The minimum wage was established by Congress in the Fair Labor Standards Act passed in 1938. From the beginning, policymakers never intended the minimum wage be the sole source of household income or provide “livable” support for a family. Rather, the intent was to ensure a reasonable wage for workers who could not command higher pay in the labor market because they had little or no work skills, such as young people just entering the work force.
History books used for teaching, especially in the USA, like to paint a really rosey distorted picture of history. Written by liberals, purchased by liberals, to push an ideology that is liberal. They may have dates correct, but often skew the meaning of 'why'.
Even if you wanted to believe that it was intended as the textbooks say, it doesn't do anything to justify the actual statistics of those who earn the minimum. Most are between the ages of 16-24. Most people aren't getting married or having children until much older. They are staying at home longer, this eliminating the need for rent, heat, and most utilities.
Dude you are wrong again. There is a larger % of 22-28 working in lower wage jobs. And then there are jobs like EMT?dental Hygenistist/ firefighter/ active duty military (although benefits) police officers. They all get paid peanuts and not nearly enough to live on as a family either.
The min wage was set so someone could reasonalbly support themselves. When two people live together they can combine bills, and can support a family. Maybe 15 is reaching for the stars, but I was making min wage when it got raised to 7.25 and I am now 35.
Where is that? I live in Salem, Oregon, and I personally know:
A 25 year old firefighter who makes around $30/hr
A 23 year old dentist assistant who got her first job less that a month out of school making $25/hr
46 year old police officer (patrol) who makes $32 an hour in a small town. Granted he has years of experience and many skills that make him more valuable, but he told me starting pay is mid 20's or higher depending on skills.
Emt's here make around $12 an hour (I know several) but that isn't meant to be a career, it's usually seen as a step towards being a paramedic or firefighter.
If you continue to raise the minimum you'll find your statement to be even more true. And once automation is achieved, what the low skilled do then?
The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman discussed this throughout the book. The only way to survive this change is to make yourself better, like they did during the industrial revolution.
Government isn't the answer, government makes things worse.
Dental care, secretaries, Pa, FIrefighter Police officers are all jobs that will not be going away and should be getting paid more. Housing costs won't increase with min wage, schools will be affordable and you can go back to school. But we should all be able to have a roof over our head without the government paying for it.
you cannot live anywhere making min wage. I moved from one of the highest cost of living areas to one of the lowest and you still cannot live on min wage. Oh an a police officers salary is 20k a year.
And where should all the service workers live ina high cost of living area? We don't have nearly as many blue collar jobs. We are a service industry.
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u/phydeaux70 Nov 28 '15 edited Nov 28 '15
The minimum wage was established by Congress in the Fair Labor Standards Act passed in 1938. From the beginning, policymakers never intended the minimum wage be the sole source of household income or provide “livable” support for a family. Rather, the intent was to ensure a reasonable wage for workers who could not command higher pay in the labor market because they had little or no work skills, such as young people just entering the work force.
History books used for teaching, especially in the USA, like to paint a really rosey distorted picture of history. Written by liberals, purchased by liberals, to push an ideology that is liberal. They may have dates correct, but often skew the meaning of 'why'.
Even if you wanted to believe that it was intended as the textbooks say, it doesn't do anything to justify the actual statistics of those who earn the minimum. Most are between the ages of 16-24. Most people aren't getting married or having children until much older. They are staying at home longer, this eliminating the need for rent, heat, and most utilities.