Increase the Minimum Wage

Grace Daniels

Mr. Sifford

English Composition

October 9, 2017

Increase the Minimum Wage

How does the United States government expect Americans to get by with the  out-of-date minimum wage? In the United States today, thousands of full-time workers earning $7.25 an hour are below the poverty threshold. This is intolerable. Nobody who works full-time should have to live in poverty. The minimum wage in the United States has not increased since 2007, that is a decade's worth of inflation. As the cost of living continuously increases, the minimum wage should too. The United States should raise the minimum wage to $10.10 because it will reduce poverty, increase productivity, lead to a healthier population, and allow more people to afford their everyday essentials.

The amount of poverty the United States has is unacceptable for it to be called an economically developed country. The minimum wage should be increased only a few dollars to 10.10 as a solution to this problem. "According to a 2014 Congressional Budget Office report, increasing the minimum wage to $9 would lift 300,000 people out of poverty, and an increase to $10.10 would lift 900,000 people out of poverty, "(cbo.gov) proves that if the U.S. raised the minimum wage that it would provide some relief to those living in poverty. I have learned from working a minimum wage job of $7.25 an hour that it can be tough and stressful to budget things that I need to have and things that I want, even if I splurge just a little bit I will most likely regret it and wish I had not spent the money. Higher minimum wage to me would mean I would not be forced out of something I need for getting something I want, in moderation. Do not get me wrong, I still live with my parents and they are not going to let me starve but I have a slight glimpse of what it will be like for me when I move out and go to college, this is why I am pushing for a raise in the minimum wage. If an increase in the minimum wage comes there will most certainly be an increase in dignity not only for me but for many others in the future, "Think about it: After a long day on the clock, you come home knowing that despite your hard work, you can't feed your family, cover their medical insurance or pay your rent without government support. What message does that send about the dignity of your work and the pride of taking personal responsibility for your family?" (Stern) Proving if you cannot afford everyday life and you live in poverty this increase in the minimum wage will relieve some stress, will allow you to have dignity and take pride in your work. When you can do all of these things the more likely, you are to get more done.

If Americans are getting paid more they will be happier and more motivated to get things done. The increase in minimum wage would prove to increase productivity because people feel as if they are adequately rewarded for their time. I know if I am being offered more money than before to do something, I will be faster and more motivated to do the task at hand. Many others will have this outlook too. Having more productivity leads to a more active lifestyle. If Americans have an increase in productivity due to the rise of the minimum wage, it will most likely lead to them having a healthier lifestyle also

Americans who do not have a lot of money usually eat cheaper when going out to eat, if they even eat out because of their money issue. More money means no more dollar menu. Also, Americans who are in poverty tend to avoid healthier options when they are at the grocery store because the healthier options are more expensive. "Recent data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services show that those in lower income brackets are less likely to report being physically active, less likely to consume healthy foods and are more likely to smoke. It is not hard to understand, then, why Wisconsin's lower-income populations are also more likely to report having chronic diseases including arthritis, asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol and blood pressure, obesity or stroke," (Hood) proving this also should be why the United States increases the minimum wage. American people should have the choice for themselves to or not to eat healthily and the price of the food should not be a concern that holds them back. Poorer Americans should have just as much equal opportunity to make healthy choices as richer.