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Ben Wirth
Mr. Kennedy
English 10 R
1/9/12
Minimum Wage
Minimum wage has been around since the 1930s, but has not been perfected. The
minimum wage should allow a worker to support his/her family and pay all the monthly bills.
Since the 1930s the minimum wage has been raised to $7.15 in 2009, which is not enough to
support a family, adults should earn a higher wage than teens so they can pay their monthly
expenses.
Low-paying jobs are not a new concept. Ever since people have had to hire helpers to
achieve their business goals, there has been a need pay for that help based on the level of work
performed. At some point it became necessary for the government to institute a plan to pay
workers an acceptable amount, preventing employers from determining what that amount should
be. “Although Massachusetts enacted its own minimum wage law beginning in 1912, a federal
minimum wage was not established until 1938, under administration of President Franklin D
Roosevelt (D, 1933-1945)” (“Updated Minimum Wage”, n. pag.). As one could imagine, this
first national minimum wage was low even for the late 1930s.
Although most states have a minimum wage, sometimes it just isn’t enough to support a
family. “The minimum wage was last raised in August 1996, when President Bill Clinton (D,
1993-2001) approved a two-part increase – first to $4.75 from $4.25, then reaching $5.15 as of
July 2006.” (“Updated Minimum Wage”, n. pag.). The cost of living has gone up steadily over
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the years, and it is nearly impossible for a minimum wage family to pay for rent, heat, food and
electricity. A family living off such low rates would certainly have a hard time making ends
meet.
Because it is so difficult for families to afford even the bare necessities at such a low
minimum wage rate, why not raise the minimum wage? “Also they dispute the idea that millions
of workers in the U.S. have to make do with the minimum wage, they say that most minimum
wage earners are teenagers who still live with their parents and have hardly any living expenses.”
(“Updated Minimum Wage”, n. pag.). If the government thinks that teens would get overpaid,
then why not make two minimum wages? One minimum wage for the working adult who has to
be 18 years old, and a minimum wage for teens that do not have any living expenses.
The Government should make a second minimum wage for adults and a separate
minimum wage for teens. Doing this would make a world of difference for those minimum wage
workers supporting a family.
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Works Cited
“Update: Minimum Wage.” Issues and Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues and
Controversies. Facts on File News Services, July 15 2009.web. 20 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.2facts.com/article/i11004007.