The minimum has been an unlivable $7.25 an hour under three presidents. Today’s wage is worth less than at any point since 1956
The minimum has been an unlivable $7.25 an hour under three presidents. Today’s wage is worth less than at any point since 1956
Raising it only kicks the problem further down the road. The minimum wage needs to be tied to the local average cost of living and dynamically adjust on a year to year basis accordingly to accomplish the original goal of allowing a full-time worker to support themselves on it. Without dynamic yearly adjustments, inflation and political apathy will simply put us back in the same place 10 years down the road.
This is the fight we should be fighting, not for a number, but for a law that makes it illegal to hire someone at a wage below the cost of living.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t be having that fight, but realize that, if we win that fight, the next fight will be how we calculate the “cost of living” or some other garbage. The fight is never over, so don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.