highest minimum wage salary of $11.50 an hour. Although twenty nine states have a minimum wage higher than $7.25 per hour. There are still twenty one states that have a minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. The state of Michigan has a minimum wage of $8.50 an hour. One of the larger cities in Michigan (Grand Rapids) for a family of four, it would cost $59,259 per year to live comfortably. In a medium city such as Flint, a family consisting of two children and two parents would cost $58,039 per year. Living in one of the smaller cities such as Battle Creek with two …show more content…
President Obama stated in his State of the Union address that “no one who works a full time job should live in poverty” (Why we shouldnt 3). The problem with this that most people don't understand that most of the citizens living in poverty don't work, and thus be unaffected by raising the minimum wage. The individuals earning the minimum wage are usually teenagers and elderly who are looking to earn money for college or retirement (Why we shouldnt 5). It is shown that “workers under the age of 25
Yearling 3
make up only about 20% of those who earn hourly wages, they constitute about half of all workers earning the minimum wage or less. Raising the minimum wage is therefore an ineffective anti-poverty proposal” (Bureau of Labor Statistics 3).
Those who live in poor households are going to have to pay the inflated prices that will come about as a result of that higher minimum wage. Meaning that most of the poor households will be worse off after the minimum wage rise, not better
Problem Solution Essay
02/11/16
Mrs. Biddlecome
Minimum Wage
Minimum wage has been the topic of many debates over the past few years. The question is not how much people should make, but whether or not they can support a family and live comfortably on it. As of 2016 the District of Columbia holds the highest minimum wage salary of $11.50 an hour. Although twenty nine states have a minimum wage higher than $7.25 per hour. There are still twenty one states that have a minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. The state of Michigan has a minimum wage of $8.50 an hour. One of the larger cities in Michigan (Grand Rapids) for a family of four, it would cost $59,259 per year to live comfortably. In a medium city such as Flint, a family consisting of two children and two parents would cost $58,039 per year. Living in one of the smaller cities such as Battle Creek with two …show more content…
President Obama stated in his State of the Union address that “no one who works a full time job should live in poverty” (Why we shouldnt 3). The problem with this that most people don't understand that most of the citizens living in poverty don't work, and thus be unaffected by raising the minimum wage. The individuals earning the minimum wage are usually teenagers and elderly who are looking to earn money for college or retirement (Why we shouldnt 5). It is shown that “workers under the age of 25
Yearling 3
make up only about 20% of those who earn hourly wages, they constitute about half of all workers earning the minimum wage or less. Raising the minimum wage is therefore an ineffective anti-poverty proposal” (Bureau of Labor Statistics 3).
Those who live in poor households are going to have to pay the inflated prices that will come about as a result of that higher minimum wage. Meaning that most of the poor households will be worse off after the minimum wage rise, not better